Board Secretary (Voting Member) - Volunteer Position

Board Secretary (Voting Member) - Volunteer Position

The Mariam Society | Girls' Education & Empowerment in Rural India

Location: Toronto area

Type: Volunteer Board Role (Voting Member)

Time Commitment: ~6–10 hours/month

Term: 2–3 years, renewable

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About the Mariam Society

The Mariam Society is a Canadian registered charity advancing education and empowerment for girls in rural India. Since 2019, we’ve awarded over 500 scholarships, with a goal of supporting 4,000 girls by 2030. Our programs also include menstrual health workshops, career mentorship, and financial literacy training. Over 90% of donations directly support program delivery, reflecting our deep commitment to lean, impactful operations.

More at: www.mariamsociety.org

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Role Overview: Board Secretary

The Secretary is an officer of the Board and a voting director, responsible for ensuring the integrity of board documentation, governance records, and compliance practices. This role is critical to upholding transparency, legal compliance, and effective communication across the Board and broader organization.

The Secretary works closely with the Founder & Board Chair, Vice-Chair, and fellow board members to support efficient governance and timely documentation of decisions and actions.

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Key Responsibilities

Board Governance & Documentation

Prepare and distribute agendas, materials & presentations for board meetings in collaboration with the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Record, finalize, and archive minutes of all board and committee meetings.

Maintain official governance records, including bylaws, board policies, and director terms.

Track action items and follow-ups, helping ensure board accountability.

Legal & Compliance

Ensure compliance with applicable nonprofit governance requirements under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and CRA guidelines for registered charities.

Coordinate the timely filing of annual returns and updates as required to the Charities Directorate (with Treasurer).

Board Coordination

Maintain an up-to-date Board directory (contact info, terms, roles, bios).

Facilitate director onboarding and document access.

Provide notice of meetings and support board calendar/scheduling.

Mission Support (Shared Board Duties)

Participate fully in Board meetings (monthly) and vote on strategic and financial decisions.

Support fundraising initiatives (e.g., donor stewardship, event support, introductions).

Promote The Mariam Society’s mission as an ambassador and advocate.

Serve on additional committees or task forces as needed.

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Ideal Candidate Profile

Deep alignment with The Mariam Society’s mission of girls’ empowerment through education.

Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and reliability in handling documentation.

Familiarity with nonprofit governance (board or committee experience preferred).

Strong written communication; experience drafting minutes, policies, or governance documents.

Comfortable with tools like Google Drive, Teams, and digital document management. Advanced skills in MS suite, and Canva to support marketing & promotional activities.

Assets: Legal, governance, or nonprofit administrative experience.

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What This Position Offers

A meaningful opportunity to help scale an impactful, girl-led mission in India.

Work alongside a values-aligned board and founder with deep passion and purpose.

Gain experience in nonprofit governance and strategy.

Contribute remotely, with hybrid or virtual meetings.

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To Apply

Please send a brief bio or résumé and a short letter of interest to: hello@mariamsociety.org

Include why you’re interested in the Secretary role, relevant experience, and availability.