Application Information

Mission

The NIRSA Foundation, through fundraising and stewardship efforts, works in cooperation with NIRSA to enhance the effectiveness of collegiate recreational sports by providing its members with meaningful opportunities for scholarship, research, and personal and professional development.

Overview

In 1992, NIRSA members established the NIRSA Foundation as a grassroots initiative to give back to the association that had provided them with so much. The NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors serves as a strategic governing body, actively fundraising and ensuring that funds are allocated in alignment with donor intentions and the Foundation’s mission. We aim to balance fundraising efforts with philanthropy, celebrating our NIRSA family, highlighting the achievements of NIRSA members, and fostering a culture of financial commitment to the future of our profession.

The Foundation Board’s primary responsibility is to develop financial resources through donations from both individual and corporate NIRSA members. We are dedicated to cultivating a culture of philanthropy by engaging members at every stage of their lives.

NIRSA Foundation board member expectations

Board members act as the chief ambassadors for the NIRSA Foundation, executing their duties and responsibilities with the utmost professionalism. They are committed to upholding the mission, goals, objectives, and values of the Board.

Specific expectations include:

Demonstrate a passion for the mission of the NIRSA Foundation
Participate in donor cultivation and retention strategies
Participate as a member of NIRSA Foundation Board committees as assigned
Prepare for and participate in scheduled monthly videoconference meetings and virtual board orientation sessions
Participate in a multi-day in-person spring meeting (2025 dates are TBD but typically happen in May or June; required travel will be funded through the Foundation’s annual operating budget)
Attend the NIRSA Conference and Campus Rec Expo during board term
Balance the requirements of being a volunteer leader with the expectations of your primary job responsibilities
Maintain current, active NIRSA membership in the Professional, Professional Life, or Emeritus category throughout the term

Qualifications and competencies needed to serve on the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors

Communication: Communicate opinions and ideas clearly and effectively while adapting to the diverse audiences that comprise NIRSA. Willing to serve as a voice for the NIRSA Foundation to:

Engage and educate donors on the purpose, functions, and initiatives of the NIRSA Foundation
Identify and cultivate prospective donors while also providing stewardship to current and past donors
Represent the NIRSA Foundation Board at various NIRSA functions and industry-related events as appropriate

Critical Thinking: Actively and skillfully conceptualize, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information to inform critical decision making.

Strategic Thinking: Think imaginatively, systematically, and opportunistically in alignment with NIRSA’s core purpose.

Leadership: Represent the NIRSA Foundation distinctively and positively, embracing diversity while maintaining a high reputation in this role:

Embrace the core purpose of the NIRSA Foundation
Demonstrate an understanding of the NIRSA Foundation’s beneficiaries and a commitment to the communities the NIRSA Foundation serves

Knowledge: Understand and commit to learning best practices in foundation management, development, and fiduciary responsibilities as a board member.

Our Fields of Interest

The NIRSA Foundation Board strives to support NIRSA’s highest priorities by directing resources to advance the Association’s strategic initiatives and investing in emerging opportunities that elevate the field of campus recreation and support the NIRSA Family.

Currently, the NIRSA Foundation focuses on the following fields of interest:

Scholarships: This provides access to and funding for NIRSA professional development programs. The main activity of this pillar is the management of the student and professional scholarship and stipend programs.
Research: This includes activities that maintain, strengthen, and advance the profession of collegiate recreation to both internal and external stakeholders. It includes activities such as white papers, research, assessment, benchmarking, and publications. It currently funds the Institutional Data Set, the Salary Census, NIRSA Research Grant Program, and Recreational Sports Journal.
Student Officials Development: This supports the leadership development of NIRSA members through participation in officials’ training offered through the NIRSA Championship Series. It includes a dedicated fundraising campaign and currently funds officials’ development programs at the NIRSA National Basketball and Flag Football Championships.
Strategic Initiatives: This is designed to meet evolving and strategic needs of NIRSA. It is the most flexible funding vehicle for the NIRSA Foundation. Funding comes from general fund donations. Strategic initiatives have allowed the Foundation to quickly fund a membership fee waiver program for those impacted financially by COVID-19. Also, the Foundation is funding health and wellbeing resource development and learning opportunities within NIRSA.

Focus for 2020-2023 Board Terms

Focus for 2020-2023 Foundation Board Terms/Skills we are recruiting for:

Innovator – explore new ways to fundraise that focus on ensuring a future culture of philanthropy among NIRSA members
Strategic Thinker – ability to think conceptually, imaginatively, systematically, and opportunistically when it comes to fundraising and stewardship
Financial Knowledge – ability and commitment to learn, or already possess a working knowledge of, foundation and development financial practices