Our Board

Prospective Board members must be active members of Santa Cruz, Monterey or San Benito Counties with an interest in helping the underserved. Prospective Board members with personal or prior experience being a recipient of government services are encouraged to apply, those representing a marginalized community and those with previous governmental experience. Prospective Board members must be 18 years of age.   

Those interested in joining our Board of Directors should email a copy of their resume and a brief description of why they would like to join the board to Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino’s Assistant, Mary Mackenzie, at marym@cbridges.org.  

Prospective board members will first meet with Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino for an introduction to the agency and responsibilities of the board.  

Then, prospective board members will meet with at least one board member to better understand the day-to-day responsibilities of the board and to submit their application for board consideration. 

Finally, the prospective board members are invited to attend a regularly scheduled board meeting to see the board in action and continue to develop their understanding of the board’s responsibilities. 

All board members are expected to attend eight regularly scheduled board meetings throughout the calendar year and serve on at least one committee which meets monthly. 

Board Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month from 5:00pm to 7:30pm in hybrid fashion. Committee meetings are held at varying times throughout the week with some taking place during the early afternoon and others scheduled in the evenings.  

Additionally, board members are expected to: 

• Uphold the Community Bridges mission and strategic plan: The Board periodically reviews and ensures the accuracy and relevance of the Mission Statement and Strategic Plan, aligning them with the organization’s goals, methods, and key stakeholders. Each Board member comprehensively understands and advocates for these principles to all stakeholders and the broader community. 
• Oversee the selection, hiring, and, if necessary, termination of the Chief Executive Officer: In the event of a vacancy, the Board conducts a thorough and professional search process to identify the most qualified candidate for the Chief Executive Officer role, revisiting the job description as needed. Additionally, the Board retains the responsibility for terminating the CEO, if required. 
• Provide support to the Chief Executive Officer and conduct performance evaluations: The Board ensures the CEO receives the necessary moral and professional support to advance Community Bridges’ objectives. The Personnel Committee oversees the annual performance review of the CEO. 
• Facilitate effective organizational planning: As stewards of the organization, the Board actively engages with staff in comprehensive planning processes and aids in the implementation of Community Bridges’ objectives through strategic planning and committee involvement. 
• Ensure sufficient resources: A primary duty of the Board is to secure the necessary resources for Community Bridges to fulfill its mission. Collaborating with the CEO, development staff, and the Philanthropy Committee, the Board engages in fundraising efforts with the community and other funding sources. 
• Exercise prudent resource management: In order to maintain accountability to donors, the public, and uphold its tax-exempt status, the Board participates in the development of the annual budget through rigorous review, ensuring the implementation of proper financial controls. 
• Evaluate and enhance organizational programs and services: The Board identifies and monitors programs aligned with Community Bridges’ mission, assessing their effectiveness through reports from the Executive on progress, needs, and outcomes. Personal engagement and program visits further inform the Board’s decisions, ensuring adequate leadership at the staff level. 

• Strengthen the organization’s public image: Serving as the primary liaison to the community, constituents, and media, the Board effectively communicates Community Bridges’ mission, achievements, and objectives, fostering support from key community stakeholders. 
• Uphold legal and ethical standards and maintain accountability: The Board assumes responsibility for ensuring compliance with legal and ethical norms, establishing and reviewing relevant policies, and upholding CB’s bylaws and articles of incorporation. 
• Recruit, orient, and evaluate Board members: The Board Development Committee oversees the recruitment and mentorship of new Board members, with all members participating in the onboarding process. Additionally, periodic self-assessments are conducted at the committee’s request to evaluate Board performance. 

Per month, board members can expect to invest roughly 4-6 hours of their time in regularly scheduled board meetings and standing committees.  

Our Board goal is to fundraise, connect or invest $1,000 dollars per board member, but no board member is turned away due to financial ability. We hope board members invest their time in advocacy, community building and social connections to uplift our work.  

This changes over time, currently we seek those with previous board experience, local or state government experience, legal, public policy, or fiscal experience.  

Yes. We welcome all applicants.  

Diversity is important to us. Representation is as well. To this end, it is our goal that our Board of Directors accurately reflect our community and the population that we serve.  

Current Santa Cruz Statistics

Board members serve three-year terms and are eligible to serve three consecutive terms.  

Prospective board members can find more information about Community Bridges at our website, or by contacting Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino’s Assistant, Mary Mackenzie, at marym@cbridges.org.