Job Description

Job Summary

About Pawster

Pawster’s mission is to support people in crisis by providing compassionate, temporary care for their pets. We match pets with foster homes suited to each animal’s individual needs. Throughout the process, we support the foster homes to ensure a rewarding and meaningful experience, and we help connect owners with the resources they need to get back on their feet.

People find themselves in need of short-term foster care for their pets for any variety of reasons, including hospitalization, loss of housing, domestic violence, addiction treatment, incarceration, natural disaster, and more. As an organization, we aim to walk alongside families in crisis as they journey toward wholeness and work to reunite with their pets. 

Pawster Nashville only exists because of the dedication of passionate volunteers, including a volunteer board of directors. Without people willing to offer their time and energy to helping pets and people in crisis, Pawster could not fulfill its mission.

About the Board of Directors

The board of directors governs the organization. The board establishes the overall strategic direction of the organization and ensures its financial, ethical and legal well-being. The board also hires the executive director and provides ongoing oversight. The board works with the executive director to set short and long-term goals for the organization. When board members fulfill work in daily operations, they serve under the guidance of the executive director. Board members serve 3-year terms, and may serve a total of 2 consecutive terms (6 years total).

Job Responsibilities

The legal responsibilities of Board Members:

1. Act in Good Faith: Do not do anything to hurt the nonprofit.
2. Duty of Care: Act reasonably as it relates to the nonprofit.
3. Duty of Loyalty: Put the best interest of the nonprofit first.
4. Confidentiality: Do not share sensitive information about the nonprofit with outside parties.
5. Non-competition: Do not engage in activities that compete with the nonprofit or undermine its mission.

The board of directors also chooses its own officers. This includes a Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. It may also decide to select a Vice Chair or other officers, as it deems necessary. 

Board Expectations and Agreement

As a member of the board of directors, I agree to:

• Be an ambassador for the organization by sharing its work with friends and members of the community.
• Make an annual financial contribution to the organization
• Raise funds for the organization
• Review the mission statement and vision of the organization on a regular basis.
• Participate in short-term and long-term strategic planning.
• Hire the executive director and provide ongoing evaluation of the executive director.
• Review the organization’s budget and stay well-informed of its financial situation.
• Review the performance of the organization’s programs. 
• Set, evaluate and revise policies, as needed.
• Recruit additional board members and volunteers.
• Recuse myself from board deliberations when a conflict of interest exists.

Qualifications

Pawster seeks leaders in Middle Tennessee who have a passion for supporting people and pets through hard times, to join our Board of Directors. In particular, we are looking for people with the following attributes:

• Strong experience serving on nonprofit boards
• Expertise/background in housing, mental health, domestic violence, or addiction work
• Representative of the communities we want to better reach, including communities of color, Latino communities, and communities outside of Davidson County.

Additional Information

Benefits

N/A

How to Apply

Please contact Gabe Horton, Executive Director, at gabe@pawsternashville.org or Chelsey Hedglin, Chair of the Board of Directors, at chair@pawsternashville.org

Details

• Date Posted: April 25, 2025
• Type: Board Member
• Job Function: Accounting / Financial Management
• Service Area: Animal Welfare
• Start Date: 07/01/2025
• Working Hours: 10 hrs/month

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