Board Member

Fostering Promise is a systems-change organization working to prevent homelessness before it begins for young people transitioning from foster care.

Through our Predictive Prevention model, we bring together young people with lived experience, public systems, housing providers, community partners, technology, and data to identify housing risk earlier and create pathways to housing stability before young people leave foster care.

At the center of this work is My Housing Platform™, the technology backbone of Predictive Prevention, designed to put young people in the driver's seat of their housing readiness and connect them with the information, opportunities, resources, and supportive relationships they need to successfully transition to adulthood.

Our work is guided by the voices and experiences of young people who have experienced foster care and by one simple North Star: Not Even One™.

Our Mission

We advocate for youth-driven policies to ensure Not Even One™ young person ages-out of foster care without a safe place to call home, the support of a caring mentor, and the hope for a promising future.

The Opportunity

We are seeking passionate, mission-driven individuals to join our Board of Directors as Fostering Promise grows its statewide advocacy and policy impact. This is an unpaid, non-operational role for people who are motivated by purpose, stewardship, and the chance to help end the pipeline from foster care to homelessness.

Board Members serve as strategic thought partners to the CEO, providing governance, guidance, and perspective as we expand our policy reach, strengthen organizational sustainability, and deepen our impact for youth and families across the Bay Area and beyond.

Role & Responsibilities

As a Board Member, you will:

• Partner with the CEO on long-term strategy, vision, and organizational sustainability
• Provide governance oversight, ensuring alignment with mission, values, and fiduciary responsibilities
• Contribute strategic insight in areas such as policy and advocacy, growth, partnerships, finance, risk, or impact measurement
• Support and evaluate the CEO while maintaining appropriate governance boundaries
• Act as an ambassador for the organization, helping elevate visibility, credibility, and community trust
• Help build relationships with funders, policymakers, and community partners — with fundraising and major-gift cultivation a particular focus as the Board grows its philanthropic capacity
• Participate in Board meetings and committee work as applicable

Ideal Board Member Profile

We are intentionally building a Board with diverse professional expertise, lived experience, and perspectives. Candidates do not need to bring all five, but strength in even one is a meaningful fit.

1. Lived Experience (Foster Care)

Former foster youth, resource parent, or kinship caregiver.

1. Fundraising & Major Gifts, Venture Capitalists

Donor cultivation, major-gift solicitation, or philanthropic network experience. As Fostering Promise scales, a stronger fundraising bench on the Board is a top priority.

1. Housing Development

Experience developing, financing, or managing affordable or transitional housing — directly relevant to our housing-stability work with youth aging out of care.

1. Legal / Risk Management

Nonprofit law, compliance, contracts, or governance risk — an area where the Board currently has limited depth.

1. Child Welfare / Foster Care Systems / State or Federal

Direct professional or policy experience with the foster care or homelessness-prevention system.

Beyond these priority areas, we welcome candidates with backgrounds in nonprofit leadership, communications, technology, or general philanthropy. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive, and will continue to evolve as we build out the Board.

More broadly, we're looking for individuals who bring:

• Experience serving on other nonprofit boards or advisory bodies (preferred but not required)
• Leadership experience in a professional, civic, or community setting
• A collaborative mindset and comfort engaging in constructive, strategic dialogue
• A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care

Time Commitment

• Approx. 6 Board meetings per year (held every other month), plus occasional committee, events or strategic sessions
• Modest preparation time in advance of meetings
• Term length: 2 years, renewable

Location

Fostering Promise is headquartered in San Jose, CA, with statewide advocacy reach across California. Board meetings may be held virtually to accommodate a geographically diverse Board.

Compensation

This is an unpaid, volunteer Board position. Board service offers the opportunity to make a profound impact through leadership, stewardship, and partnership in a mission-critical effort to end youth homelessness.

Why Serve?

• Help end the pipeline from foster care to homelessness at a pivotal moment for the organization
• Apply your leadership experience to help scale our work
• Partner with our founder/CEO and engaged Board colleagues
• Contribute to a mission grounded in the voices of those with lived experience