Mission and Vision Statements

Our mission is to make an education in Motion Design / Animation more accessible to everyone. We are working to remove barriers of location, cost, and accessibility to enable more people who want to learn Motion Design the opportunity to do so. By removing these barriers, we want to move the needle on creating a more diverse and inclusive creative industry.

Our Vision is to build training programs unlike anything available to Motion Designers, both aspiring and current professionals, without putting the burden of debt for training onto them. We want an industry that fosters upcoming talent and creates opportunity for growth by investing in educating its future.

Position Summary

As a volunteer member of Gunner School’s Board of Directors you will have the opportunity to shape the future of our organization. We are looking for people who are passionate about building our school and assisting with creating a stable financial foundation for our organization to grow and thrive. We expect a commitment of 10 hours per month, with bi-monthly meetings while we work towards these important goals of stability and growth. Our Board Members are expected to use their professional expertise to assist with committees and other organizational duties on a voluntary basis. Members of our board are not financially compensated for their time, and this position is strictly voluntary.

As a Member at Large you will serve as a voting member of the Board of Directors and provide broad input and support for the organization’s mission. This role does not carry a specific officer title but contributes actively to board decision-making, strategic planning, and community outreach.

Position Responsibilities

Key Duties

• Attend and actively participate in board meetings and discussions.

• Provide insight and perspective on organizational strategy, programming, and community impact.

• Serve on committees or task forces as needed, contributing expertise and ideas.

• Assist with fundraising, donor engagement, and sponsorship cultivation.

• Promote the organization’s mission within the community and serve as an ambassador Gunner School.

• Support special events, exhibitions, and programs through attendance, advocacy, and volunteerism.

• Step in to address emerging organizational needs or special projects as assigned by the board.

• Participate in the development, review, and distribution of an organization’s governance policies, bylaws, and strategic plans.

Collective Board Responsibilities

As the governing body of Gunner School, the board is collectively responsible for: 

• Strategic Planning: Determine the organization’s mission and purpose; approve overarching goals and objectives of all programs; monitor achievements and outcomes against those established goals.

• Financial Accountability: Ensure that the organization is properly managed, that financial control  systems are in place, and that proper judgment is used in all business and financial transactions.

• Fund Development: Approve fund development goals and plans; participate in fundraising activities,  especially in regard to identification and cultivation of prospective donors.

• Public Relations: Work to advance the public image of the organization.

• Appraising the Executive Director: Select, support and conduct an annual performance review of the Executive Director.

• Maintaining the Board: Select, recruit, and nurture new board members; develop and review the performance of board members; and assess its meetings and own performance as a board. 

Individual Responsibilities: 

In order to achieve these collective responsibilities, all individual board members will be asked to: 

• Attend a one hour orientation session upon election.

• Attend no less than 75% of regular board meetings. Currently, the board meets bi-monthly. This frequency can change in the future as the organization grows and stabilizes. If a board member is absent from three consecutive regular meetings without excuse, that position on the board may be declared vacant by the President.

• Prepare for board meetings in advance by reviewing the pre-distributed materials in order to facilitate  the board’s approval of a consent agenda. 

• Review board updates, which are distributed during months without a board meeting. 

• Serve on at least one standing committee (Fundraising, Financial Review & Audit). 

• Make introductions to prospective donors. 

• Secure their businesses’ contribution to the annual campaign (if applicable). 

• Attends major organizational sponsored events (e.g. Student Showcase, fundraising events); 

• Make a personally significant contribution to the Fund’s annual campaign; 

• Identify and disclose any potential conflicts of interest; 

• Respect the confidentiality of organizational information; 

• Assist with special projects as requested by the chairperson or executive director.

Term of Service

3 years (with the option of serving an additional 3 year term, if so desired). 

Average Time Commitment

10 Hours per Month

Location

You must be in the United States to apply for this position. Candidates from the Metro-Detroit area are preferred, non-local candidates with a passion for our organization’s mission along with experience serving on a Board of Directors, or similar organizational experience, will be considered. 

How to Apply

Please send a resume and short cover letter detailing relevant experience, volunteerism, and interest in this position to info@gunner.school

The subject of your email should be YOUR NAME - Member At Large Board Position

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.