ECOWICE Foundation

Board Strategy Meeting Agenda

Duration: 90 minutes
Purpose: Confirm flagship focus, define financial targets and develop an action plan and set roles and responsibilities

1. Opening & Framing 

Lead: Heike

  • Welcome and appreciation

  • Confirm purpose:

 

2. Legal & Operational Status Confirmation 

Quick confirmation of:

  • 501(c)(3) status active

  • Bank account operational

  • PayPal verification pending (voided check submission)

  • No funds yet transferred to ECOWICE Tanzania

  • First Tax filing is on the way

Decision Needed:
Confirm target date to finalize PayPal verification and activate full donation capacity. Confurm tax filing procedures and assign someone to file tax for ECOWICE Foundation

3. Organizational Readiness Snapshot 

Review:

  • Website migrated to ECOWICE domain

  • Social media platforms established

  • Solid Ground School outreach completed

  • OU GIVE presentation opportunity pending

Discussion prompt:

Are we satisfied with current visibility trajectory? What is missing?

4. Program Portfolio Review 

Brief structured review of the three program areas:

i. Early Warning & AI Pilot

ii. Environmental Education

iii. Alternative Livelihoods

Discussion questions:

  • Which program is most aligned with our founding purpose?

  • Which program is most fundable in the next 12 months?

  • Which program is most feasible given our capacity?

  • Which program leverages this board’s expertise?

5. Flagship Decision Conversation

Options:

  • Early Warning & AI Pilot

  • Environmental Education

  • Alternative Livelihoods

  • Integrated Model (with defined hierarchy)

Guiding question:

If we had to explain ECOWICE Foundation in one sentence to a new donor, what would we say?

Decision Required:
Selecting our primary flagship focus for next 12 months.

  • What becomes primary?

  • What becomes supportive?

  • What pauses or slows?

6. Fundraising Strategy & 12-Month Target 

Based on selected flagship:

Discuss:

  • What is a realistic 12-month fundraising target?

  • Do we launch a recurring giving program?

  • Do we pursue small donor “circle” model?

  • What is our first funding milestone?

Decision Required:
Set preliminary 12-month revenue target.

7. Pilot Deployment Feasibility (If Early Warning Chosen) (10 minutes)

Topics:

  • AI pilot funding target

  • Remote deployment structure

  • Technical leadership (David)

  • Timeline for first pilot installation

Decision Required:
Approve pilot launch pathway and timeline.

8. Board Roles & Leadership Lanes 

Clarify:

  • Executive leadership 

  • Technical lead 

  • Outreach & community engagement 

Discussion:

  • Minimum time commitment per board member?

  • Fundraising participation expectation?

Decision Required:
Confirm role clarity and expectations.

9. Structural Priorities 

Align on:

  • Recurring donor program timeline

  • Quarterly donor communication schedule

  • Timeline for first financial transfer to ECOWICE Tanzania

 

11. Close & Next Meeting 

  • Confirm next meeting date

  • Reaffirm strategic direction

  • Summarize agreed flagship and targets

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