About Viva Farms

Viva Farms is a non-profit Farm Business Incubator and Training Program established in 2009. We operate over 100 acres between our two locations in Western Washington. We lower the barriers for beginning farmers and create the opportunity for success. Our mission is to empower aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing bilingual (English-Spanish) training in holistic organic farming practices, as well as access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing and capital. To learn more and explore our programs, please visit www.vivafarms.org. 

What to Expect 

The purpose of the Board is to serve as the accountable fiduciary and provide strategic oversight for Viva Farms. This duty will be accomplished by supporting the development and implementation of the strategic plan and monitoring the performance of the organization and the Executive Director. To read the complete board policies, please click here. 

The board will meet at least four times annually, and additionally as necessary. Meetings, materials, email correspondence, and all other business of the board will be in English. Board terms are two years, with the option to renew. Consistent email communication is expected, in addition to the occasional networking or organizational events. Meetings will be held in a hybrid fashion with a remote option for non-local members. We aspire to grow our board and plan to host a board retreat in the near future and annually following.

Who We Are Looking For 

At Viva Farms, we are building a just and resilient food system where farming is a financially viable livelihood – one that provides healthy and accessible food, preserves the diverse social and cultural values of the people who live and farm in our community, and protects the future of the planet. Because we envision a future full of farmers who better represent the fabric of their communities than today’s average grower, we invite and encourage leaders from all cultures and communities to join our Board of Directors, including women, members of the queer community, Latino/a/x, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, people of all incomes, and people with different abilities.  

While we are based in Western Washington, our reach is steadily growing. We welcome applicants from outside of the region who can participate in the board virtually. We are looking for individuals with a values-driven commitment to Viva Farms’ mission and expertise in any of the following fields of knowledge. Additionally, we are looking for individuals with extensive knowledge of or lived experience in the communities we serve: new and historically underserved farmers. We will review and consider applicants’ experience in the following:

Why join? 

Viva Farms is in a unique position of growth and is looking to partner with community leaders to build a more just and resilient food system. We are currently one of the largest farm incubators in the United States, both in terms of land base and number of farmers. We are excited to recruit  a Board of Directors that is committed to: organic farming, vibrant and viable businesses, business owners and employees, a well-supported and inspired staff, and the evolution of Viva Farms to deepen our impact and and strengthen our resiliency as an organization. If you are passionate about food systems and concerned about the future of food and the people who grow it, this may be a great fit for you.  

All board members will receive a Viva Farms CSA discount, a Viva Farms t-shirt, and a 25% discount on other merchandise. Members who own or operate a farm business can choose between a $300 stipend OR a discount on the Viva Farms CSA.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about organic farming, entrepreneurship, food systems, land access, or other elements of our work and have the desire, time and energy to serve, we encourage you to please apply. If you are unsure if you fit the listed criteria, don’t know how you would support the financial development of the organization, or have never joined a nonprofit board before but have the capacity and interest to participate and learn along the way, we welcome your application.

To apply, please complete the form below either via Google Form or by downloading the document and emailing it to [email protected]. If using Google, we encourage you to write thorough responses for “long-answer text” boxes. There is no word limit. If you are logged into a Google account, your answers will be saved for 30 days even if not submitted. Otherwise, you will need to submit in one sitting.

If you feel the application does not capture all you would bring to the board, we welcome additional material of different and creative mediums. If you would prefer to complete the written application via a conversation with a Viva Farms team member, who will record your spoken answers, please contact us. We are also available for an informational meeting throughout the process. Direct any questions to [email protected] or 360-969-7191 x1. 

Applications will be assessed for a high level of personal and professional integrity and commitment to promote the long-term interests of Viva Farms. Selected candidates will be invited to an interview following the review of their application, and all applicants will receive a response within two weeks of submission. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis; we hope to fill four seats before the end of 2024. 

Thank you for your time and consideration!