What Kind of Leaders We Need at the Table
Leaders Who Will Build Lasting Change in West Virginia
Why This Moment Matters
Kayla is a single mother, with two children, living just outside Huntington. She works full-time at a daycare and then picks up weekend shifts at a local diner. Recently, her rent increased again. She never misses a shift and even skips meals sometimes to make sure her kids are fed well. Yet, she is just a flat tire or a single sick day away from losing her housing.
Kayla isn’t failing. The system is failing her.
And she isn’t alone. Across West Virginia, many families are stuck in survival mode, just like Kayla— working hard but still unable to access real opportunity for lasting growth. They are overpaying for unsafe housing that they could lose at the smallest setback. They have no path, and worse— no hope, to ever reach homeownership, equity, or any kind of lasting stability.
· Over 46% of renter households in West Virginia are cost-burdened, meaning they spend over 30% of their income on rent[i].
· Meanwhile, homeowners in WV are significantly less likely to be cost-burdened than renters— 14.2% compared to the 31.9% national average— and their housing costs are often lower than rent[ii].
· Federal rental assistance is increasingly limited. The average wait for subsidized housing in West Virginia? 9 months! And recent policy changes have made access even more difficult.
With major federal funding cuts, like those made to SNAP, Medicaid, and housing vouchers, even the safety net that so many families rely on to stay afloat is beginning to unravel. West Virginians don’t need another band-aid solution— they need a path to permanent stability and lower cost of living.
That is what On the Rock Alliance is here to build.
We believe that families don’t need to be rescued— they need to be empowered with resources and direction. We are building a community where people like Kayla can stop surviving and start building a better future. We teach financial skills, connect families with mentors, help them develop a career plan, and ultimately walk with them through the path to homeownership, in the same neighborhoods where they had barely gotten by— then re-engage them as returning mentors with continued guidance and support.
But this is a community effort! That’s why we’re inviting leaders, funders, and changemakers in Appalachia to make a difference in your community. Are you ready to move past advocacy and activism and start acting to reshape what’s possible.
We want leaders with heart, experience, and grit. Does that sound like you?
Why Leadership Matters in This Work
We are looking for passionate leaders who want to serve with purpose. We recognize that slow change is lasting change. Making that change isn’t always going to be easy, and that is why we need strong visionaries, women and men who can think outside the box, turn barriers into building blocks, and stay rooted when path gets rough. We are seeking leaders who turn the vision to a plan and the plan into action.
Many of us have seen what happens when leadership is weak. There can be thousands of amazing ideas, but no one takes that first step. No one is there to prioritize or strategize which efforts should be the next focus. Families stay stuck because the efforts are fragmented; resources are left on the table— misunderstood, unclaimed, and unused.
Organizations without a strong, unified leadership team will stall out and fade away. We must set a great example by starting this mission with our own steady foundation. There is too much at stake and change can only be scaled by people who truly own the mission.
The Type of Leaders We Want on this WV Nonprofit Board
This isn’t just another program— this is a mission, a transformation, a legacy. And for that, we need more than experienced leaders. We need the people who have been in the pits, the families who have wondered if they could ever achieve their goals, the men and women who have hit roadblock after roadblock, and still found a way to overcome.
The Kind of Leaders We Want at This Table Are:
Rooted in Community – You care about people over prestige. You are here to make a difference, not just make a name for yourself.
Courageously Compassionate – You speak the truth in kindness, keeping strengths and goals front and center. Whether you are speaking with the board, clients, or community partners, you are working toward growth with grace and compassion.
Skilled Collaborators – You work well with different perspectives and honor lived experience. You don’t approach partners with a list of tasks you want them to complete, but a list of questions to uncover the best way to benefit each other and our clients.
Strategic Thinkers – You can turn struggles into strategy and setbacks into starting lines. You aren’t afraid of challenges. In fact, you see them as a strength-building exercise.
Invested in Generational Change – You’re in this to build lasting solutions, not quick fixes, and you know this will take time and consistency. And you are here for it!
