Board Committees

The Executive Committee oversees all of DBFA’s operations. It consists of DBFA’s officers—a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive Committee takes the lead on securing and maintaining DBFA’s status as a 501(c)(3) organization; fundraising with major donors; meeting with high-level governmental, business and community players; hiring staff; handling DBFA’s funds; and developing DBFA’s website. The Executive Committee was responsible for staffing DBFA’s initial slate of board members and committee chairs, and it will seek to groom successors for each of the officer positions. The Executive Committee aids and advises with DBFA’s membership drives and fundraising efforts. It also assists committee chairs with planning and staffing needs, and guides each chair in the process of developing his or her committee work plan.

The Board Development Committee recruits, educates and evaluates DBFA’s board members. Recruitment involves identifying potential board members, introducing the DBFA to them and educating them about DBFA’s mission and objectives, and gauging their suitability for the position in question. Board education is a process that begins when an individual assumes a position on the board and is then oriented to DBFA’s board operations. The Board Development Committee continues this education process throughout the board member’s tenure by providing mini-lessons in board work at each board meeting, as well as organizing and conducting an annual retreat. The Board Development Committee also takes the lead on evaluating the Board’s performance as a whole, as well as the performance of each board member. Finally, the Board Development Committee recognizes exemplary board service with an annual event honoring outstanding board work.

The Finance Committee's role is to oversee the financial affairs of the organization and review and make recommendations to the Board about the financial affairs and policies of the Organization. The finance committee is responsible for creating an operating budget, compiling committee budgets and then tracking the income and expenses to make sure the organization adheres to its budget. The committee will submit reports for income, expense and budgets variances at the bimonthly board meetings. The committee will fill out tax forms for the organization and execute internal audits to make sure the organization is correctly and ethically meeting our obligations. The committee will coordinate external audits as required.

The Strategic Planning Committee’s number one overall objective is to create and maintain the Strategic Plan for the organization. This plan will be a statement of the mission, vision, and top-level objectives of the organization with a roll-up of all the individual committee plans and objectives. An overarching principle in accomplishing this is for the Strategic Planning committee to serve as a facilitator and focus point for the other committees as they strive to accomplish their own objectives.

Program Committees

The Advocacy Committee w orks to influence policy decisions affecting downtown Baltimore families and to assist the city in carrying out initiatives that will grow a strong middle class. Our advocacy on behalf of downtown Baltimore families propels us to become a vital and valuable partner of local government and targeted city agencies, including Baltimore City Public Schools, Recreation and Parks, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the Department of Transportation.

DBFA develops priorities and best practices to achieve success and to serve its constituents.  We accomplish these objectives by creating awareness campaigns directed to individuals, families, public agencies, local and state government, organizations, and businesses; by providing a voice and a purpose for the needs of downtown communities; by identifying and securing appropriate partners to make a positive difference; and by directing and supporting people and resources to fulfill the commitments of the organization and its partnerships.

Objectives

• Participate in efforts to ensure that Baltimore City Schools are fully and equitably funded.
• Foster efforts to enhance differentiated instruction in City Schools.
• Spearhead the installation of a new playground in the Inner Harbor.
• Work with the city to enhance family and children’s programming in targeted recreation centers.
• Assist in the development of shade infrastructure in public parks and spaces with Patterson Park playground.
• Promote initiatives aimed at improving pedestrian safety and walkability.

The Events Committee coordinates and oversees the planning of DBFA’s various events. These include members-only events, such as an annual pool party and a founding families event; fundraising and membership drive events, such as an Easter egg hunt and house tour; and events for the general public, such as a Fall Harvest Festival and a regular Parenting Seminar Series. The Events Committee seeks to enrich the leisure offerings for downtown Baltimore families and showcase different Baltimore neighborhoods, by holding its events across the downtown area. In its coordinating and oversight role, the Events Committee establishes sub-committees for each event, recruits chairs and committee members for each sub-committee, seeks fiscal sponsorships for its events, and systematically evaluates the success of each event.

The Membership/Fundraising Committee is the key fundraising arm of the DBFA. To that end, the committee oversees the process of applying for grants, soliciting and collecting corporate contributions and membership dues, and raising funds through other means, such as selling DBFA merchandise. The Membership/Fundraising Committee also seeks to ensure that every DBFA initiative—event, festival, etc.—include a potential resource development component.