Join the Textile Exchange Governance Board: Applications now open for 2027
Shape the future of the fashion and textile industry
Textile Exchange is excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2027 Governance Board. We are seeking a new Board Member to help strengthen our financial governance and long-term sustainability. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a fiduciary leader within a global non-profit working at the forefront of sustainable materials transformation, and to play a critical role in guiding Textile Exchange toward lasting impact.
About Textile Exchange
Mission: Textile Exchange transforms how we produce, choose, and reuse materials to benefit people and places at the source.
Vision: A world where materials have lasting value, leading to thriving communities and landscapes.
About our work: Textile Exchange is a 501(c)3 non-profit driving beneficial outcomes for climate and nature across the global fashion, textile, and apparel industry. We work at Tier 4—the point at which raw materials and fibers are produced, and where the majority of the industry’s land use, emissions intensity, and water impact originates. We operate at the intersection of standards and certifications, brand and retailer engagement, farmer and raw material producer networks, and traceability systems. Our mandate is to enable system-level scale.
Why join us?
Serving on the Textile Exchange Governance Board offers a unique opportunity to help shape important work that addresses the critical challenges facing the fashion and textile industry. Your contributions will support our efforts to create a sustainable and equitable future for all. We are looking for individuals who bring diverse skills and experiences to help us build a robust and dynamic ecosystem, ensuring long-term organizational stability and driving transformative change.
We are recruiting one new Board Member to strengthen our financial governance capabilities, specifically to support and eventually succeed our current Treasurer. Textile Exchange has a strong internal finance and operations team; this is not a hands-on operational role. We are looking for a senior finance leader who can provide high-level strategic oversight, ask the right questions, and work in close partnership with our COO to help the board navigate long-term financial decisions with confidence.
We seek a candidate with the following priority experience and key attributes:
- Senior finance leadership: Ideally in a non-profit or mission-driven context, with a track record of operating at board or executive level.
- Non-profit financial oversight: Ideally someone with an understanding of US 501(c)3 financial compliance, fiduciary responsibilities, and non-profit governance requirements, but at a minimum a strong grounding in non-profit finance.
- Philanthropic funding experience: Familiarity with philanthropic funding, foundations, or institutional donors, and an understanding of the financial dynamics of grant-dependent organizations.
- Financial sustainability and risk oversight: Ability to contribute to conversations around long-term financial sustainability, reserves strategy, and organizational risk—at a governance rather than operational level.
In terms of key attributes, we are looking for a strategic thinker who can connect financial stewardship with mission and impact, and who is comfortable providing high-level oversight rather than detailed operational scrutiny. Prior board or governance experience is valued, along with a genuine passion for Textile Exchange’s mission and the global communities we serve.
Responsibilities of the Governance Board
The Governance Board is responsible for good governance, financial management, strategy, and the appointment and remuneration of the CEO. In undertaking this role, the Governance Board’s overriding duty is to advance the mission, vision, and purpose of Textile Exchange.
Running the day-to-day business of Textile Exchange is the responsibility of the management team, led by the CEO.
If successful in your application, you will be expected to:
- Provide active governance oversight by ensuring that the board’s fiscal, strategic, and legal responsibilities are carried out, as defined by the by-laws.
- Prepare for, attend, and constructively participate in all meetings of the Governance Board and the annual conference.
- Attend special events and regional meetings as able.
- Commit to supporting the organization’s strategic objectives, mission, and vision.
- Ensure the ethical integrity and accountability of the Governance Board and the organization, always operating for public benefit.
- Consider yourself a “trustee” of the organization, ensuring it is well-maintained, financially secure, growing, and operating in the best interests of those it serves.
- Stay informed about the organization’s activities.
- Interpret the organization’s work and values to the community, represent the organization, and act as a spokesperson.
- Actively promote and encourage the highest level of integrity within the textile industry.
- Stay well-informed about developments relevant to issues that may come before the board, and bring to the board’s attention any issues that may adversely affect the organization or its stakeholders.
- Work in good faith with staff and other board members as partners toward the achievement of our goals.
- Listen carefully to and respect the opinions of fellow board members and support the majority decisions of the board.
Commitment
Governance Board meetings are quarterly; with two virtual and two in-person meetings annually. One of the in-person meetings is organized to coincide with our annual conference which board members are also expected to attend.
In addition, we encourage board members to sit on at least one sub-committee. Committee meetings occur monthly or quarterly, depending on the committee.
All meeting materials are shared one week prior to the meeting date, and we ask board members to commit to reading material in advance, so they are well-prepared for the meeting.
Nominations to serve on the Governance Board
Applications must be submitted by April 24, 2026, with the election to be held later in 2026. One seat is open for a three-year term starting on January 1, 2027. Board members are eligible to serve up to three terms, totaling nine years. The current Governance Board votes to elect new board members and re-elects current board members at the end of their terms.
Newly elected board members are requested to attend the in-person meeting held in conjunction with our annual conference, as part of their orientation. Further induction meetings will be held to help successful applicants onboard to the Governance Board.
Our commitment to diversity
Textile Exchange is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals.
How to apply
Please send a letter of interest, along with your resume or CV, a brief biography, and a letter of recommendation from another representative of the member community. In your letter, please address the following:
- How do your personal and professional values align with the mission, vision, and goals of Textile Exchange?
- How might your financial expertise and governance experience help Textile Exchange strengthen its long-term financial sustainability and fulfill its mission to transform how materials are produced, chosen, and reused?
- Can you describe your previous experience serving on a governance board? What were your primary responsibilities and contributions?
- How do you approach strategic planning and long-term visioning for an organization?
- What do you see as the key financial governance priorities for a global non-profit like Textile Exchange over the next five years, particularly in relation to reserves, risk, and funding diversification?
- How familiar are you with the realities faced in Tier 4 of the supply chain, and how do you propose addressing these challenges?
- What motivates you to support our efforts to create a sustainable and equitable future for the fashion and textile industry?
- How will you balance your time and resources to commit to being an active member of the Governance Board?
The deadline for applications is April 24, 2026. Please email your application to Charlie Lally-Power at charlie@textileexchange.org.
Related Articles
