History
Because legal problems are often health problems, Cancer Legal Care’s (CLC) mission is to engage the law to resolve the complex challenges facing people and communities affected by cancer. We do this by providing free legal care services to Minnesotans affected by cancer. As our work is often done alongside the medical care our clients receive, we frame our work as legal care for the correlating impact it has on our clients’ lives and in the way it is delivered.
Since October 2007, CLC’s programs have provided over $14.4 million in free legal care to over 11,000 Minnesotans affected by cancer. Our programs are open to all Minnesotans affected by any cancer, residing anywhere in the state, with approximately 80 percent of our clients each year living in the Twin Cities metro area, and 20 percent living in Greater Minnesota. CLC uses a combined approach of staff and volunteer attorneys to address the wide array of legal issues people face after a cancer diagnosis.
Our tremendous growth in the last five years is directly attributable to growth, development, dedication, and leadership of our incredible Board of Directors.
Strategic Priorities
1. ADVOCACY
- Analyze the public policy landscape both in Minnesota and nationally, determining areas of Cancer Legal Care’s weakness and strength
- Identify existing coalitions and precedents for advocacy work related to Cancer Legal Care’s mission and activities (including funding opportunities)
- Craft an advocacy framework articulating how Cancer Legal Care will make decisions, identify scope and parameters for advocacy activities, and operationalize ideas
- Take maximum advantage of opportunities for advocacy and action that support Cancer Legal Care’s mission
2. GROWTH (defined as external activities)
- Expand Cancer Legal Care’s geographic reach into currently underserved Minnesota cities and areas, including Greater Minnesota regions in need
- Improve racial and geographic representation among Cancer Legal Care’s clients
- Better understand and expand the base of community nonprofits to which Cancer Legal Care refers our clients
3. SUSTAINABILITY (defined as internal activities)
- Increase individual giving (by 25 percent annually)
- Maintain one year’s operating budget in reserves
- Diversify sustainable income streams by maximizing opportunities to generate revenue from new funding sources
- Improve racial and geographic representation among Cancer Legal Care personnel (staff and board)
- Create a standard operating procedures/knowledge “playbook,” formally defining operational capabilities and staff and board roles
- Create a succession plan for key positions within the organization, both board and staff
4. COMMUNICATIONS
- Educate the cancer community and the public about the help legal care can provide cancer patients and survivors
- Review and evaluate current Cancer Legal Care branding and other core intellectual property components
- Identify opportunities to establish the organization as a thought leader on the topic of legal care for cancer
- Research new ways to engage with clients and donors
Annual Budget: $564,000 – Foundations, Individual Contributions, Government Grants or Contracts
Skills
Cancer Legal Care is seeking board members who have a passion for its mission and the following skills and experience:
- Fundraising
- Marketing and Communications
- Public Policy and Advocacy
- Strategic and Business Planning
Cancer Legal Care’s board is actively working towards reflecting the entire Minnesota cancer community, including communities of color who experience a disproportionate share of the cancer burden, those who live in Greater Minnesota, and those under 50 who experience cancer’s financial toxicity at a staggering rate
Information
- Number of members currently: 15
- Meeting time and frequency: 6 meetings annually
- Meeting location: Virtual
- Does nonprofit carry liability insurance? Yes
Expectations
- Time Expectation: Up to 5 hours/month
- Financial Contribution: Yes, at a level meaningful to the board member
- Service on Committee Required: Yes
- Committees: Executive, Finance, Governance, Fundraising, Other
- Length of Term: 2 Years
- Renewable: Yes, renewable for three terms for a total of six consecutive years of board service