Green Foothills protects local open space, farmland, and natural resources. We envision our region being a place where wildlife thrives, everyone has natural beauty to enjoy, and communities live in balance with nature.

Together with our partners we have helped to permanently protect approximately 185,000 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties through over 900 advocacy campaigns since 1962.

We are working to grow a more diverse and inclusive conservation movement. Through our Leadership Program, we are training the next generation of environmental activists, having already graduated over 240 changemakers.

We are seeking energetic people who believe in our mission and will expand our community representation to apply to serve on our Board of Directors. Our board is currently composed of community leaders who are invested in the organization’s mission. Board terms last for two years and members can serve for up to four consecutive terms. Typically board members can expect to spend 7-15 hours/month conducting board business including board and committee meetings, participating in events, and supporting fundraising.

Read on for more information. To express interest in joining our Board of Directors, kindly fill out this interest form and we will be in touch. Thank you for your consideration!

What we do

Green Foothills champions nature and wildlife in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties (and functions as a community advisor in San Benito County). Advocacy, education, and grassroots action has been our long-standing vehicle for change.

We achieve this by:

1. Engaging in Local Land Use Issues. We engage in land use policy, proposals, and planning processes that pose an opportunity or threat to our natural environment. We conduct thorough research and seek community input to inform our advocacy goals.
2. Educating Decision Makers and Community Leaders. We provide the support and information needed for current and future decision makers to be champions for conservation and inclusive public processes.
3. Partnering With and Mobilizing Community Members. We bring together and mobilize people to effectively navigate the land use process. We train, mentor, and learn from diverse leaders and communities in equitable, inclusive environmental activism.

Board Member Expectations

Serving on the Green Foothills Board of Directors is a special opportunity for individuals who are passionate about protecting open space. Board terms last for two years and members can serve for up to four consecutive terms. Typically board members can expect to spend 7-15 hours/month conducting board business including board and committee meetings, participating in events, and supporting fundraising. Board members are also expected to:

1. Be fully committed to our mission, vision, and values.
2. Make board meeting attendance a high priority. Our board meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Read board materials in advance of meetings and come prepared to ask questions and participate in discussions. Board member meetings are generally held virtually.
3. Serve on one fundraising committee, consider serving on a second committee, and actively participate in committee work (Committee descriptions)
4. Approve and monitor the budget to ensure that the organization remains fiscally sound.
5. Make a personally meaningful annual financial donation and actively participate in one or more fundraising efforts.
6. Responsibly represent Green Foothills to their respective communities and advocate for Green Foothills’ mission, vision, values, and programs as appropriate.

Desired Skills and Expertise

Our intent is to not only have a board that is committed to our mission and qualified for our Board of Directors, but also reflective of racial and ethnic diversity of the region. We invite members who can support a sense of belonging for all members in our community, especially BIPOC supporters who are under-represented in our board.

We are currently recruiting for leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experience. We are especially interested in board members who are:

—Southern Santa Clara County residents
—San Mateo County Coastal residents
—Members of local tribes or Indigenous serving groups

Areas of experience and expertise that we are especially recruiting for include the following listed below.

• Donor Stewardship/Grant Writing
• Accounting/Financial Management
• Strategic Planning/ Executive Leadership
• Governance/ Prior Nonprofit Board Membership
• Advocacy/Land Use
• Leadership Development
• Program Evaluation
• Marketing/Advertising/Social Media
• Public Speaking
• Indigenous Justice
• Litigation/Law
• Equity and Inclusion
• Farming/Agriculture
• Climate Resilience
• Human Resource Professionals
• Life Sciences, Anthropology, and Earth Sciences

What to expect from the recruitment process

• To express interest in joining our Board of Directors, kindly fill out this interest form.
• Our Governance Committee will reach out to set up a conversation so we can get to know one another better and to answer any follow up questions we or you may have.
• Finalists will be presented to and vetted by the Board of Directors, advisory board, and staff.
• Top prospective board members will be invited to meet the Board of Directors at a board meeting and the Board will vote on whether to invite them to join the Board of Directors. If the invitation is accepted, Board membership is effective immediately and service begins at the next Board meeting.

Thank you for your consideration! To express interest in joining our Board of Directors, you can fill out this interest form and we will be in touch.