Volunteer Board Members | Justice for James Irby Sr. Foundation | Remote

Volunteer Board Members | Justice for James Irby Sr. Foundation | Remote

The Justice for James Irby Sr. Foundation is seeking committed board members to help build and govern an organization that stands with families affected by unsolved violent crimes.

The foundation was established in honor of James Anthony Irby Sr., whose 2013 homicide remains unsolved. James’s case is our foundational case. Our mission reaches further: to help other families organize information, pursue answers, increase public awareness, and advocate for meaningful case review. We are building the policies, partnerships, and resources needed to do that work responsibly and beyond one community.

We are looking for board members who will do more than lend their names to the organization. This is an opportunity to help shape a foundation from its early stages and establish a model that families can trust.

What board members will do

• Guide the mission and strategy. Help set priorities, review progress, and make decisions about which programs the foundation can responsibly provide.
• Oversee finances and sustainability. Review budgets and financial reports, support sound financial controls, and help identify appropriate funding opportunities.
• Establish strong case-review standards. Help maintain a process for family applications, legal analysis, capacity review, conflicts of interest, and board decisions before the foundation accepts a new case.
• Protect families and sensitive information. Uphold confidentiality, privacy, accurate documentation, and clear boundaries around what may be shared publicly.
• Support partnerships and growth. Help build relationships with qualified professionals, community organizations, advocates, and potential supporters across multiple regions.
• Provide active governance. Attend meetings, prepare for votes, serve on working groups when needed, and follow through on agreed assignments.
• Hold the foundation accountable. Ask thoughtful questions, evaluate results, and make decisions based on the mission and the needs of the people served.

Experience we welcome

We are especially interested in people with experience in nonprofit leadership, finance or accounting, fundraising, law, law enforcement or investigations, victim services, social work, public records, communications, technology, or community organizing. You do not need experience in every area. We want a board with complementary skills and independent perspectives.

The person who will thrive in this role

You are dependable, prepared to participate, and willing to help build systems as well as set direction. You can handle sensitive matters discreetly, separate documented facts from allegations, and make difficult decisions fairly. You understand that personal relationships or family connections cannot determine which cases the foundation accepts or how resources are used.

Position details

• Location: Remote; applicants from outside Illinois are welcome.
• Compensation: Unpaid volunteer board position.
• Commitment: Regular virtual board meetings, preparation before meetings, and agreed work between meetings. Meeting frequency and term details will be discussed during the selection process.

How to apply

Apply through Idealist with your résumé or a summary of your background and a brief statement addressing:

1. Why the foundation’s mission matters to you.
2. The skills or perspective you would bring to the board.
3. How you would contribute to an organization in its early stages.
4. Your availability for meetings and board work.
5. Any potential conflicts of interest you would want the board to know about.

James’s life matters. So do the lives and unanswered questions carried by other families. Help us build a foundation capable of standing with them.