Initiating Communities Helping Area Neighborhoods Gain Empowerment
PO Box 81172, Lansing, MI 48908 EIN: 45-4900740 Board Intranet Login
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ICHANGE Board Application

Apply to join our Board of Directors.

On behalf of ICHANGE, we appreciate your desire to lend your expertise, skills, and wisdom — with shared leadership principles — to bring our vision to fruition. Thank you for your interest in joining our board. We know that those with a desire to support ICHANGE in a leadership volunteer role have many choices, and we are truly humbled knowing that you are interested in dedicating your time, talent, and passion.

This application offers us an opportunity to get to know more about you — your unique skills, attributes, and what you would bring to the ICHANGE Board of Directors. It also gives you a clear sense of what matters most to us in any board candidate.

indicates a required field. Demographic questions are optional — share what you’re comfortable with.

📖 Read this before you apply — Board Member Expectations

The Board as a whole

Our mission is to care for and improve the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral well-being of community members while addressing their social determinants of health, according to state and federal law. As the governing body, the Board is responsible for:

  • Completing Board orientation
  • Guiding the overall structure of programs and services in line with our mission
  • Selecting and evaluating leadership performance
  • Strategic and organizational planning
  • Strong fiduciary oversight and financial management
  • Fundraising and resource development
  • Approving and monitoring programs and services
  • Enhancing public image and assessing the Board’s own performance

What’s expected of each Board member

  • Know ICHANGE’s mission, policies, programs, and needs
  • Read and understand organizational procedure and documentation
  • Serve as an active advocate and ambassador for the organization
  • Engage in identifying and securing financial resources and partnerships
  • Leverage personal connections and networks for collective action
  • Make a meaningful personal financial donation each year
  • Prepare for, attend, and participate fully in monthly board meetings
  • Participate in one or more committees
  • Sign an annual conflict-of-interest disclosure
  • Maintain a passion and sense of ethics for the community we serve

Term & composition

  • Term of office: two years, or until a successor is elected
  • Approximately one-third of members are elected each year
  • Board composition reflects equitable representation of our service area
  • At least one member is a consumer of mental health services
  • At least one member is a family member of a child with emotional disturbance
  • No more than 40% of members may be mental health service providers
  • Eligible members must be at least 21 years old

This summary covers the essentials. For the full reference — including fiduciary duties, liabilities, protections, Sarbanes–Oxley provisions, and officer roles (prepared by Clark Hill PLC) — read the full guide:

Read the full Board Service Guide
1 Contact & demographics

Used only to ensure equitable board composition.

2 Background
3 Mission alignment

List organizations where you have served on a board (most recent first). Three rows are provided — leave blank rows empty if you have fewer.

4 Skills & expertise

Check all the skills and expertise you bring that will strengthen our board.

5 Attributes & style

A board is more than a collection of individuals — it governs, approves strategy, and engages in robust debate. Check the personality traits and styles you bring that will help us be a diverse, collaborative, and effective governing body.

6 Fundraising commitment

Every board member is expected to make an annual financial commitment for each year of board service. Please indicate the amount you can commit to — either annually OR monthly.

7 Time commitment
8 Other questions

Required only if you answered “Yes” above.

9 References

Please identify at least two references we can speak with.

Reference #1

Reference #2

10 Resume

PDF, DOC, or DOCX. Max 8 MB.

11 Authorization & signature

Authorization for Release of Information. I hereby give my permission to ICHANGE (Initiating Communities Helping Area Neighborhoods Gain Empowerment) — PO Box 81172, Lansing, Michigan 48908, EIN 45-4900740 — to release and review any correspondence, reports, and records pertaining to the references and organizations I have listed. This information will be used for the purpose of a background check related to my candidacy for board service.

HIPAA. I understand that my records are protected under HIPAA and cannot be disclosed without my written consent unless otherwise provided by law. I understand that I may revoke this consent at any time. My consent is valid for one year with an annual renewal option, and expires automatically as described above.

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