Co-Voorzitter Raad van Toezicht Mama Cash

Mama Cash

Mama Cash’s vision is that every woman, girl, and trans and intersex person has the power and resources to participate fully and equally in creating a peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Our mission is to mobilise resources from individuals and institutions, make grants to self-led feminist organisations, and help to build the partnerships and networks needed to do their work of successfully defending and advancing women’s, girls’, and trans and intersex people’s human rights globally.

We support more than 130 organisations, networks and women’s funds annually. Since 1983, Mama Cash has distributed over 140 million euros in grants to women’s, girl’s, trans and intersex groups.

For additional information about our work, please see: http://www.mamacash.org/

The Supervisory Board

Mama Cash is governed by an international Supervisory Board, currently comprised of 10 members from around the world who bring a range of skills and experience to the team. In line with our vision and mission, our governance structure and the composition and work of the Supervisory Board are driven by feminist values.

The role of the Supervisory Board is to provide strategic oversight and support to Mama Cash by supervising, advising, challenging and supporting the Co-Executive Directors/
Managing Board and their team, and ensuring that the organisation fulfills its statutory duties and responsibilities. The Supervisory Board plays a key role in ensuring that Mama Cash maintains and delivers its vision, mission and strategic goals.

General responsibilities of Supervisory Board members include:

• Serving a 3-year term, that can be extended for 2 subsequent terms;
• Attending multi-day Board meetings (normally in the Netherlands where we are based) twice a year;
• Participating in Board and Board Committee work throughout the year, including periodic online meetings and special events (10-15 hours per month);
• Supervising and advising the Management Board (i.e. the Co-Executive Directors) on Mama Cash’s strategy, policies, and operational decisions;
• Reviewing and approving (multi) annual plans, budgets, and accounts;
• Supervising and advising the Management Board on Mama Cash’s overall strategy and approaches towards managing risk;
• Overseeing governance and stimulating and ensuring openness and feminist accountability;
• Selection and supervising the performance of our Co-Executive Directors;
• Supporting fundraising and opening doors within our respective communities and region; and
• Participating in Board Committees (Audit and Risk, Governance and Nominations, Remuneration, and/or Fundraising) in coordination with the international Co-Chair so that at least one co-chair supports each committee.

Service on the Supervisory Board is without compensation. Reimbursement is made for travel and other costs related to participation in meetings held twice yearly in the Netherlands.

Candidate Profile: 

Mama Cash has in place a Co-Chair model with responsibilities shared between an international and Dutch based Supervisory Board member, reflecting our Co-ED model. Our current Dutch-based Co-Chair will be stepping down at the end of their term in the Fall of 2024 and, therefore we are seeking an exceptional individual based in The Netherlands to join our Supervisory Board (SB) and take the role of Co-Chair alongside our international Co-Chair. The Co-Chair role requires the following qualifications and skills:

1. Skills expected of all Supervisory Board members:

• Knowledge and skills in the area of feminist governance and the work of Boards;
• Commitment to Mama Cash’s mission, feminist values, and intersectional principles;
• Integrity and high ethical standards and the willingness and ability to bring a principled and compassionate approach to feminist Board decision-making;
• Ability to translate feminist values and intersectional principles into everyday practice and to meet people where they are to work towards solutions;
• Proactive and prepared to contribute to effective strategic decision-making and an ability to look at the big picture and maintain focus on Mama Cash’s goals;
• Willingness and ability to work collectively as a team player and contribute towards building the Mama Cash Supervisory Board community;
• Patient thinking and willingness to listen openly to others, aware of own biases;
• Ability to diagnose issues, think analytically, and express and communicate thoughts and ideas clearly;
• Ability to challenge North/South, East/West dynamics;
• Ability and willingness to act as an ambassador for Mama Cash.
• All Supervisory Board members are required to speak, read and write in English.

1. Specific skills and experience for the Dutch-based Co-Chair:

• Based in the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking;
• Is deeply networked into the Dutch feminist movement and/or feminist civil society and ideally also in other national and regional movements;
• Has experience in working within the context of Dutch governance issues for NGO’s;
• Has deep experience of and demonstrated strong feminist leadership skills
• Has an in-depth understanding of feminist governance and feminist approaches to compliance;
• Has knowledge and experience of feminist philanthropy in larger organisations;
• Brings knowledge and experience of intersectional, transnational principles;
• Is someone who reaches out, offers support, and is present;
• Able to co-create and problem-solve collectively and bring calmness and grounding to their leadership;
• Strong awareness of power and how power can be used positively as a tool for effective feminist governance;
• Strong self-awareness of strengths, biases, and weaknesses.

1. In addition to the general expectations of Supervisory Board members (above), specific expectations for the role of Co-Chair (shared and coordinated with the International Co-Chair) include:

• Serves as a point person for employment aspects for the Co-Executive Directors including the performance appraisal of the Co-Executive Directors and evaluation of Co-ED model.
• Have bi-monthly and on-demand meetings with the international Co-Chair and Co-Executive Directors;
• Be responsible for creating the enabling environment for the effective functioning of the SB;
• Serve as the primary point of contact for SB members;
• Co-convene, co-set the agenda for, and co-chair SB meetings;
• Serve as primary liaison between the SB and Co-Executive Directors;
• Oversee implementation of the Code of Conduct, including the Conflict of Interest Policy for the SB;
• Represent Mama Cash at Netherlands based (often held in the Dutch language) public events/conferences when needed or organise representation by other SB members;
• Coordinate with the Executive team for effective support of SB processes;
• Be flexibile with time availability as required to participate in urgent or pressing matters to respond to Co-ED and SB needs; and
• The Dutch Co-Chair role involves an expected time commitment of at least 16-20 hours per month.

If you think you fit this profile, we would love to hear from you. We particularly encourage girls and young people to apply. Please send your CV together with a letter of interest sharing how you fit the profile described here to board@mamacash.org. Closing date for applications September 2nd 2024.

As part of our integrity process for employees, Supervisory Board members and volunteers, the appointed candidate will be required to go through a screening process.