Be a part of what’s NU: Join the NUMU Board of Directors!
Thank you for your interest in joining NUMU as a Board Member. Please read on for important information about joining our dynamic board.
About NUMU
NUMU is a museum on the rise, and we are delighted you are considering helping us achieve the next level of museum excellence. New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU), formerly the Museums of Los Gatos, founded in 1965, is a public non-profit art and history museum located in the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Los Gatos.
Our Mission
Engaging community at the intersection of art, history and education through innovative, locally connected and globally relevant exhibits programs and experiences.
Our Vision
NUMU offers equal and equitable representation, opportunities and services to all stakeholders through our operations, exhibitions, public programs, and permanent collection.
NUMU presents engaging, interactive exhibitions and educational programs, aiming to be a focal point of art and history, scholarship and education.
By telling focused stories of the Bay Area that reach the greater community in scope, innovation, and interest, we strive to be the place where children and adults can seek a broader, deeper understanding and appreciation of our community and region.
NUMU recognizes the need to be proactively antiracist, accessible to all, and relevant to the regions we serve. With NUMU's strategic vision to be more civically and community focused, and to align with the Town of Los Gatos’ commitment to be inclusive, the museum will host exhibits and programs that are responsive to its communities, both within Los Gatos and throughout the Bay Area, advocating for those traditionally left out of art and historical discourse. We challenge ourselves to uplift marginalized voices in exhibits and prioritize programs for under-resourced communities.
We partner with artists, organizations, and civic bodies to make art and history come alive for our constituents–in Los Gatos and beyond.
If you would like to help this cultural gem thrive and grow, please fill in the application!
Quick Stats
Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023): $750,655
Museum Members: 200
Annual Museum Visitors: 7,000, which includes K-5 school tours, museum admissions, special events & receptions, programs, and workshops
Employees: 6 full-time, 6 part-time
Join NUMU’s Board of Directors
Functions + Responsibilities
NUMU’s Board of Directors maintains fiduciary responsibility and is responsible for defining and upholding the organization’s mission, vision, and values, as well as providing overall leadership and strategic direction to the museum. Board members are crucial participants in NUMU’s fundraising efforts, spreading the word about our good work, and making connections–deepening the museum's connection to the Bay Area and beyond. Board members introduce potential donors to NUMU, actively participating in fundraising campaigns and making their own personal donations.
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Ensure that NUMU Is run in an ethical and legal manner, and implement good governance practices that establish accountability.
Support and work with the Executive Director to create a strategic direction for NUMU and to set short and long term goals and policies.
Annually evaluate the performance of the Executive Director and approve appropriate compensation.
Annually review and evaluate the performance of the Board of Directors and take steps to improve its performance.
Board Participation:
Attend at least 80% of board meetings and board activities. Come prepared to board meetings having reviewed the materials in the agenda packet.
Actively participate on at least one committee.
Participate as a guest at events.
Bring new guests to NUMU, at least 3 per quarter.
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When with an appropriate audience (e.g., potential donors or visitors), NUMU should be at the top of your list when talking about your community involvement at a cocktail party, networking event, etc.
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Join the Curator’s Circle ($1,000). If this is set up as an automatically recurring gift, it can be paid in monthly, quarterly, or biannual installments.
Identify potential funding sources and serve as an ambassador in securing gifts.
Raise or donate a minimum of $2,500 annually for the organization. This can be a combination of your personal contributions, gifts you personally solicit from others, and possibly in-kind services.
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Review and approve the annual budget.
Review and understand financial statements as they are submitted to the board.
Stay familiar with the organization’s bylaws and operation procedures.
Disclose all potential conflicts of interest in advance to the board of directors.
Serve as a member of the board in a manner that promotes the best interests of the organization.
Committees
Committees help maximize the board’s productivity by matching members with particular expertise to appropriate areas. They allow members to engage with issues more deeply and consistently than the board could as a whole. Committees can research and break down complex issues and present their findings to the board, which can then move forward to making decisions. Committees typically meet monthly. Each board member is required to join at least one committee.
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Comprised of board officers, the committee oversees operations of the board; acts on behalf of the board during on-demand activities that occur between meetings and performs evaluation of executive director. Meets on an ad hoc basis.
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Ensures effective board processes, structures and roles, including recruitment, retreat planning, board training, committee development, and board evaluation; prepares priorities for board composition, meets with prospective board members and recommends candidates to the board; recommends a slate of officers to the board and conducts orientation sessions for new board members. Meets on an ad hoc basis.
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Oversees development of the budget; ensures accurate tracking/monitoring/accountability for funds; ensures adequate financial controls; recommends financial guidelines to the board and oversees short and long-term investments.
Meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:30 pm.
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Oversees development and implementation of the organization’s fundraising plan; identifies and solicits funds from external sources of support, responsible for involvement of all board members in fundraising.
Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:30 pm.
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Identifies and addresses internal and external inequitable practices, produces and updates the Equity Statement, and regularly reports on equity initiatives to the board, staff, and the general public for accountability.
Meets on the first Thursday of the month at 3 pm.
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The advisory council will consist of community members with substantial experience or professional background in one or several areas: Finance, Investment, Development, Strategic Planning, Education, Technology, Arts, and Nonprofit Management. Their responsibility is to contribute their expertise, advice, and guidance to the Executive Director, Board, and Staff to the current and future work of NUMU. They are required to be available to provide advisory services as requested by the Executive Director or Board up to six (6) times a year. Advisory Council terms are one (1) year long, with subsequent consecutive terms to be approved by the Board.
Time Commitment
Each director is asked to commit to one three-year term. Directors may be invited to serve up to two consecutive terms. Board members are encouraged to actively work to fill their seat at the end of their final service term.
The full board meets approximately 11 times per year. Meetings are generally on the third Tuesday of the month from 5 to 7 pm. Most meetings are currently held virtually.
Each director is expected to serve on at least one committee, which will work in between board meetings.
On average, each board member spends 5-10 hours per month supporting the Museum.
Qualifications
Understand, appreciate, and show dedication to the work of the Museum.
Willing to contribute financially, and to make the case for financial support from others.
Ability and willingness to cultivate qualified individuals for board membership.
Willingness to learn more about current Museum activities and its role in the community.
Proactively makes connections in the community with prospective supporters.
Responsive to the executive director and on board with the vision for NUMU.
People of color are highly encouraged to apply; an understanding and appreciation of NUMU’s DEAI Action Plan is required.
Big-picture thinker, but willing to get “into the weeds” during Committee meetings.
Professional and other expertise in one or several of the following areas highly sought:
Marketing
Finance
Legal
HR
“Industry” Arts and Culture
Development/Fundraising
Volunteerism
Event Planning
Politics and local government
The Selection Process
Interested candidates should submit a completed Board of Directors Application and a resume to Deputy Director Kim Snyder, at operations@numulosgatos.org
Top candidates will be interviewed by the Executive Director and Board Governance Committee members.
Nominations will be made to the Board of Directors for election at a board meeting. Candidate attends a Board Meeting to meet the rest of the Board. Candidates will be notified of the result immediately following this process.
