Apply to Join Our Board of Directors

MFH’s volunteer leadership structure includes a governing Board of Directors of 16 members, inclusive of the Foundation President and CEO, who serves in an ex-officio capacity.

The overarching obligation is to serve as the Foundation’s governance body and ensure that it advances its mission in alignment with its values. The Board is responsible for:

• Determining the mission, values, and purposes of the organization 
• Supporting the Foundation’s strategic framework 
• Ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management 
• Selecting and evaluating the performance of the CEO 
• Assessing its own performance as the governing body of Missouri Foundation for Health 

Candidates/nominations for the 2026 Board recruitment cycle will be accepted until Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. View the specifications link above to learn how to apply.

Time Commitment & Expectations

Serving on the Board requires a significant time commitment, and it is expected that a typical director will devote an average of 9-11 hours per month to board-related activities including in-person board meetings and retreats, virtual committee meetings, educational sessions, pre-meeting materials review and preparation, and other board-related activities, not including travel. The time commitment per month will vary – with a more substantial requirement during the months that meetings occur. There are four regularly scheduled board meetings a year, which typically require two full days.

Additionally, all directors serve on one or two of the standing board committees, which meet 5-7 times per year. Learning and social opportunities are also offered throughout the year.

2027 Board Meeting Schedule

Tentatively based on quarterly meetings, last week of the month, except for December due to holidays:

• January 27-28, 2027 (All Staff and Board Kick-Off, New Board Member Orientation) 
• March 24-25, 2027 
• June 23-24, 2027 
• September 21-24, 2027 (Retreat in Missouri) 
• December 1-2, 2027 

Committee meetings will be scheduled in early 2027. 

Board members are expected to prepare for and regularly attend board and committee meetings. Board meetings are held at MFH’s headquarters in St. Louis. In-person board meeting attendance is preferred to enhance the Board experience and build strong relationships among directors; however, directors will have the option of attending virtually. All committee meetings are held virtually, and the locations of retreats may vary.  

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

MFH intends to build a strong pipeline of candidates for board succession purposes over the next several years, and that its board represents the gender, racial, cultural, geographic, and ethnic diversity of the state, as such candidates would help the Foundation’s efforts to most effectively meet the need of and serve the diverse population of MFH’s service area. This year, the Board is recruiting candidates to fill multiple open seats. The Board will hold its election in December, and new directors will start their tenure on January 1, 2027.  

Eligible candidates for board membership must be at least 18 years old and reside in the MFH service area. No director can be a compensated officer, agent, or employee of any federal or state governmental authority whatsoever, excepting those of state institutions of higher education.

Recruitment Priorities

To strengthen the Board’s collective expertise and impact, the Foundation seeks candidates aligned with one or more of the following recruitment priorities: 

• Diversity – Candidates who bring different backgrounds to help the board represent the overall diversity of the MFH service area. Candidates who identify as people of color and people under 40 years old are encouraged to apply in this recruitment cycle.
• Information Technology/Artificial Intelligence – Experience in information technology, artificial intelligence, or related emerging technologies.
• Rural Health – Experience working in a rural health environment.
• Specific Missouri regions – Currently residing in a community in the Northeast or Southeast part of the MFH service area.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the experience as described above, candidates who fulfill one or more of the following will complement the skills/experiences that already exist on the Board:

• Lived experience – Individuals with unique perspectives who have first-hand knowledge of how health equity and systems changes can improve opportunities for health, well-being, and the ability to thrive. 
• Board governance – Candidates who have served on governance boards for a corporate or non-profit entities. Importantly, the Board seeks candidates who appreciate the difference between the operational responsibilities of management and the governance role of the Board.  
• Community engagement/leadership/service – Individuals who have mobilized others to address pressing issues and create positive change at the neighborhood, community and/or regional level are desired.  This engagement could be accomplished through professional or volunteer opportunities. 

Personal Characteristics

Beyond professional experience, the foundation seeks board members whose values, character, and approach to leadership reflect the qualities outlined below. 

• Demonstrated core leadership attributes, which include working toward collective, continuous learning, and evolution of thought 
• A recognized reputation for integrity and competence 
• A keen interest in achieving health equity in Missouri  
• Interest, concern, and commitment toward accomplishing the Foundation’s overall mission, purposes, and goals
• An adherence to the Foundation’s core values
• Commitment to devote the time necessary to fulfill board responsibilities and regularly attend meetings 

COMPENSATION & TERMS

Directors serve for terms of three years and can reapply for a second three-year term. 

Although directors serve without pay, they will be reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses associated with attendance at MFH meetings and events. Additionally, the Foundation will cover registration fees and reasonable travel expenses to attend one professional conference per year that is related to the mission and work of MFH. 

APPLICATION PROCESS & DEADLINE

Missouri Foundation for Health has retained a professional search firm, CBIZ Talent Solutions, to assist in the Board recruitment process. Individuals interested in serving on the Board should submit a copy of their resume/CV to Jessica Galbraith, CBIZ, at jgalbraith@cbiz.com. Although email is preferred, if regular mail is used, please contact Jessica at (816) 945-5196 to confirm that your materials have been received. Further contact information can be found at the end of the FAQ.

Review of applicant materials will begin immediately, and interviews will commence in late September. Please note that application materials received after September 28 will not be considered in the 2026 recruitment cycle.  

All candidate material received by September 28 will be reviewed for the current board recruitment cycle, and you may contact CBIZ to check on the status of your candidacy. Only those candidates who appear to closely align with the 2026 recruitment priorities will be asked to complete a formal application and interview process. Unless specifically stated otherwise by the candidate, all candidate information will be retained for consideration in future board recruiting cycles.