Company Description
Groundfloor Democracy exists to strengthen democracy for Wisconsinites through pop-up civic dialogues and community hubs that meet people wherever they gather. We start with low-barrier, face-to-face conversations, our Politics in the Park series, designed to be welcoming, nonpartisan, and useful. No cameras, no gotcha clips; participants should feel safe enough to be honest.
Conversations become action through a light Digital Engagement program and our Two-Hour Democracy Pledge, which channels small, regular contributions of time into volunteer hours, neighbor-to-neighbor help, and local partnerships. Year one is about building reliable rhythms, transparent governance, and clear metrics so supporters can see what their time and $10 gifts accomplish.
We’re a small, hands-on organization based in Oshkosh and operating hybrid across Wisconsin. If you care about practical civics over partisan performance, join us. Our Linktree has the business plan, newsletter signup, volunteer and board interest forms: linktr.ee/groundfloordemocracy.
Role Description
Location: Hybrid (Oshkosh, WI + remote) • Type: Volunteer/Unpaid • Time: ~6–10 hrs/month
Meetings: Bimonthly board meetings (every other month, six per year) + lightweight committee work between meetings
As a Director, you will provide fiduciary oversight, help refine strategy and annual goals, review budgets, support grassroots fundraising, and keep us compliant as we incorporate and formalize policies. This is a working governance board: you’ll attend meetings, contribute between meetings in your lane of expertise, and be available for occasional ad-hoc decisions.
We value practical wisdom and lived experience as much as titles. If you’ve built organizations on a shoestring, worked in the civic arena, or simply care enough to do the follow-through, you’ll fit in.
Ideal experience (one or more):
- Nonprofit finance/accounting or treasurer experience; budgeting & controls
- Legal/policy/compliance (bylaws, conflicts, charitable registration)
- Fundraising & development (small-donor strategy, grants, partnerships)
- Community organizing & volunteer ops; labor/community partnerships
- Marketing/communications & social; basic press and crisis hygiene
- Program design, evaluation, or measurement (turning mission into metrics)
- Technology ops/automation for small teams (bonus: Google Workspace/Slack)
What the commitment looks like: Short reading in advance; a focused board meeting every other month; 6-10 hours between meetings on a committee or project. No required “give/get” in Year 1; we prioritize time, skills, and networks, though board members model small-donor giving.
Why now: We’re moving from pilot to durable program. Directors joining now will shape bylaws, policies, year-one budget, risk management, and the first hiring/volunteer framework. This is real stewardship, not résumé padding.
How to apply: Send a brief note on your interest and relevant experience via LinkedIn or complete the Board Interest Form on our Linktree. You can also review our business plan there.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/groundfloordemocracy
Equity & ethics: Groundfloor Democracy is nonpartisan and welcomes Directors from varied backgrounds. We especially encourage applicants with community-rooted experience, first-gen/nontraditional paths, and perspectives underrepresented in civic leadership. All Directors adhere to conflict-of-interest and non-discrimination policies.
Qualifications
Must-have
- Commitment to a nonpartisan, community-first mission and to conflict-of-interest and non-discrimination policies.
- Time availability of ~6-10 hrs/month, including bimonthly meetings (hybrid: Zoom + occasional Oshkosh sessions).
- Basic governance literacy (duties of care, loyalty, obedience) or willingness to complete a short onboarding within 30 days.
- Financial comfort: can read a simple budget/cash-flow and ask disciplined questions.
- Clear, timely communication; reliable follow-through between meetings.
- Sound judgment on risk, reputation, and legal compliance for a small, early-stage nonprofit.
Strongly preferred (bring at least one)
- Finance/Treasury: bookkeeping/accounting, internal controls, GAAP basics, Form 990 or WI charitable filings.
- Legal/Policy/Compliance: bylaws, records, governance calendars, conflicts, registrations.
- Fundraising/Development: small-donor strategy, grant pipeline, partnerships, stewardship.
- Community organizing/Volunteer ops: recruiting, training, retaining volunteers; labor/community ties.
- Program design & evaluation: logic models, KPIs, lightweight data collection.
- Tech/Operations: lightweight automation for small teams; Google Workspace administration.
Nice to have
- Prior nonprofit board service or startup/early-stage operating experience.
- Wisconsin networks (civic, education, labor, faith, business) or ability to attend 3+ in-person sessions/year.
- Grant writing, donor CRM familiarity, or event fundraising.
- Bilingual or cross-cultural communication experience.
