RISKids.org Board Profile

The RISKids.org Board Profile is comprised of persons strategically recruited from a cross section of business, health, welfare, education and youth service organizations who have demonstrated a “servant leadership” concern for youth in the community, our organization, and community affairs as a whole [i].  

RISKids.org and it's Board endorses equal opportunity for all and seeks to create diversity on the board and within the RISKids.org culture.  If you wish to be considered for Board membership - Click Here.

The RISKids.org Board provides/sets/approves policy that becomes the basis for operating RISKids.org. 

Board Member Roles:

Within the context of RISKids.org board members have five stewardship roles. Note: That the first four are standard to most not-for-profit boards:

  • To first examine and then approve / disapprove policy that becomes the basis for operating RISKids.org;  As such, it helps if Board members understand what governance and support means[i] [ii] [iii].

  • Secondly, to strategically plan for the future;

  • Third, to be advocates for the or­ganization in the community;

  • Fourth, to become vested in RISKids.org through personal financial commitments and be able to open doors to obtain other resources/funding.

  • Note: The fifth role is very important - to coach, support, and remind the staff about stewardship as a philosophy, and carry that passion for stewardship outside the walls of the organization as community networkers and fundraisers.

Some other criteria for board members include:

  • Independent thinking, but open to other positions and opinions

  • Willing to listen and learn

  • One who can accept change and even direct change

  • Willing to commit adequate time to the work of the board in order to be an effective member and properly discharge the duties of the board

  • Capable of and willing to acquire the knowledge necessary to cope with the issues of a modern organization and its finances, operations, programs, services and public issues

  • Possess character and demeanor that will reflect favorably on behalf of the nonprofit

  • An individual who possesses sufficient stature to deserve the respect of fellow board members, management, employees and the public

  • Willing to accept the sometimes challenging moments of a board member's experience

  • Subordinate personal and other business interests to the needs of the nonprofit when making decisions.

Board Disclaimer

[i] Our selection process is based on the book entitled Strategic Board Recruitment: The Not-For-Profit Model Robert Kile, J. Michael Loscavio, 1996

[ii] A board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff.

[iii] Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

[iv] No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation.

Servant Leadership

"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45)

Our board believes that Servant-leadership must emphasize the leader's role as steward of the resources (human, financial and otherwise) provided by the organization. It encourages leaders to serve others while staying focused on achieving results in line with the organization's values and integrity.

Dr. Albert "Jose" Jones -

Professor Emeritus University District of Columbia – RISKids.org Board Member

Dr. A. Jose' Jones' a decorated combat veteran, holds a PhD in marine biology from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He studied marine invertebrate biology as a National Science Foundation Fellow at the Duke University Marine Station in North Carolina. He also studied marine science for nearly two years at the University of Queensland, Australia as a Fulbright Scholar. He spent many days on the Great Barrier Reef studying, diving, and photographing marine life.

Dr. Jones has written many publications in his field and holds over a dozen copyrights on his underwater slide and video series. He has produced several underwater videos, including one entitled "Dive and Tour Morocco" which was shown at the Paris Scuba Show. Dr. Jones is a pioneer in sports diving. Because of their similarities in experiences and training in the military, oceanographic research, exploration, underwater photography and videography, scuba diving, and education, Dr. Jones is often referred to as The Black Jacques Cousteau. He, like many other men, has applied the skills he acquired in the military to civilian life and taught others. He holds three instructor’s certificates: The Atlantic Skin Diving Council, CMAS, and PADI. He has been a PADI Instructor for twenty years, and his personal training includes military, British Subaqua (in Australia), CMAS, and PADI. He has logged over 5000 dives worldwide and certified over 2000 divers from Africa to Australia without charging a cent.

Delores W. Jones

U.S. Bankruptcy Court – RISKids.org Board Member

Mrs. Jones, currently serves as the RISKids.org Executive Secretary.  She is a co-founder of RISKids.org