HBA Charitable Foundation 2.0

HBA: HBA of Raleigh & Wake County

Category: HBA Operations

Location: Raleigh, N.C.

Size: Local Association: 601+ members

Year: 2023

The HBA of Raleigh & Wake County took a 501(c)3 entity it had created in 2005 to provide relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Once that need had abated, the charity became a funding mechanism for specific local scholarships for those pursuing an education in the trades. The purpose of this project was to reinvent the charity and to infuse it with leadership that was separate from but connected to the HBA. Additionally, the HBA changed the charity's bylaws, resulting in a smaller separate board. The charity overhaul and new board bring a new mission, passion, and exciting possibilities for the future.

The original Board of Directors of the charity was identical to the board of the HBA, making it difficult to allocate enough time to do more with the charity, as it took a backseat to the HBA business. In 2022, the board (acting in its capacity as the charity board), passed a sweeping set of bylaw updates that created a new Board of Trustees for the charity, consisting of eight members plus the Executive Officer, and stated that the new board of trustees would meet quarterly to keep the mission of the charity top of mind. The new board was put in place the following year.