Board Members, Fundraisers, and Grantwriters Needed

Our Mission
What is CARE for People with Chronic and Invisible Illnesses?

At CARE (Center for Advocacy, Research, and Education) our mission is to make life better for people with chronic and invisible illnesses. Our three primary goals are:

1) to help people with chronic and invisible illnesses resolve their conditions by providing health-related educational resources and assistance in finding appropriate providers.

2) to stop prejudice and discrimination so that people with chronic and invisible illnesses can fully participate in society throughout their healing process.

3) to demonstrate environmental toxicity as a cause of chronic illness and work toward a healthier world.

CARE plans to accomplish these goals through comprehensive strategies at the individual and societal levels. Our objectives are to:

• provide supportive services for individuals with these illnesses
• provide information on a variety of health topics to improve self-care and self-advocacy
• generate broader societal awareness regarding chronic and invisible illnesses through the creation of original content
• demonstrate the research related to the unmet medical and social needs of this patient group
• add to the current research findings
• provide educational programming for healthcare providers and students planning careers in
• healthcare to improve outcomes for patients with chronic and invisible illnesses
• engage in social justice efforts to end discrimination against people with invisible and chronic illnesses
• promote healthy environmental policies, given the causal role of environmental toxicity in chronic illness, and the fact that people with chronic illnesses are more severely impacted by environmental toxicity than the general population

What are chronic and invisible illnesses?

CARE defines chronic and invisible illnesses as physical conditions that impact an individual’s functioning in multiple areas of life (family, social life, work, recreation, physical activity, independence, etc.) for one year or more, and that are not well-understood in Western medicine, or noticeable by others. These conditions include chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions, chronic pelvic pain, chronic fatigue, chronic migraine, effects of traumatic brain injury, Lyme disease and coinfections, parasitic infections, mold and mycotoxin related illness, long covid, autoimmune diseases, mast cell activation syndrome, chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), and chronic physical illnesses with no diagnosis.

We recognize the difficulty of any type of illness, mental or physical. However, our scope is limited to people with the conditions described above, because this group faces challenges that are unique and not currently being adequately addressed in conventional medicine or society in general.

CARE for People with Chronic and Invisible Illnesses is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, EIN  92-0598133.

Position Description

CARE for People with Chronic and Invisible Illnesses is seeking individuals with interest and/or expertise in complex chronic illness to join our Board, and/or serve as volunteer fundraisers or grant writers for the organization. We are seeking volunteers who have a deep understanding of the experience of complex chronic illness, and give preference to people with personal experience navigating complex chronic illness as well as their caregivers. This opportunity is also ideal for healthcare and mental healthcare professionals and graduate students who come from a holistic or functional medicine perspective. Nonprofit experience and success in previous fundraising or grant writing is valued, but not required. At CARE, we prioritize motivation and the willingness to learn new skills and take on new challenges.

While this position is unpaid, it provides an invaluable opportunity for professional growth and development. You will become part of a highly accomplished team of professionals dedicated to improving life for an underserved and neglected population.

As CARE grows, we plan to create an innovative workplace environment where all people, including those with chronic illness, can contribute without unnecessary pressure to overexert themselves or compromise their well-being. We intend to serve as an example for other businesses to emulate, as a place where goals are accomplished effectively while well-being remains the foremost priority.

Therefore, we are hopeful that paid roles will become available, and with commitment to the organization, you are likely to have paid opportunities in the future, if desired.

We welcome volunteers interested in fundraising and grant writing who are not looking for board membership, in addition to qualified candidates who would like to join our board.

Qualifications of Board Members include:

• A deep understanding of the experience of complex chronic illness
• Professional experience that provides credibility, relevant knowledge, and skills to the organization (e.g. healthcare, mental healthcare, education, advocacy, etc.) OR professional experience that will assist in general operations of the organization (e.g. nonprofit development, media/publicity, nonprofit law, finance/accounting, website development, marketing, etc.)
• Willingness to communicate with other board members, work under the leadership of the President, and as part of a team

Responsibilities of Board Members Include:

• Attending scheduled board meetings (held remotely during evening times, scheduled according to the needs of the organization)
• Fulfilling officer roles, if applicable
• Learning the organization’s legal responsibilities and ensuring they are fulfilled
• Helping to develop the organization’s overall strategic plan
• Ensuring that the organization is fulfilling its mission
• Engaging in regular communication with President and other board members
• Actively promoting the organization through word of mouth, social media, professional presentations, etc.
• Utilizing professional accomplishments, status, and contacts to assist in the organization’s growth and program development
• Actively participating in/organizing fundraisers for the organization
  Seeking major sources of funding (e.g. foundation grants) for the organization
• Providing donations to the organization (amount need not be large, but important to show support)
• Ensuring that financial resources of the organization are used appropriately
• May provide support for the organization through talents and professional knowledge (e.g. provide supportive services for individuals with chronic illness, write/edit for website/programming, etc.)

If you believe in CARE’s mission, and would like to contribute to our organization, please feel free to contact us with your ideas, even if the above description is not a perfect fit. We may be able to create other opportunities for you!