Governance

Board structure and organizational oversight

Board of Directors

Mike Vincent

Founder & Director

Archive of American Radio, Inc. is currently operating with a single-director board structure, which is permitted under California nonprofit law during the formation stage.

Two additional board members will be added before applying for 501(c)(3) status or grant funding, as required by IRS best practices and grantmaker standards.

Board Member Information

The Role

Board members provide light oversight and help guide the general direction of the organization. This is a volunteer governance position, not an operational job.

You do:
  • • Join one short meeting per year
  • • Approve the basic annual budget
  • • Confirm the organization stays on mission
  • • Serve as a trusted name on the roster

Time Commitment

Designed to be extremely light:

  • • 1 annual Zoom meeting (15–30 minutes)
  • • Occasional email approvals (rare)
  • • May step down at any time

Liability Protection

Board members of a California nonprofit public-benefit corporation are not personally liable for the nonprofit's debts or obligations.

  • • Personal assets are protected
  • • No responsibility for lawsuits against the nonprofit
  • • Corporation carries legal liability, not individuals
  • • No financial risk when acting in good faith

Qualifications

No special background required. Willingness to lend oversight is what matters.

Board members typically include friends, family, coworkers, trusted peers, or individuals who support the mission.

Why Board Members Matter

Having a board allows the nonprofit to:

  • • Qualify for grants and foundation funding
  • • Maintain organizational legitimacy
  • • Follow California and IRS requirements
  • • Ensure independent oversight and fairness
  • • Support the founder's preservation work

Organizational Structure

Entity Type

California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation

Tax Status

Organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. 501(c)(3) application pending formation of full board.

Operations

Daily operations, research, archiving, restoration, and development are managed by the founder. Board members provide oversight only.