Images for Inclusion Inc Seeks New Director / Corporate Secretary (UNCOMPENSATED)
Director / Corporate Secretary — Board Vacancy
Images for Inclusion Inc (IFI) is seeking a committed human rights professional to join our Board of Directors and serve as Director / Corporate Secretary. This uncompensated Board position offers an opportunity to contribute directly to IFI's governance, institutional development, and national and international human-rights work. As we strengthen the representation, perspectives, and lived experience reflected in our leadership, we particularly encourage women and Indigenous human rights professionals to express their interest in this position.
About Images for Inclusion Inc
Images for Inclusion Inc is a New York-based 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, founded in 2017, and an NGO in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
IFI was established to combine photography and philanthropy to benefit children, women, and Indigenous Peoples experiencing material deprivation and limited social participation, while creating opportunities and providing resources that promote their social inclusion.
IFI is also formally authorized by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Chile to conduct activities in the country, pursuant to Exempt Decree No. 2,256 of November 26, 2019.
Our work extends beyond organizational administration. IFI engages with communities, civil society, international institutions, and United Nations processes to advance dignity, equality, participation, visibility, and human rights.
The person joining our Board will have the opportunity to contribute not only to nonprofit governance, but also to the institutional strength behind IFI's sustained international human-rights advocacy, including its participation before the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Expert Mechanism on the Rightsof Indigenous Peoples in Geneva, and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.
The Vacancy
The position became vacant following the retirement of our longtime Board Member, Director, and Secretary, Richard Barber, effective May 19, 2026.
For nearly a decade, Rich has been an irreplaceable and defining force behind the soul of Images for Inclusion since our inception. We express our profound gratitude for his exceptional kindness, tireless dedication, strategic guidance, and the significant personal sacrifices he made to clear our path so we could concentrate on achieving IFI's nonprofit mission.
Beyond managing intricate international travel logistics, Rich provided consistent guidance and steadfast personal support, anticipating and securing what our team needed for our participation at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, as well as for consultations in Chile.
His commitment allowed IFI to maintain a strong international presence and continues to provide a foundation from which we can move forward. His dedication remains a permanent pillar of our history, and we are extremely proud to have him as our ally and dear friend.
As Rich begins this new chapter and transitions out of active involvement, we look forward to his continued support of IFI and wish him absolute comfort in his well-deserved retirement and many more wonderful years of cherished friendship.
The Role
The Director / Corporate Secretary is both a Board governance position and an Officer position within IFI.
The successful candidate will help protect the institutional integrity of the organization, contribute to Board decisions, maintain essential governance records, and support the continuity and development of IFI's work nationally and internationally.
As a Director, the successful candidate will:
Participate actively in Board meetings, deliberations, and organizational decision-making;
Contribute professional knowledge, independent judgment, and strategic perspective to IFI's governance;
Support the Board in protecting and advancing IFI's charitable mission;
Help strengthen IFI's institutional development and long-term sustainability; and
Contribute, where appropriate, to IFI's engagement with civil society, international institutions, and United Nations processes.
As Corporate Secretary, responsibilities include:
Maintaining minutes of the annual meeting and all meetings of the Board;
Ensuring required corporate notices are properly given and served;
Receiving annual disclosure statements required under IFI's Conflict of Interest Policy;
Maintaining accurate Board resolutions, records, and corporate governance documentation;
Helping preserve institutional continuity and the integrity of IFI's official records; and
Performing the customary responsibilities associated with the office of Corporate Secretary and other duties assigned by the Board.
Who We Are Looking For
The candidate's work should demonstrate a genuine and sustained commitment to human rights and social justice.
Candidates should have demonstrated professional, academic, advocacy, community, legal, institutional, or nonprofit experience in the human rights field.
Relevant areas of experience may include:
Indigenous Peoples' rights
Women's human rights and gender equality
International human rights law and policy
Equality and non-discrimination
Environmental, biodiversity, or climate justice
Indigenous Peoples' traditional knowledge and cultural and educational participation
United Nations mechanisms and international organizations
Civil society and nonprofit advocacy
Grant writing, nonprofit fundraising, and institutional development
International cooperation and institutional relations
Experience with U.S. or New York nonprofit governance is highly valued, but is not required where an exceptional human-rights candidate is willing and able to develop the specific governance knowledge necessary for the position.
Candidate Qualifications
Candidates should demonstrate:
For corporate governance purposes, candidates must be U.S. citizens (Turtle Island).
