KOM Board Member

Board of Directors Overview 

Mission: 

To build on the strengths of refugee and immigrant communities and remove barriers to achieving economic, social, and cultural wellbeing. 

Strategic Goals (2020-2024): 

KOM’s Board of Directors has established four primary goals to achieve its mission: 

1. Promote leadership and diversity among KOM staff and board members 
2. Enhance the quality of our services 
3. Position the organization for growth and change 
4. Increase the community’s understanding of and participation in KOM’s mission, activities, and goals 

Background: 

Refugees from Burma have been the largest population resettled in Minnesota for the past seven years. The vast majority of refugees from Burma in Minnesota are Karen (pronounced “Ka-REN”), an ethnic minority that has been persecuted by the Burmese military government for over 60 years. About 20,000 refugees from Burma now live in the St. Paul area, including the largest Karen community in the country.  

The Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) is the first nonprofit social service agency in the country to be established by Karen refugees from Burma. KOM originated from a group of Karen leaders in St. Paul who saw the need for a community-based organization to respond to unmet needs and leverage outside support. Because of its strong leadership and effective partnerships, KOM has quickly grown to a thriving multiservice organization with over 40 staff and an annual budget of over $4 million. While refugees from Burma still represent over 85% of people served, KOM has expanded its services to other low-income, refugee and immigrant populations, including new arrivals from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Latin America. 

KOM’s primary headquarters are in Roseville, MN. KOM’s multilingual staff help over 1,800 refugees each year find housing, jobs, education, and other resources they need to become independent. KOM is also a respected resource and partner for other agencies with an interest in serving the Karen community. 

Board Information: 

Board size: 9-15 members 

Positions open: 5 

Meeting Schedule: Bi-monthly, evening meetings 

Meeting Location: Karen Organization of Minnesota  

2353 Rice St., Suite 240, Roseville, MN 55113 

Expectations of Board Members:  

Length of Term: 3 years, renewable for up to 3 terms (up to 9 years total) 

Time Commitment: 10 hours per quarter minimum 

Financial Contribution: Yes, at level of ability 

Committee Membership: Yes (Governance, Finance, and/or Development) 

• Have a commitment to the mission and vision of the Karen Organization of Minnesota.  

• Be an advocate and an ambassador for the organization, informing others about our mission and actively supporting community engagement efforts.  

• Consistently attend board meetings. Review agenda and supporting materials prior to meetings and actively participate in discussions. 

• Actively serve on one or more committees (i.e. Development/Communications, Governance, Finance). Committees meet every other month on the opposite month of board meetings and have additional tasks throughout the year. 

• Commit to financially supporting KOM on an annual basis. 

• Commit to help raise funds for KOM through personal contacts with individuals, businesses, and foundations and input into the grant-writing process as needed. 

• Attend KOM special events as a representative of the organization. 

• Assist the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities and actively review the organization’s annual financial statements. 

• Provide possible board member nominees who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization. 

• Engage in peer board member evaluation. 

• Serve on additional committees or task forces for special projects as needed. 

• Support strategic planning goals and initiatives. 

• Abide by conflict of interest and confidentiality policies. 

Board Member Qualifications: 

The Board of Directors is seeking new candidates who are motivated to be actively involved in furthering the mission of the Karen Organization of Minnesota. The Board of Directors is especially interested in candidates with the following skills: 

 Questions regarding KOM or board service?

Contact: Kaziah Josiah, Board Chair, kaziah.josiah@gmail.com