Application Open for ALA Endowment Trustee Position

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) seeks volunteers to fill two (2) ALA Endowment Trustee positions. Trustees serve a three-year term and are eligible to be reappointed for one additional three-year term. Applicants are required to submit an electronic application along with a CV and three letters of professional references. A preview of the application is available for taking notes and other preparation.

There are currently two trustee positions under consideration, one of which reflects a potential reappointment. Accordingly, there is one vacant Endowment Trustee position. A current trustee’s term is expiring, and the individual is eligible for reappointment, contingent upon fulfillment of all applicable requirements and formal approval.

Applications will be reviewed by the ALA Endowment Trustees, who make recommendations to the ALA Executive Board, which will make its selection at its Spring Meeting. The successful applicant will begin serving after the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 25–29, 2026. The initial three-year term will expire after the 2029 ALA Annual Conference.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, March 31, 2026

ALA Endowment Trustees

ALA’s Executive Board is the association’s fiduciary and makes all decisions about investment portfolio distributions and transfers. The Trustees are appointed by, and report to, the Executive Board. The Trustees select an investment advisor and work with that advisor to guide ALA’s investments. The latest versions of the Trustees’ reports to the Executive Board and reports on the composition, value, and expenses associated with the investment portfolio are accessible to ALA members through ALA’s website or are available upon request.

Qualifications

• Extensive and relevant experience on the investment committee of a nonprofit board or foundation, or in guiding foundation or endowment investments.
• Commitment to working with colleagues on an investment committee (not an autonomous foundation), a role that rewards teamwork, persuasion, and compromise.
• Satisfaction in working as a volunteer. This role does not include any compensation and precludes any conflict of interest, either immediately or in the future.
• The ability to commit to three or four day-long virtual meetings per year, with the possibility of one or two of those meetings being held in-person (travel will be reimbursed if it is not associated with an existing ALA Conference; hybrid options are always available).
• Applicants must be or become an ALA member. While it is not required, Trustees traditionally make a personally meaningful annual donation to ALA.

Please direct any questions on the qualifications and responsibilities of an ALA Endowment Trustee to Yamile Madrigal, Program Coordinator, ALA Governance, ymadrigal@ala.org.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For 150 years, ALA has inspired library staff to transform their communities through essential programs and services. ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for staff members and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. Contact: ALA Governance, governance@ala.org.