Meaningful experience in the human rights field;
Strong alignment with IFI's mission and the communities at the center of its work;
Commitment to the rights, dignity, equality, and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, women, children, and communities experiencing discrimination or exclusion;
Strong written and verbal communication skills;
Ability to maintain accurate institutional and governance documentation;
Ability to exercise independent judgment and contribute constructively to collective Board decision-making;
Ability to work effectively and respectfully across cultures, communities, and institutions; and
Availability to participate consistently in Board meetings and fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
Personal Qualities
Beyond professional qualifications, we are looking for someone who demonstrates:
Integrity and strong ethical judgment
Reliability and accountability
Independence and sound judgment
Discretion and respect for confidentiality
Professionalism and attention to detail
Collaborative and respectful leadership
Cultural sensitivity and openness to different perspectives
Commitment to inclusion and non-discrimination
Genuine enthusiasm for IFI's mission
Long-term commitment to responsible nonprofit governance
The successful candidate will be expected to comply with IFI's Bylaws, Conflict of Interest Policy, Sexual Harassment Policy, and applicable nonprofit governance requirements.
Diversity and Representation
IFI believes that strong nonprofit governance benefits from different experiences, perspectives, professional backgrounds, and forms of lived knowledge.
Because women and Indigenous Peoples are central to IFI's mission and work, women and Indigenous human rights professionals are particularly encouraged to express their interest.
IFI also welcomes qualified candidates from communities and backgrounds historically underrepresented in nonprofit governance and international human-rights spaces.
Board Commitment
Board service requires active and dependable participation. Candidates should be prepared to dedicate the time necessary to attend meetings, review materials, respond to Board matters, maintain necessary records, and fulfill Corporate Secretary responsibilities on an ongoing basis.
Service as a Director is uncompensated, although reasonable expenses incurred in connection with Board service may be reimbursed in accordance with IFI's governing requirements.
Board Successor Vetting and Selection Process
This is a position of institutional trust, fiduciary responsibility, and long-term commitment. Expressions of interest will be reviewed through a structured Board successor vetting process.
Candidates selected for further consideration may be invited to an interview with IFI leadership and asked to provide professional references and information relevant to their experience, governance responsibilities, potential conflicts of interest, and suitability for Board service.
Candidates will be assessed consistently on their human-rights experience, alignment with IFI's mission, integrity and ethical judgment, reliability and accountability, independence and discretion, ability to collaborate across cultures and institutions, and capacity to fulfill the responsibilities of Director / Corporate Secretary.
Final appointment is not automatic upon application or selection as a preferred candidate. In accordance with IFI's Bylaws, the successful candidate must be formally nominated by a Director and elected by the Board.
Professional Benefits of Board Service
Although this is an uncompensated Board and Officer position, service with IFI can provide valuable professional development, leadership experience, international exposure, and meaningful pro bono service.
Governance and Professional Development
Board and Officer Experience: Gain formal experience as a Director and Corporate Officer of a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC.
Professional Growth: Strengthen your résumé or professional portfolio while developing strategic thinking, decision-making, leadership, and cross-cultural communication skills.
International Exposure and Advocacy
International Human Rights Experience: Deepen your practical understanding of international human-rights, policy, and multilateral mechanisms.
United Nations Engagement: Contribute to relevant UN meetings, consultations, dialogues, or submissions when formally designated by IFI, subject to applicable requirements.
Professional Networks: Build relationships with human-rights professionals, civil society actors, community leaders, advocates, and experts across national and international institutions.
Indigenous Leadership and Representation
Indigenous Leadership: Bring professional expertise, Indigenous community experience, traditional knowledge, and spiritual perspectives directly into nonprofit governance and decision-making.
Community and International Advocacy: Connect community-based knowledge and priorities with international human-rights and multilateral processes while helping shape IFI's work affecting Indigenous Peoples.
UNDRIP Framework: Contribute within an institutional environment informed by the principles of participation, self-determination, and respect for Indigenous Peoples recognized in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Pro Bono and Career Growth
Professional Expertise: Apply specialized legal, financial, policy, communications, governance, or other expertise to substantive nonprofit and human-rights work.
Career Development: Broaden your professional experience, explore new career paths, and gain substantive leadership and decision-making experience beyond a conventional internship.
Meaningful Contribution: Apply your professional knowledge, lived experience, and perspectives while contributing directly to IFI's institutional development.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Employment with our nonprofit organization may be eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. While this Board position is uncompensated, a successful candidate may separately be considered for qualifying full-time employment with IFI, subject to organizational needs, funding, applicable employment requirements, and a separate formal employment agreement. Candidates are responsible for independently verifying their individual eligibility under current federal requirements.
How to Express Interest
Interested candidates are invited to connect with our Executive Team through our website’s Contact page.
Please provide:
A current résumé or CV;
A brief statement of interest explaining your interest in IFI and the Director / Corporate Secretary position; and
A concise description of relevant human-rights, nonprofit, governance, legal, community, Indigenous Peoples', women's rights, or international experience.
Women and Indigenous human rights professionals are particularly encouraged to apply.
Images for Inclusion Inc (IFI)
NGO in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
