Directors / Governance

Share This Listing:

German-American Heritage Foundation

Position

Directors / Governance

Location

District of Columbia

Remote Options

Remote (No or Little In-Person Required)

Cause Type

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Mission

GAHF is the national umbrella organization for 40+ million Americans with German-speaking ancestry, and serves as a hub to connect individuals, clubs, businesses and educational institutions and encourage them to work together on vital issues of common concern. Our mission is to preserve and inform about the history of Americans of German-speaking ancestry and their role in building the United States. We want to excite the next generations to rediscover their roots, while strengthening political, cultural, and economic transatlantic relations. GAHF was founded in 1977 and chartered in 1978 as the United German-American Committee of the USA, Inc. as an independent, tax-exempt educational not-for-profit organization.

We serve

A national audience of all ages. Whilst many of our members are the descendants of German-speaking immigrants going back to the early 1600s, we invite everybody to learn about the contributions made by immigrants from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. Our museum in Washington, DC, which chronicles the history of immigration starting in 1607 to Jamestown, Virginia, is open to everybody. We have a number of in-person educational, events, changing exhibits, and hybrid or online functions that cater to a broad audience. We also collaborate with schools and universities through on-campus activities, and visits by schools to the our museum.

Our greatest accomplishment last year

Our greatest accomplishment is the creation of a national platform for all things German American. It's called GermanConnections, and the goal is to provide a comprehensive online directory that showcases the extent of German-speaking influence, past and present, across the country. The URL is www.germanconnections.org. Of course, a project like this is ongoing and never really complete as organizations come and go, and we think about ways to expand the services offered on the platform.

Website

www.gahmusa.org

View our most recent form 990

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/232033554/202312429349301611/full

Reasons to serve on our board

It's more than beer and bratwurst! The impact of Germanic culture is often summarized in culinary terms, but nothing could be further from the truth. German-speaking immigrants have shaped the country, its culture, and customs in multiples ways from the very beginning. The shared heritage is also a point of connecting with German-speaking Europe and commonalities are a great way to build transatlantic relationships. If you are interested in preserving and promoting German language (there are numerous studies about the personal and professional advantages of having a second language), exploring unique cultural aspects, history & heritage, learning important lessons from the past (persecution of German Americans during World War I, the internment camps of World War II), and helping a new generation connect with its past through scholarships and travel opportunities, you are in the right place.

Our ideal candidate

Our ideal candidate is a thoughtful, well-spoken, open-minded individual with the ability and willingness to think outside the box, both creatively and strategically, who can motivate others, lead by example, is not afraid of making mistakes and/or exploring new ideas, and has an interest in all matters German American. German American heritage or ancestry is not required, and neither are German-language abilities (although that';s certainly helpful and desired), but a passion for our mission and a shared vision for the future as we prepare for our 50th anniversary are a must.

Our current board size

19

Time commitment

10 hours per month

Where we meet

Virtually via Google Meet or Zoom

How often we meet

5 times per year

Contact name

Katja Sipple

Contact email

sipple@gahmusa.org

Contact phone

(202) 467-5000

Date posted

September 14, 2024