"Vice President - Secretary of the Corporation"

Job Details

Company: United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

Role: Vice President – Secretary of the Corporation

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Washington, D.C.

About the United Negro College Fund

Since their founding in 1944, The United Negro College Fund was built on the belief that there is strength in numbers – that historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) ought to make a joint effort to appeal for funds – as well as the belief that education was crucial to Black mobility. At the start, UNCF served 27 member colleges and universities, totaling 12,000 students.

UNCF has seen remarkable growth since its founding. In 1948, about 15,000 students had graduated from UNCF-member institutions. By 1972, that number was up to 120,000. It was in this year that UNCF coined its iconic “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” motto, which later became one of the most famous advertising slogans in history. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, UNCF made an important step by incorporating scholarships into its organizational mission. Prior to this, UNCF exclusively funded institutions.

As of today, UNCF has been able to raise more than $5 billion and help more than 500,000 students not just attend college, but thrive, graduate, and become leaders. They do this in three ways: By awarding more than 12,000 student scholarships, worth more than $100 million, each year. By providing financial support to 37 HBCUs. And by serving as the nation’s leading advocate for the importance of minority education and community engagement.

Most recently, UNCF’s momentum and fundraising strength have been nationally recognized. In a 2025 special report by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, UNCF was ranked the second fastest-growing nonprofit organization, and second among education-focused nonprofits. UNCF ranked 49th overall among the magazine’s listing of America’s 100 Favorite Charities, underscoring the broad reach and rising impact of its mission.

This year’s theme, UNCF: Light the Way, From Promise to Prosperity, encapsulates UNCF’s enduring mission of transforming old commitments into measurable outcomes. Through strategic investment, policy advocacy and philanthropic partnership, it is bridging gaps and forging futures. HBCUs don’t just educate; they elevate. They turn promise into generational wealth and degree paths into economic engines.

UNCF’s top priority has always been to expand the financial resources available to its 37 member institutions. Since its founding, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion in support for our students and institutions of higher education. This includes regular funding, pooled endowment support, emergency aid, scholarships and grantmaking.

As UNCF celebrates its 81st anniversary, it reflects on a legacy rooted in resilience and lifted by progress. Its 37 member institutions are more than colleges; they are economic catalysts that power communities, strengthen families, and prepare future changemakers. And the data shows it. The 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report, Transforming Futures: The Economic Engine of HBCUs, found that HBCUs generate $16.5 billion in direct economic impact nationally, creating more than 136,000 jobs, and producing $146 billion in expected lifetime earnings. Taken together, these numbers make one thing clear: historically Black colleges and universities drive economic power, fuel local innovation, and transform student potential into community prosperity.

For more information, please visit https://uncf.org/about.

Leadership

Chair of the Board

Milton H. Jones, Jr., is Chair of UNCF’s Board of Directors... [summary of bio]

President and Chief Executive Officer

Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., serves as president and CEO... [summary of bio]

Position Summary

As an officer of the company, the Vice President - Secretary of the Corporation (Secretary) is responsible for overseeing the governance responsibilities of the board and its committees. The Secretary provides advice and counsel to ensure the board effectively discharges its fiduciary duties while promoting transparency, integrity, and accuracy. The Secretary is responsible for maintaining accurate records of the board’s actions, compliance with fiduciary requirements, facilitation of communication among board members and stakeholders, and managing and executing logistics for the board and member president meetings. The Secretary works closely with the board chair, chair of the members, and the CEO, serving as a confidante and resource to the board, member presidents, and senior management.

Core Responsibilities

The Secretary will:

• Provide guidance to the Board Chair, Chair of Members, and CEO in executing the responsibilities of the board.
• Act as a vital link for information, communication, and advice between the company and its board and other stakeholders.
• Manage the company’s corporate governance framework to include the election of officers and committee chairs, and the development, maintenance, and effective execution of the company’s by-laws and charters.
• Ensure compliance with all fiduciary and regulatory requirements related to corporate governance procedures, relevant laws, and regulations.
• Oversee/conduct induction training (orientation) for newly elected directors and member presidents and support board member education, training, and initiatives.
• Assist with generating Agenda formation (with Board Chair, Chair of the Members, and CEO) and prepare and maintain minutes of board, member, and committee meetings and formal resolutions when required.
• Maintain and organize corporate records, including bylaws, policies, and meeting documents.
• Review, prepare, and distribute board materials containing agendas and background information to assist with board and committee meeting preparation.
• Orchestrate communication among board members, member presidents, and between the board and staff.
• Responsible for scheduling meetings, setting and overseeing deadlines, and distributing relevant materials to participants for board and committee meetings.
• Support the board and members in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Able to effectively and diplomatically manage board member conflicts of interest.
• Oversee planning and execution of three annual meetings and special events to include organizing presenters and advisors.
• Manage correspondence and documentation related to board activities retrieved; update and maintain records on an ongoing basis.
• Organize and manage travel, hotel, and meeting logistics for board and member president meetings.
• Oversee the logistics for all special events such as the Chair’s dinner and Member School Tours to include securing special guests, speech development, communications, invitations, and meeting set-up.
• Ensure proper levels of director insurance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role will have direct supervisory responsibility as well as oversight for other team members with meeting execution responsibilities, such as Information Technology, Cyber Security, Meeting Planners, and Hotel Contacts.

Key Credentials and Personal Qualities

• A strong affinity toward and a firm commitment to HBCUs...
• Proven experience in operational functions...

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in law, business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred. Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a corporate secretarial, governance, attorney, or senior management role. Strong understanding of corporate governance principles. Knowledge of nonprofit governance and compliance issues is a plus.

Software and Soft Skills Required

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite...

Applications, Nominations, & Inquiries

Lionel Anderson of JM Search has been retained to assist with this recruitment. Confidential inquiries, nominations/referrals, and expressions of interest (a résumé accompanied by a letter of intent that addresses the specifics of the above charge) should be submitted to the application portion of this form.