Board Notes

• We think long-term and cross-sectionally. We understand that urgent issues such as housing, transportation, infrastructure, climate change, and COVID recovery are intertwined, and our work transcends political and capital budget timelines to create transformative ideas and multi-year advocacy efforts to bring about positive change with multigenerational impacts

• Our independent research is world renowned and guides our advocacy. Our independence and research excellence define us, and ensure we remain respected by public, business, civic and community groups as a trusted advisor, advocate and convener.

• We are regional thinkers. We are the only civic organization in the area whose work is driven by a deep understanding of the connectedness of NY, NJ and CT and the New York metropolitan area. We also bring together key stakeholders from across the region to drive action. This happens not only on our board and our staff, but in our collaborative work with both NGOs and governmental leaders and entities.

No. As a leading independent, civic voice in the region for more than a century, our influence lies with our strong track record of research, planning, advocacy, and deep relationships across the public and private sectors built over decades. We have no governmental charter or dedicated public funding.

RPA’s work is recognized by urban planners and related entities all over the world. While most of our work focuses on the tri-state metropolitan region, we do occasionally engage at a broader level. This work ranges from our current Healthy Regions Planning Exchange that includes 10 regions across the United States to representation on international panels and projects addressing COVID recovery in cities across the world.

We have approximately 25 full-time staff members and several part-time Senior Fellows and Interns. RPA staff are experts on a variety of topics, including transportation, housing, community design, economic development, energy and environment. Most of our research and advocacy staff have graduate degrees and have worked in the public sector.

Our annual budget is about $6.5 million, with about 30% coming from foundations, 45% from corporations, and the rest from individual donors, government, and special events. Of this funding, approximately 55% is unrestricted, while the remaining 45% is for specific projects or programs.

When the issue:

• Significantly advances RPA’s four core values: Equity, Health, Prosperity and Sustainability

• Leads to long-term, region-shaping outcomes

• Leverages short-term opportunities

• Attracts support from key partners and/or decision-makers

• Fills a need that no other organization can address as well as RPA

• Generates enough funding to support RPA’s work

The RPA Board is made up of about 110 civic, business, philanthropic, and academic leaders from a range of industries and backgrounds. Several board members are former public officials, but our by-laws disallow anyone who is currently in a paid public position from being on the board.

The RPA Executive Committee includes about 24 board members, including the leadership of the subcommittees – Nominating & Governance, Finance & Audit, Centennial (for fundraising purposes) and Communications – and the state committees.

Board members are elected to three-year terms. There are no term limits to serving on the RPA Board, but committee chairs are generally limited to two three-year terms.

In recent years the Nominating & Governance Committee has made a concerted effort to attract new members from sectors that are underrepresented, including technology, health care and environmental policy, as well as geographies outside New York City. The Committee has also put a special emphasis on increasing the racial and gender diversity of the board, so that our board will better represent the region we serve.

In addition to exercising fiduciary duties in accordance with the NYS Not-For-Profit Corporation Laws, board members are asked to attend three board meetings a year: the annual meeting in February, the end-of-the-fiscal-year meeting in June, and a full-day retreat in October. In addition, we ask that board members serve as an ambassador for the organization and support RPA financially.

RPA Board members are also encouraged to support the organization in a variety of ways: by providing expertise to resolve key policy issues; providing access to policymakers and key stakeholders; hosting meetings or events; and inviting members of their networks to events.

Board members provide critical unrestricted funding for RPA. The specific expectation of a particular candidate depends on that person’s situation—for example, whether the contribution will be provided by the employer (and if so the size of the employer) or whether it is a personal gift. If the candidate asks what their competitors contribute, we can provide the information as a follow-up.

Board members contributing through an affiliated entity are also expected to make a personal gift, at an amount that is significantly meaningful to them.

These are the current guidelines for starting asks based on Board giving, which have been in place for 10+ years. We would like to revisit these minimum financial requirements in the coming year to support an expanding budget.

• $100,000+: Individuals from a range of professional backgrounds who are interested in the extra access that comes with the Chairman’s Circle; at the Board Chair’s discretion
• $50,000 to $100,000: Individuals representing very large national or multinational companies (more than 500 employees), as well as those who are interested in the special access that comes with the President’s Circle
• $25,000 to $50,000: Individuals representing large companies (200-500 employees) in the real estate, finance, and engineering sectors and those who are interested in Leadership Circle benefits
• $10,000: Individual philanthropists, as well as individuals representing smaller companies (fewer than 200 employees) or large nonprofit organizations; members gain access to the Builders’ Circle
• $1,000 to $5,000: Civic leaders whose intellectual insights and diverse points of view are particularly valuable and yet under-represented on the RPA Board

Board members can participate in any of our state committee meetings. The New York, Connecticut and New Jersey Committees each meet approximately four times a year. The state committees discuss major policy issues and provide an on-the-ground presence for the organization.

Board members can also help advance RPA’s policy agendas by participating in special task forces on particular topics (for example, NYCHA, urban design, or energy policy), or participating in any of the policy strategy sessions, special briefings and tours that are organized throughout the year.

Lastly, board members can help amplify RPA’s reach by supporting our communications efforts (speaking to the media on our behalf, providing social media updates, etc.), hosting an event, or introducing us to political leaders, new colleagues and potential supporters.