EducationMatters Board of Governors is comprised of dedicated volunteers who believe in the value of public education. As a governance board, the governors ensure that the operations of EducationMatters follow the applicable governmental regulations and align with its trust indenture.

Board Membership and Commitment

• Governors support EducationMatters through regular attendance and active involvement in board meetings and by sitting on and participating in at least one committee.
• Governors are approved by the Calgary Board of Education Trustees
• Governors are appointed for an initial three-year term, which may be renewed
• Meetings of the Board are generally held every eight (8) weeks, while committee commitments vary
• Governors are expected to attend additional meetings/events as required, such as strategic planning sessions and special events and celebrations
• Governors commit to participating in fund development activities of the organization and to make a financial contribution at a level that is personally significant and meaningful
• Governors commit approximately 35 hours annually, in addition to time commitments for committee work.

Responsibilities

• Governors, collectively, are responsible for establishing and maintaining:
• Vision for the trust’s public engagement with public education and the Calgary Board of Education
• EducationMatters’ Mission, Vision and Mandate
• The trust’s strategic educational and granting goals and objectives
• Relationships with donors to EducationMatters
• All EducationMatters governance documents and policies

Board Committees consist of the following:

• Governance
• Audit and Finance
• Fund Development and Communications
• Student Award Selection
• Grants

Specific attributes for governors we are looking to bolster on our board are:

• Resource Development Experience/Changemaker - EducationMatters is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year and we are looking to strengthen our strategic direction in the areas of sustainability and growth
• Philanthropic Networks - our mandate is to support public education students, particularly those who experience financial need, and many students in our city require more support than we are able to provide currently; ability to attract community funders is a definite asset
• Communications/Marketing - after 20 years of service and supporting more than 240 schools in the Calgary Board of Education, our brand is still not well known; experience with communications and marketing with a limited budget is of high interest
• Indigenous Voice - we are looking to improve our communications and understanding regarding sensitivity and issues for our Indigenous friends, neighbours and the students we support. One of our strategic priorities focuses on high school completion and helping Indigenous students improve their completion is one area of this work. We have a number of diverse board governors, but no representation from our Indigenous community.
• Governance, Audit and Finance, Accounting - in the interest of board succession planning, we are seeking experience/expertise in these areas to bolster our current board and ensure succession can be seamless when governors depart/retire

About EducationMatters
EducationMatters is a charitable trust that funds innovative public education enhancement programs to relieve barriers for elementary and secondary school students in the Calgary Board of Education, and help excel and enrich their learning experiences. We also manage and support student awards, scholarships and bursaries to assist Calgary’s students to achieve more.

Vision
Every Calgary Board of Education student, in every grade, will have equitable and barrier-free access to excellent learning opportunities and will complete high school.

Mission
Public education is a shared responsibility to support student success. EducationMatters is a charitable trust inspiring and facilitating investment from the community to enhance equity and alleviate barriers for CBE students throughout all grades to complete high school.

Mandate
EducationMatters, through its fundraising, and in alignment with the Calgary Board of Education’s Education Plan, provides financial grants, scholarships and awards to improve access to learning opportunities, advance equity, and remove barriers to learning for students.

Values
Student-centered – student needs come first
Equity – provide financial support to enhance educational equity
Sustainability – recognize acceleration-ready projects and pilots that are sustainable
Evidence-based – approach based on need/research
Collaboration – work closely with CBE and organizations with similar/complementary goals