Crisis Assistance Ministry is happy to welcome Sherry Ferguson, Jay Herring, and Allison Hoffman to the Board of Directors! Serving on Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Board of Directors means far more than attending meetings. Board members help shape policy for programs that help families move toward self-sufficiency, and support staff who show up every day to meet neighbors at some of the hardest moments of their lives. In short, they are community leaders supporting families in crisis through both expertise and empathy. This is the heart of the work of the Crisis Assistance Ministry Board of Directors, a volunteer group of community leaders providing governance, financial stewardship, and strategic direction for housing stability and financial assistance in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Key Takeaways
- The Crisis Assistance Ministry Board of Directors is a volunteer group of community leaders guiding housing stability and financial assistance work in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
- Board members provide nonprofit board governance in Charlotte through financial oversight, strategic direction, and CEO support while staying closely connected to families in crisis.
- Diverse professional backgrounds—from finance and healthcare to housing and grassroots organizing—strengthen emergency rent and utility assistance board leadership and long-term stewardship.
- Since 1975, the Board’s role has evolved from launching a new ministry to provide governance that responds to today’s economic realities based on data-informed strategy.
Who Serves on the Crisis Assistance Ministry Board of Directors
All of this commitment shows up in very concrete ways. The Crisis Assistance Ministry Board of Directors brings together business, civic, and nonprofit leaders who care deeply about housing stability and the dignity of neighbors in financial crisis. Their collective experience spans finance, law, energy, healthcare, government, consulting, real estate, and community development, creating a broad base of nonprofit board governance in Charlotte that reflects our community’s complexity.
One of our newest board members, Jay Herring, captures this spirit of service in the way he describes Crisis Assistance Ministry:
“Crisis Assistance Ministry represents the very best of Charlotte. Meeting people with dignity, compassion, and practical support at moments when it matters most. I am deeply honored to serve on the Board of an organization that does such meaningful, hands‑on work to strengthen our community and help neighbors regain stability and hope.”
— Jay Herring, Board Member
What does the Crisis Assistance Ministry Board of Directors do?
Board members commit to three-year terms, with the option to renew once for a total of up to six consecutive years. During that time, they attend regular board meetings, review and approve the annual budget, and monitor financial reports to ensure strong, volunteer Board oversight and stewardship of donor dollars and community resources.
Beyond reviewing numbers, the Board of Directors plays a central role in setting strategic direction. Members help define organizational priorities, approve major policies, and evaluate risks and opportunities that affect housing stability and financial assistance programs. They also participate in board planning and self-assessment, making sure the Board itself stays effective, diverse, and aligned with the needs of families in crisis.
New Board member Sherry Ferguson says, “I’ve been involved with Crisis Assistance Ministry for many years, from volunteering in Client Services and the Free Store to serving on the Finance Committee. I’m honored to join the Board of Directors and strengthen my commitment to an organization whose mission I strongly believe in. Supporting our neighbors in tangible, meaningful ways is important to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute my time, talents, and resources in a way that helps continue to strengthen and grow the organization’s impact.”
Board members support fundraising and community engagement efforts by connecting the agency to new donors, sharing the organization’s story, and helping to build relationships that sustain our work. This combination of governance, strategy, fundraising support, and ambassadorship is a clear example of how nonprofit boards support CEO leadership while also preserving accountability to the community. To make those responsibilities possible, the Board draws on a deep bench of skills and sectors.
Skills and Sectors Represented on the Board
To navigate the complex realities of housing instability, rising utility costs, and wage gaps, Crisis Assistance Ministry intentionally seeks diverse skills around the board table. Current Board members represent sectors such as banking and finance, utilities and energy, healthcare systems, law and compliance, real estate and housing, professional services, and grassroots community leadership. This blend of perspectives strengthens nonprofit board governance in Charlotte and ensures decisions are grounded in both data and lived experience.
Financial professionals contribute deep knowledge of risk management, sustainable budgeting, and long-term financial planning. Legal and compliance experts help guide ethical, transparent governance and keep the organization in line with regulations and best practices. Healthcare and social impact leaders add insight into the root causes of financial crisis, including the way medical debt and unexpected health challenges can destabilize a family’s housing and utility situation.
At the same time, community and grassroots leaders ensure that the Board remains connected to neighborhood realities, not just spreadsheets and reports. They bring lived experience, community networks, and a clear focus on dignity, equity, and access to resources. Together, these perspectives help the Board make wise choices about emergency rent and utility assistance board leadership, always centering the question: “What does this mean for the families we serve?”
