The New Hampshire Children’s Trust Fund (NHCTF) is a non-profit organization established in 1987 by legislative statute RSA 169-C:39-c. The founding purpose of the NHCTF was to build a permanent endowment to support programs in New Hampshire that prevent child abuse and neglect.

If you would like to read the legislation that established the NHCTF, defines its purposes, and describes our Board composition, you can visit Webster, the website for New Hampshire State Government, or click here .

NHCTF Bylaws

Article I -- Purpose

The purpose of the NH Children’s Trust Fund is to provide a source of funding which will increase the funds available
for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The funds shall be used to support and assist private and public agencies to initiate and enhance community based educational and service programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Article II -- Board of Directors

1. General Powers

The business and affairs of the New Hampshire Children’s Trust Fund shall be managed by a Board of up to sixteen (16). Management shall be vested in the Board with full power and authority to carry out the business and affairs of the NH Children’s Trust Fund and to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings. In furtherance of its mission and purposes, the Board may apply for and receive funds from other sources including, but not limited to, private, federal, state and/or local government entities.

2. Membership/Tenure

A Board composed of the following members, all of whom shall have experience and knowledge with regard to problems of child abuse and neglect, will administer the prevention program:

a. Three members who are knowledgeable about child development, child health, child psychology, education, juvenile delinquency, or related fields;

b. Three members who are knowledgeable about the organization and administration of volunteer community services and grant administration;

c. Two members who are knowledgeable about banking, finance, investments, tax law, business, or public relations.

d. Two members of the senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

e. Two members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

f. The Attorney General or a designee;

g. One representative of Children, Youth, and Families appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services;

h. One representative of Public Health appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services;

i. One member who shall have experience and knowledge with regard to problems of child abuse and neglect, appointed by the Governor.

The Board Members shall serve terms of three years. Directors may serve consecutive terms. The legislative members shall serve for a term concurrent with their legislative term. The Attorney General position and the appointee of the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services from the Division for Children Youth and Families shall be permanent positions on the Board of Trustees.

3. Quorum

Seven Board Members shall constitute a quorum and a majority vote of these Board Members present (in quorum) shall be sufficient to carry on any business properly before the Board. Voting by proxy is not permitted.

4. Meetings

a. The Board shall meet at least four (4) times per year and more often at the call of the chair.

b. A special meeting of the Board may be called at any time by the Chair or on written petition of four (4) members.

c. Meetings may be held by telephone so long as each person present at such telephone meetings may hear all others present and may speak and be heard by all others present at the meeting.

d. Notice of Board meetings shall be given to each Board Member at least 24 hours before the meeting.

e. There shall be an annual meeting of the NH Children’s Trust Fund Board to be held in the month of September.

Article III -- Officers of the Board

1. Officers

The Officers of the Board shall be a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. Other officers and assistant officers may be elected or appointed by the Board. All officers shall serve a term of one year. Officers may serve consecutive terms.

2. Duties

a. The Chairperson shall be the principal officer of the Board subject to the control of the Members. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall be chairperson of the Executive Committee, and a member, ex-officio with a vote, of any committees established by the Board, and shall, with the other officers, have the authority to sign all contracts and obligations authorized by the Board.

b. The Vice Chair shall perform all the duties of the Chair in the event of the absence or inability of the Chair to act, or in the event of a vacancy in that office.

c. The Secretary shall handle the general correspondence of the Board; shall assure that written notice of all meetings is sent to the Board and the Executive Committee; shall send written notices of removal of any Board Member to the Board as set forth in preceding Articles; shall attend and record the minutes of the Board and Executive Committee.

d. The Treasurer shall be the financial officer of the NH Children’s Trust Fund subject to the provision of RSA 169C:39; 169C:39-C, shall cause all debts and obligations of the NH Children’s Trust Fund to be paid; shall ensure that an accurate record is kept of all receipts and disbursements. These records shall be open for inspection by Board Members and auditors at all times. The Treasurer shall give a report of these accounts at each Board Meeting, and shall be responsible for compiling the annual accounting of the NH Children’s Trust Fund submitted to the Speaker of the House, the Senate President and the Governor pursuant to RSA 169-C:39-e.

Article IV -- President/Executive Director

1. General

The Board of Trustees shall employ and determine the compensation of the President/Executive Director of the Corporation who shall, subject to policies and directives determined by the Board, be the Chief Executive Officer of and be responsible for the general operation of the Corporation.

2. Powers and Duties

The powers and duties of the President/Executive Director shall include:

a. Preparation and submission of an annual budget, showing expected receipts and expenditures, and of a strategic plan;

b. Selection, employment, control and discharge of employees of the Corporation and the development and maintenance of employee personnel policies and practices;

c. Maintenance of the physical properties of the Corporation in a good state of repair and operating condition;

d. Supervision of the business affairs of the Corporation to insure that funds are collected and expended to the best advantage of the Corporation;

e. Preparation and presentation to the Board or an appropriate committee thereof of periodic reports reflecting the activities of the Corporation and preparation and submission of such special reports as may be, from time to time, required by the Board or its committees;

f. Attendance at all meetings of the Board and, either personally or through a representative, its committees unless excused therefrom (but the President/Executive Director shall not vote unless otherwise a member of the committee);

g. Execution of all contracts and other legal documents on behalf of the Corporation, unless some other person is specifically designated by the Board or by law;

h. Performance of such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or its committees or as may be appropriate to the interests of the Corporation.

Article V -- Committees

1. The Board shall have a standing Executive Committee will consist of the officers of the organization and a member at large. The President/Executive Director shall sit on the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity. The Executive Committee shall perform the functions of the Board in the routine management of the affairs of the organization during the intervals between meetings of the Board and shall meet at the call of the President/Executive Director of the Board. All actions taken by the Executive Committee shall be presented for ratification at the next meeting of the Board.

2. Ad Hoc Committees may be appointed, as necessary, upon a majority vote of the Members.

Article VI -- Conflict of Interest

1. Duty to Disclose

Each Board Member, prior to taking a position on the Board, and all current Members shall submit in writing to the Chairperson of the Board a list of all businesses or other organizations of which he is an officer, director, trustee, member, owner (either as a sole proprietor or partner), shareholder, employee or agent, with which the NH Children’s Trust Fund has, or might reasonably in the future enter into, a relationship or a transaction in which the Board Member would have conflicting interests. The Chairperson of the Board shall become familiar with the statements of all Directors in order to guide his conduct should a conflict arise. (See Conflict of Interest Policy)

2. Voting

At such time as any matter comes before the Board in such a way as to give rise to a conflict of interest, the affected member shall make known the potential conflict, whether disclosed by his written statement or not, and after answering any questions that might be asked him, shall withdraw from the meeting for so long as the matter shall continue under discussion. Should the matter be brought to a vote, the affected member shall not vote. The Board will comply with all the requirements of New Hampshire Law where conflicts of interest are involved.

3. Statutory Requirements

The New Hampshire statutory requirements dealing with pecuniary benefits (RSA 7:19, II and 292:6-a) are hereby incorporated in full into, and make an integral part of, this conflict of interest policy; and a copy of the relevant New Hampshire statutes.