The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) envisions a just and sustainable transportation system where biking, walking, and transit are the best ways to get around. Our mission is to empower people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places.

The WABA Board of Directors is responsible for the governance, strategic direction, and financial performance of WABA.  The Board carries out these responsibilities by establishing policies and guidelines, approving the annual budget, and providing management oversight.

Specifically, the Board:

  • Elects Board officers;
  • Selects the Executive Director and evaluates performance;
  • Approves WABA’s strategic plan and works with the Executive Director to craft the plan;
  • Creates committees and set committee responsibilities, authorities, and objectives;
  • Approves the annual budget and major capital expenditures;
  • Approve decisions to enter into major new lines of business or areas of work, or to exit existing areas;
  • Approve annual audit and 990; review lobbying reports and other public filings; and
  • Periodically reviews and updates WABA’s bylaws, articles of incorporation and policies.

The Board of Directors operates with three active committees, including:

  • Governance
  • Finance
  • Resources

The Board generally meets six times per year, with additional meetings as necessary. Committee meetings vary depending on the specific committee.

WABA holds an annual meeting Member Meeting in the first quarter of each year for the purpose of electing Board members, and for the transaction of other business as may come before the meeting. 

WABA invites motivated, passionate individuals to apply to join the organization’s volunteer Board of Directors.  We will carefully consider every nomination that we receive, and are grateful for your interest.

Qualifications:

WABA Board members focus on the organization’s strategic direction and financial performance. This role is separate and distinct from the role of the Executive Director who is responsible for implementing policy and day-to-day operations.

Each member of the Board has a fiduciary responsibility to WABA and is expected to act responsibly and prudently and in its best interests.

We seek candidates who will bring energy, relevant experience and diverse backgrounds to guide and strengthen the organization. We strongly encourage applicants who will help the board represent the full diversity of the Washington region along lines of race, ethnicity, age, ability, LGBTQ+ identity, geographic location and other identities.

We are particularly looking for board members who identify with WABA’s mission and who have specific experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • Past service on a board or experience in organizational management and growth;
  • Experience and skills in financial management and accounting;
  • A passion for and experience with fundraising (see note below);
  • A track record of making change happen in your local community, particularly tackling the opportunities and challenges to creating a just transportation system; and/or
  • Residence, employment, or other close connections in the D.C. suburbs (especially Montgomery, Prince George’s County, Alexandria, and Fairfax County) or in District wards 7 and 8.

Note: For fundraising, WABA seeks to build relationships in these areas:

  • Corporate partnerships, especially among developers, health care companies, and major corporations with a foothold in the region;
  • Foundation funders, including those focused on climate and/or equity; and
  • Individuals passionate about WABA’s mission with capacity for major gifts.

In addition, all applicants must demonstrate that they:

  • Are enthusiastic about riding bikes and expanding the number of people in the Washington region who find joy in biking and have access to that opportunity;
  • Are committed to antiracism, equity, and realizing our vision for a just and sustainable transportation system in the Washington region;
  • Appreciate and embrace the diverse multiculturalism of the Washington region and want to ensure that our transportation system facilitates equitable access to walking, biking, and transit for all; and
  • Actively seek out new challenges and collaborate effectively with others to find creative solutions to problems.

What Our Board Members Do:

WABA’s board plays an important role in guiding the organization, supporting its staff of 20+, and ensuring it remains a resilient, inclusive, and effective organization for years to come.

WABA board members are expected to:

  • Actively participate in WABA’s board meetings (six per year), contributing strategic insight and thoughtful questions, and willingly volunteering time and energy toward addressing various organizational opportunities and challenges.
  • Embrace the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism, and continually push the organization to further actualize these principles in practice.
  • Engage and activate their own networks and communities to advance WABA’s mission and vision, through advocacy, fundraising, strategic expertise, and other means.
  • Participate in at least one Board committee, attend WABA’s annual member meeting, and join select public events.
  • Serve at least one, and up to four, two-year terms.

In addition to other aspects of board service, each WABA board member commits to an annual personal financial contribution at a level that (a) is personally meaningful to them, and (b) places WABA among their top three charitable priorities. In lieu of a contribution, a member may ‘get’ to this meaningful amount through outreach to other contributors on behalf of WABA rides, holiday donations, or membership drives. Once annually, between January and March, each board member meets with the executive director and the development director to discuss their board service in general and, specifically, their annual giving.

Learn more at waba.org/about.

Volunteer Details

WABA is committed to providing equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, arrest record or criminal convictions, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, sex, or age.

Apply

Individuals should submit an application of interest using the form above.