Secretary

Purpose of the position

The Secretary keeps the governance record accurate and the organization's compliance current. Minutes are evidence. An organization that cannot produce its own record cannot show a funder, an auditor, or a court that its board governed.

Responsibilities of this position

• Maintain the official record of every board and committee meeting, including agendas, minutes, attendance, and votes.
• Distribute meeting notices, agendas, and supporting materials on time.
• Serve as custodian of the governance documents, including the bylaws, the conflict of interest policy, and board resolutions.
• Track director terms, committee assignments, and annual disclosures.
• Maintain compliance with Tennessee nonprofit corporation law and 501(c)(3) reporting obligations.
• Coordinate the annual board self-assessment and the onboarding of new directors.
• Sign official corporate documents alongside the President as the bylaws require.

Responsibilities shared by every director

• Advise on strategy and support the growth of the organization.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in your field and contribute to programming.
• Participate in fundraising. Share our work with your network, make introductions, and help identify potential contributors.
• Present alongside the Executive Director at events and conferences when you are able.
• Complete a conflict of interest disclosure each year and recuse yourself where it applies.
• Keep board deliberations, applicant information, and family information confidential.

Required qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit governance, corporate paralegal work, executive administration, project management, or organizational compliance.
• Strong writing and close attention to detail.
• Comfort with cloud-based document systems.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience maintaining a governance library or corporate record.
• Familiarity with state charitable registration and annual reporting.
• Lived experience as the parent or caregiver of a child with a disability.

Time commitment

• Six board meetings a year. Meetings are virtual and run ninety minutes.
• Service on at least one standing committee. Committees meet monthly during a founding year and quarterly after that.
• Five to eight hours a month during a founding year. Established years require about three hours a month.

Reports to

The Board of Directors as a whole.

Term

Three years, renewable. The board elects directors and records the election in the minutes.

Scope of the role

Directors do not work with families directly. Directors do not review individual cases, attend IEP meetings, or advise families about their children. One exception applies. A director volunteering at a conference or community event may talk with parents and explain what the organization offers.

Compensation

This is an unpaid volunteer position. We do not require a personal financial contribution. We do not judge any application on whether the applicant can give.

What we provide

• Orientation and an onboarding packet covering the bylaws, the conflict of interest policy, and the board agreement.
• Meeting materials distributed before every meeting.
• A background check. We pay for it, and we complete it before you are seated.

How to apply

One application covers the board and the advisory council. Questions go to info@edquityatthemargins.org.