How has Board Service at Crisis Assistance Ministry Changed Since 1975?
The Board’s leadership has not always looked exactly like it does today. When Crisis Assistance Ministry was founded in 1975, the Board’s primary task was to help launch and stabilize a small, innovative ministry focused on crisis assistance. Early board members concentrated on incorporating the organization, securing seed funding, and building trust with churches, civic groups, and neighbors who believed in preventing homelessness and utility shutoffs before they happened.
Over time, as Charlotte grew and the cost of living climbed, the Board’s role evolved dramatically. From start-up planning and fundraising, the board has evolved to providing sophisticated financial stewardship and scenario planning, ensuring the organization can respond to economic downturns, surging demand, and changes in public policy. A small founding group has grown into a broad, representative Board of Directors with varied expertise that mirrors a complex, growing region.
A Culture of Service, Stewardship, and Giving
Board service at Crisis Assistance Ministry is entirely volunteer; there is no financial compensation. Yet Board members consistently show up with their time, expertise, and resources because they believe that nobody should lose their home or utilities over a short-term financial crisis. Their commitment illustrates the best of volunteer Board oversight and stewardship, grounded in a sense of shared responsibility for the wellbeing of neighbors.
Board members are expected to participate in at least one agency service day during their term, working alongside staff and volunteers. On these days, they might tour the Free Store, observe Financial Assistance appointments, or assist in the warehouse. These experiences help leaders see first-hand how housing stability and financial assistance programs work and remind them that every line item in a budget represents a real family. Reaching 100% Board giving is a powerful signal of confidence to funders and demonstrates that the Board of Directors is fully invested in the mission. Many members also share the organization’s story in their workplaces, faith communities, and networks, becoming true community leaders supporting families in crisis by inviting others to give, volunteer, and advocate.
“It is such an honor to join the amazing board at Crisis Assistance Ministry. I’m looking forward to learning more about the important work they are doing in our community, and raising awareness about the financial hardships our neighbors are facing,” says Allison Hoffman, new Board member.
Many members share the organization’s story in their workplaces, faith communities, and networks, becoming true community leaders supporting families in crisis by inviting others to give, volunteer, and advocate.
How Board Members Stay Close to the Mission
To keep decisions grounded in the lived experience of neighbors, every new Board member participates in a structured orientation during their first year of service. This period is intentionally framed as a learning year. New members receive training on the organization’s mission and programs so they can clearly explain who Crisis Assistance Ministry is, what the Board of Directors does, and why housing stability and financial assistance are essential for community wellbeing.
New Board members also shadow a financial assistance caseworker to better understand how staff meet with neighbors, review documentation, and determine the best way to help. Watching this process helps connect board members to the real people in crisis and deepens their understanding of how emergency rent and utility assistance board leadership translates into day-to-day action.
After their first year, Board members work with leadership to create a Personal Engagement Plan. This plan aligns their skills, interests, and availability with committees, projects, or ambassador roles where they can have the greatest impact. Whether a member is best suited to financial oversight, storytelling, policy advocacy, or community outreach, the goal is meaningful participation within each person’s capacity.
Celebrating Board Alumni
Crisis Assistance Ministry celebrated its Board alumni at the 2025 Board Alumni Reception, where former members reunited in support of the mission to advance housing stability in Mecklenburg County. This image captures present and former leaders reconnecting, reflecting on their legacy of service, and renewing their commitment to helping neighbors in financial crisis find and keep a safe, stable home.
Questions Neighbors Often Ask About Our Board of Directors
The Board provides governance, financial oversight, and strategic leadership to ensure programs remain effective and aligned with the mission of preventing homelessness and utility shutoffs. By guiding housing stability and financial assistance work, the Board helps the organization adapt to changing community needs.
No. Board members are volunteers who offer their time, expertise, and resources as a commitment to Charlotte-Mecklenburg neighbors in financial crisis. Their service reflects the broader culture of nonprofit board governance in Charlotte, where community leaders step forward to serve without compensation.
The Board selects the CEO, reviews performance annually, and collaborates on long-term strategy. This partnership is a prime example of how nonprofit boards support CEO leadership, ensuring the organization is both well led and well governed.
Board members participate in service days, attend events, engage with staff, and stay informed about local housing and economic trends. They also listen to community partners and neighbors, keeping the Board’s understanding of financial crisis grounded in real stories.
Community members and partners can invite Board representatives to speak, join a tour of the agency, attend events, or support fundraising initiatives. By spreading the word about housing stability and financial assistance resources, the broader community extends the Board’s impact far beyond the boardroom.