Board Director – Volunteer Job Description

About Trilogy

Trilogy is a nonprofit, community-based organization that helps individuals living with mental illness to move toward stability and wellbeing. We support people who struggle with significant mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorders, or depression.  Many of the people we serve face additional barriers like substance use, homelessness, or a history of trauma. Every day, Trilogy provides a full array of mental and behavioral healthcare to some of the most marginalized populations in Chicago and beyond. Last year, we served more than 3,600 clients.

Our Mission & Vision

Trilogy’s mission is to enable people in mental health recovery to build meaningful and independent lives through comprehensive and integrated care.

We envision a society where everyone impacted by mental illness is valued, embraced, and supported holistically, systematically, and culturally; where the stigma of mental illness is eliminated; and where quality of care is not determined by socioeconomic status.

Board Member Responsibilities

The Board of Directors support the work of Trilogy through mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Specific Board Member responsibilities include:

  • Participating in and supporting strategic and organizational planning
  • Sharing expertise, viewpoints, questions and concerns with Trilogy’s senior staff, board leadership, and fellow board members
  • Ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management of Trilogy
  • Approving Trilogy’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions
  • Attending board meetings, the annual board retreat, special board meetings, and other board events
  • Participating on at least one committee (e.g., Governance, Finance, Development, etc.)
  • Supporting and advising the CEO as appropriate
  • Selecting and evaluating the performance of the CEO
  • Making a personally significant donation to Trilogy each year
  • Fundraising and resource development
  • Assisting the Governance Committee in identifying and recruiting other Board Members
  • Representing Trilogy to stakeholders and acting as an ambassador for Trilogy within the community and within personal/professional circles
  • Ensuring the diversity and inclusiveness of Trilogy and the Board

Meetings, Events and Time Commitment

The Board of Directors meet four times a year in person. Board Meetings take place in Rogers Park on Friday afternoons, from 1-5 PM. Board Members are expected to participate on at least one committee, attending committee meetings and participating actively in committee work.  Active Board participation requires staying informed on matters and reviewing meeting materials in advance of meetings. Board Members are also expected to attend one or more client-centered event per year (e.g., Thanksgiving Luncheon, Community Engagement Day, a visit to our Beacon drop-in center, etc.).

Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

  • 8-10 years of cumulative professional experience with significant leadership accomplishments or other experience related to Trilogy’s mission and goals (e.g., philanthropy, lived experience, etc.)
  • A commitment to and understanding of Trilogy’s clients and mission, preferably based on experience
  • Sound decision making ability
  • Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships, persuade, convene, facilitate and build consensus among diverse individuals
  • Personal qualities of integrity, initiative, and passion for improving the lives of Trilogy’s clients
  • Ability to use email and other technology, such as web portals

For more information, please see Trilogy Board Prospectus here.

Interested in applying? Please complete our Trilogy Board survey here. At the end of the survey, you will be prompted to forward your resume.

Have questions? Please reach out to us at BoardInfo@TrilogyInc.org.