Founding Board Recruitment Map

Recruitment Principles

The founding Board must balance governance competence, mission credibility, fundraising capacity, and founder stability. A majority must be independent. No single professional clique should dominate. At least two members should be capable of opening major funding doors.

Seat Profiles

Seat 1 --- Founder / CEO

• Occupant: Terry Holliday
• Contribution: Strategic direction, founder continuity, technology and mission architecture, public narrative.
• Committees: Executive (non-voting participant), Development.

Seat 2 --- Independent Board Chair

• Profile: Calm, respected, governance literate, not threatened by strong founders, comfortable managing board personalities.
• Best backgrounds: Former nonprofit executive, retired judge, respected community leader, senior attorney, or university leader.
• Committees: Executive (Chair), Governance.

Seat 3 --- Treasurer / Finance & Audit Lead

• Profile: CPA, nonprofit finance professional, experienced CFO, banking or financial compliance background.
• Committees: Finance/Audit/Risk (Chair), Executive.

Seat 4 --- Secretary / Governance Lead

• Profile: Attorney, governance professional, nonprofit compliance expert.
• Committees: Governance & Nominating (Chair), Executive.

Seat 5 --- Animal Welfare Operations

• Profile: Veterinarian, shelter director, rescue coalition leader, animal control administrator.
• Committees: Mission/Impact.

Seat 6 --- Legal / Public Policy

• Profile: Nonprofit attorney, public policy lawyer, legislative advisor, administrative law specialist.
• Committees: Governance.

Seat 7 --- Strategic Philanthropy / Major Donor Connector

• Profile: Philanthropic foundation leader, high-net-worth community philanthropist, corporate giving executive.
• Committees: Development.

Seat 8 --- Technology / Innovation Advisor

• Profile: Technology executive, SaaS founder, cybersecurity or data architecture expert, civic tech leader.
• Committees: Finance/Risk or Mission/Impact.

Seat 9 --- Community Trust Leader

• Profile: Respected community leader, local government leader, public safety professional, university or health system executive.
• Committees: Development.

Recruitment Waves

Wave 1 --- Founding Governance (Months 1—3)

Board Chair, Treasurer, Legal/Governance seat, Founder. Target: four seated Directors within 90 days of formal governance launch.

Wave 2 --- Operational Expertise (Months 4—6)

Animal welfare expert, Technology advisor, Community leader. Target: seven seated Directors within 180 days.

Wave 3 --- Growth Phase (Months 7—12)

Philanthropy connector, Additional independent Director. Target: full nine-member Board within 12 months.

Personality Rules

Do NOT recruit: Only friends, only donors, or only animal lovers. People who want operational control. People with massive egos.

DO recruit: Calm adults with institutional experience who respect founder leadership and are comfortable governing rather than running.

Seat Summary

Recruitment Waves Summary