If this sounds like you, and you have been looking for an opportunity to build something bigger than yourself, join us for dinner on August 2nd to claim your role in the mission.
What Serving on Our Board Looks Like
Serving on our Board isn’t about the checks you write or wearing a special nametag at a gala. It’s about rolling up your sleeves and diving in. Our leaders are doing the work and putting in their time and social capital to open doors of opportunity and success.
For the first six months, we will meet twice a month. This will help us build a strong, cohesive, and intentional foundation. Once our strategy is solid, we will shift to monthly meetings, with additional time spent on committees, event planning, or special projects. We expect a total contribution of 4-6 hours per month from each board member, although this can look a little different based on committees and roles each member may take on.
While some organizations have a minimum required giving, we ask for something more powerful: your social capital. Perhaps you have a strong network who will happily give funds or connect us to grant opportunities, many friends who will attend our events and spread the word, or you’re a great speaker and can share our mission with the right audience who can amplify and support our work.
We’re looking for people who want to be part of something meaningful, who understand that lasting, generational change won’t happen overnight, but it does happen when committed people bring their heart, integrity, and ambition to the mission. If you have a heart for community, the smarts for solving problems, and a willingness to show up and get to work, we need you at the table!
BOARD DUTIES:
· Duty of Care: We want you to attend meetings, get familiar with materials, and participate thoughtfully to ensure we are acting in alignment with our mission and vision.
· Duty of Loyalty: Mission integrity is top priority. You should disclose any conflicts, and the board should speak as a unified and cohesive voice.
· Duty of Obedience: All members must act in legal compliance— bylaws, legal standards, and ethical norms.
· Duty of Advocacy: Board members should represent the organization externally- building awareness, recruiting volunteers and donors, and volunteering at events.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU!
When you join this mission, you won’t just be giving. We recognize the hard work of all volunteers, whether they are taking the reigns or taking direction. Our onboarding and training set you up for success and we offer ongoing professional development and personal support through events, workshops, and other resources. We actively seek input from our board and volunteers to ensure our development and support practices are effective, responsive, and aligned with your needs. We believe strong leadership grows in a culture of listening, learning, and continuous improvement.
What You’ll Gain By Being at This Table
When giving your heart and soul to such heavy work, it is vital that the work feeds back into you, too. We couldn’t ask such deep investments from our board, volunteers, and staff without ensuring that you are built up and poured back into.
At On the Rock Alliance, building community is steeped into everything we do— including the support we give you! Yes, the mission is meaningful, but sustainable impact comes from sustaining our people.
We aren’t just going to order pizza at a board meeting and call it rewarding. We intentionally pour back into those who lead and serve with us, with true nourishment, such as these opportunities:
· Personal and professional growth through training, coaching, and learning stipends and materials
· Restore and Renew retreats, extended time off, and care packages
· Recognition, awards, and feature spotlights
· Compensation whenever possible- stipends, quality meals, transportation and childcare provided when possible
· Greater opportunities to shape and guide the future of our work
WE WANT TO KNOW: WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL SUPORTED AND REFRESHED?
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WE WANT TO KNOW: WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL SUPORTED AND REFRESHED? *
We want a culture of caring that is collaborative and creative— so we want to ask:
· What would make you feel deeply supported in your service?
· Is there a workshop topic you’d love to see offered this year?
· Have an idea for a retreat spot, nature outing, or renewal day that would feel refreshing for you or someone you know?
We are planning future care offerings now— and we want to build them with you, not just for you.
Send your ideas, blog post proposals, or wish list for upcoming rest & renewal activities to SamKinnear329@outlook.com
You belong here! We want to make sure it feels like it!
Ready to Lead With Us?
Step Into Something Bigger
If your soul is saying ‘yes’ to any part of this — I’d love to invite you to dinner.
RSVP for our informational dinner here
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[ii] https://usafacts.org/articles/who-spends-more-of-their-income-on-housing-in-the-us/
[i] https://westvirginiawatch.com/2024/09/16/rent-is-eating-up-a-greater-share-of-tenants-income-in-almost-every-state/