ELAP is a nonprofit dedicated to working with people facing domestic violence, housing, financial, healthcare, immigration, and other issues that need a legal solution. ELAP believes that everyone deserves access to legal help. An experience with domestic violence, an unexpected medical bill, unfair eviction, or other life challenge can set people back financially, physically, and psychologically. Yet, people often don’t know how to exercise their legal rights. Legal aid is a tool that can prevent poverty and injustice. Our staff and volunteer lawyers work for free with people facing domestic violence, housing, financial, healthcare, and other problems that need a legal solution.

Role Description

ELAP is seeking applicants to serve on our board of directors. We are a financially stable 501(c)(3) in our 35th year of operation. The ELAP Board works to provide strategic governance for the organization. All Board members serve on a Board committee through which they provide more tactical support of ELAP’s mission, including supporting development efforts, implementing organizational policies, and program development and implementation.

Role Qualifications

We acknowledge that board service is a privilege often limited to individuals who are socially advantaged, based on their gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or race. While we value past board experience, we also value a board composition that reflects the clients that ELAP serves and brings specific skill sets or professional expertise to ELAP's work. If you are passionate about our work, interested in investing your time and experience in our organization, and value growth and learning, we encourage all applications, regardless of previous experience.

We are seeking applicants who complement and expand the skills, professional backgrounds, and lived experiences of our existing board members. While finance, public health, marketing, development, and HR expertise are our primary needs currently, we encourage all individuals from traditionally underserved populations to apply.

Board members commit to the following terms:

* Volunteer for a 3-year term with the possibility of renewal.

* Regularly attend board meetings which happen up to 8 times a year (via Zoom with 2 - 3 in- person meetings each calendar year)

* Serve on and/or chair at least one committee (ex. Governance, Development, Board Recruitment, Attorney Volunteer, Finance).

* Spend an average of 6 to 10 hours a month doing board work: attending regular meetings, participating in committee work, and being an ambassador in the community.

* Assist with fundraising, including sponsorships, ticket sales to annual Breakfast for Justice Fundraiser, and serving as table Captain at Breakfast for Justice (filling at least one table with guests.

* Make a personally meaningful annual donation. Please note that ELAP Board members do not have a minimum "give get" financial responsibility.

Eastside Legal Assistance Program opportunities

Board of Directors