Opportunity Snapshot
Overview: As One Earth Collective (OEC) expands its national footprint in climate justice, the award-winning nonprofit is seeking a Finance Chair to join our Board of Directors and anchor the organization’s strategic financial future.
For more than 15 years, OEC has advanced environmental justice through innovative, community-rooted programming that centers those most disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis, with a particular focus on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
OEC’s leadership and impact have been recognized nationally and globally, including designation as a United Nations program partner through the Youth Climate Report, an initiative of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the recognition of Executive Director Ana Garcia Doyle as a 2022 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Leader in Sustainability. OEC has enjoyed years-long successes, including in 2019, when OEC was awarded a United Nations Global Goals Award from the United Nations Association of Greater Chicago, and the organization has enjoyed a partnership of over a decade with the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment.
The Finance Chair plays a critical role in ensuring OEC’s continued financial health, sustainability, and accountability in service of its mission.
Inquiries: Please submit a bio, resume, or LinkedIn profile, and a brief statement of interest. Supplementary materials may be included, but are not required. Confidential inquiries and nominations can be directed to:
Chartise Clark
Founder & Managing Partner
Avra Search Partners
Roles on OEC’s Board of Directors are unpaid volunteer positions. This structure helps ensure OEC is well-positioned to uphold donor trust and guarantee its focus remains entirely on its mission. OEC’s Board roles offer governance experience, make a major impact on climate change, and strengthen partnerships in sustainability across the City of Chicago.
About One Earth Collective
Founded in 2010 as Green Community Connections, One Earth Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to harnessing the power of people through vibrant environmental programming that inspires action, facilitates learning, promotes justice, and fosters equity and inclusion to create resilient communities and a healthier planet.
OEC engages more than 7,000 individuals annually through three flagship program areas:
- One Earth Film Festival, the Midwest’s premier environmental film festival;
- One Earth Youth Voices, which elevates youth leadership in climate justice; and
- One Earth Local, which focuses on neighborhood-level programming to build community resilience.
To learn more about One Earth Collective, visit: onearthcollective.org.
For more information about One Earth Film Festival, visit: oneearthfilmfest.org.
Key Responsibilities of the Finance Chair
Financial Governance & Strategic Oversight
- Provide strategic oversight of OEC’s financial position, sustainability, and long-term planning.
- Chair the Finance Committee and set agendas in partnership with staff leadership.
- Review and present clear, accessible financial reports to the Board to support informed decision-making.
Cash Management & Budget Oversight
- Oversee cash flow, reserves, and liquidity to ensure organizational stability.
- Review, guide, and approve annual operating budgets and forecasts.
- Support the development of grant-specific budgets and financial narratives in partnership with staff.
Partnership with Financial Contractors
- Serve as a Board-level partner to OEC’s bookkeeper, accountant, and payroll providers, all of whom are experienced external contractors.
- Provide oversight and guidance to ensure systems, controls, and reporting reflect best practices for a growing nonprofit.
Compliance, Risk & Audit Support
- Oversee compliance with nonprofit financial regulations and governance standards.
- Support annual tax filings (Form 990) and any audit or financial review processes.
- Partner with leadership to identify and mitigate financial and organizational risk.
Board Leadership & Ambassadorship
- Collaborate closely with fellow Board members to align financial strategy with mission and values,
- Serve as an ambassador for OEC, supporting fundraising, donor stewardship, and external relationships.
Board Member Roles and Responsibilities
One Earth Collective’s Board of Directors is a volunteer governing body responsible for fiduciary oversight, strategic leadership, and resource stewardship in service of the organization’s mission.
Members of the Board of Directors are responsible for providing strategic oversight, governance, and resource development to ensure the organization’s sustainability and growth.
Key responsibilities include:
- Mission & Governance: Safeguard OEC’s mission and values, participate in quarterly board meetings, and engage in annual strategic planning.
- Leadership & Expertise: Contribute professional knowledge or lived experience in areas such as finance, fundraising, legal guidance, community engagement, or creative storytelling.
- Fundraising & Development: Support OEC’s fundraising efforts through personal contributions, donor engagement, and network cultivation.
- Ambassadorship: Serve as an ambassador by promoting OEC programs, events, and partnerships
Desired Background and Expertise
OEC welcomes candidates with diverse professional paths and lived experiences. Ideal candidates bring:
- Experience in finance, accounting, audit, budgeting, or financial strategy.
- Interest in, or existing comfort with, overseeing nonprofit financial systems and external vendors.
- Ability to translate complex financial information for non-financial audiences.
- Strong judgment, integrity, and a collaborative leadership style.
- Commitment to environmental justice, equity, and community-centered work.
CPA, CFA, or similar credentials are welcome but not required.
Board Commitment
- Meetings: Bimonthly Board meetings, with additional Finance Committee meetings as needed.
- Time: Approximately 6-9 hours each month.
- Giving: Board members are asked to make an annual contribution that is meaningful to them, with a suggested minimum give/get of $1,000. OEC is committed to ensuring that financial expectations are not a barrier to service, and contributions may be met through a combination of resource development activities.
- Engagement: Participation in signature events, including the annual One Earth Film Festival.
Contact
Chartise Clark
Founder & Managing Partner
Avra Search Partners
To be considered, please submit a bio, resume or LinkedIn profile. Supplementary materials may be included, but are not required.
About Avra Search Partners
We believe in turning moments of transition into moments of transformation.
Avra Search Partners is a national executive search and leadership advisory firm committed to placing transformative leaders in mission-driven organizations. We partner with a wide range of nonprofits and impact-focused businesses, including foundations, advocacy organizations, associations, and artistic and cultural institutions, to design search strategies that honor organizational values and help institutions thrive.
We specialize in high-touch, selective engagements that combine evidence-informed evaluation with a relational approach, helping institutions build stronger futures through exceptional leadership.
With a deep commitment to inclusion, resilience, and leadership excellence, Avra helps clients identify and attract outstanding candidates from a range of backgrounds, including individuals who have historically had limited access to executive opportunities. Our work centers on expanding the leadership pipeline, strengthening governance, and ensuring organizations are supported by leaders equipped to guide their next chapter.