Treasurer of the Board

Background

Charmaghz was founded in 2018 to instill a joy of reading in Afghan children through Mobile Libraries. Based in Kabul and a registered NGO, Charmaghz grew from the dreams of a group of Afghan youth whose childhoods were scarred by war, and who wanted to secure a peaceful future for the next generation. We believe that a necessary, first step towards that future is ensuring all children can read, write, and do basic math—though currently only 7% of primary school age children in Afghanistan are proficient in these skills. In Farsi, “Charmaghz” means “four brains,” which reflects our mission to expand and fulfill the potential of Afghan children through literacy and critical thinking. Charmaghz was founded and is led by Freshta Karim, an internationally recognized advocate for education and children’s rights.

Charmaghz is the largest chain of children’s libraries in Afghanistan. We operate 36 Mobile Libraries in Kabul to welcome children into a safe, encouraging, and creative learning environment. While visiting our Libraries, children are supported to build basic literacy and numeracy skills, but also to engage in art activities, have an open-mind, think critically, and to develop a love of reading. Since 2018, our Libraries have been visited over one million times, and over half of our visitors are girls. We are proud to be an Afghan-led and women-led organization; 97% of our 62 staff are Afghan, and 76% are women.

Following the Taliban take-over of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Charmaghz leadership team reflected critically about the future of the organization, and how to ensure that Charmaghz would be able to continue providing high-quality educational opportunities to young people in Afghanistan in the long-term. One decision that emerged from that process was to register Charmaghz as a non-profit in the US, under the name The Freshta Foundation Inc. International registration will ensure that Charmaghz has a legal and administrative base outside of Afghanistan, and open up catalytic fundraising opportunities. This Board of Directors will oversee both the operations and governance of The Freshta Foundation, and Charmaghz.

The inaugural Board of Trustees for the Freshta Foundation currently includes four members, and we are now seeking to expand the Board to fill additional key roles, including a Treasurer (we are also currently recruiting for a Secretary, and a Trustee with expertise in fundraising).

Trustee Terms of Reference

The Treasurer will be a Trustee and voting member of the Board of Directors. All Trustees, including the Treasurer, are expected to attend and contribute to quarterly Board meetings, each of which will last two hours. Board meetings will typically be held remotely, but depending on the location and availability of Trustees, may be held in person once per year. During Board meetings, Trustees are expected to advise on high-level matters related to The Freshta Foundation and Charmaghz, including governance, accountability to the communities Charmaghz serves, strategy development, fundraising, partnerships, organizational development, and financial oversight. The Board of Trustees is also responsible for approving the annual budget and reviewing the performance of the CEO of The Freshta Foundation.

In addition to attending Board meetings, Trustees will also be expected to contribute an additional 2 - 4 hours per month to support the growth and governance of the Freshta Foundation / Charmaghz. Areas of support will depend on the capacities of each individual Trustee, but may indicatively include:

• Providing mentorship and leadership support to Charmaghz’s leadership team.
• Advising the Charmaghz leadership team on management, operational, and strategic matters.
• Connecting the Charmaghz leadership team with interested funders or external visibility opportunities.
• Reviewing and providing feedback on key organizational documents (e.g. strategic plan).
• Providing technical input on project documents, such as curricula used in Charmaghz’s programs.
• Contributing towards Charmaghz’s fundraising goals. This can be fulfilled through different options such as: sharing and promoting Charmaghz’s online fundraising campaigns; becoming a monthly donor or making a yearly gift; connecting Charmaghz with philanthropic individuals/organizations who could contribute to Charmaghz; attending networking events to represent Charmaghz.

The Treasurer is expected to hold additional specific responsibilities, including:

• Ensuring that proper organizational accounting records are kept, financial resources are properly controlled and economically spent, in line with good governance, legal and regulatory requirements
• Advising the leadership team on financial management, including the development of an annual budget, development of spending projections, and financial reporting, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission
• Assisting in the preparation and review of the annual audit
• Supporting the preparation of US tax filings
• Supporting the Afghanistan and US team to develop and maintain appropriate financial control systems and policies
• Reviewing cost management protocols and advise on best practices
• Advising on the financial implications of the organization’s strategic plan
• Advising on ensuring compliance with legal requirements when transferring funds internationally, in particular to Afghanistan.

The Treasurer will be offered an initial term of two years. This is an unpaid role.

Qualifications

We are seeking a diverse group of Trustees who have a deep, genuine commitment to Charmaghz’s mission and vision, and a passion for supporting children’s education in Afghanistan. We believe that a Board of Trustees with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences will be best positioned to support and oversee the Freshta Foundation and Charmaghz. To that end, there is no single profile we are looking for in the Treasurer, but rather we are keen to bring together a small group of dedicated individuals with different and complementary backgrounds, perspectives, and skill sets.

For the role of Treasurer, we welcome candidates with the following experiences and qualifications:

• An advanced degree in finance, accounting, or a similar area
• Experience serving in a similar role on the Boards of other non-profits
• Familiarity with US non-profit law and tax requirements
• Experience supporting small non-profits in sustainable expansion and growth
• Experience with setting up financial systems and control for new US non-profits
• An understanding of the funding mechanisms within the non-profit / international development sector, and financial requirement of donors

In addition, we hope the Treasurer will have a selection of the following experiences and qualifications:

• Deep experience in primary education, literacy, education in emergencies, developing children’s critical thinking, and/or psychosocial support for children.
• Prior/ongoing professional experience in global affairs, including Afghanistan.
• Understanding of the governance and safeguarding responsibilities of Trustees.
• Experience working with a variety of international stakeholders, including foreign country governments.
• Experience in organizational development and strategy, and supporting small organizations to grow in a sustainable manner.
• Personal or professional networks that can be leveraged to build Charmaghz’s base of supporters, including networks related to media, advocacy, international affairs, human rights, and education.
• Ability to represent Charmaghz externally.

We particularly encourage Afghan candidates to apply.

This role is open to candidates in any location, though please note we typically hold Board meetings at 9am - 11am EST / 2pm - 4pm UK time. We would be open to adjusting these times slightly, though hope to keep Board meetings during everyone’s working hours.

What We Offer

By joining the Board of Directors of the Freshta Foundation / Charmaghz, you will become an integral part of an ambitious grassroots organization deeply committed to serving Afghan children, and expanding the possible futures available to them. You will have the opportunity to work with and accompany the next generation of Afghan and women leaders, and meaningfully contribute to the long-term growth, sustainability, and development of a small non-profit. Most importantly, your service will directly impact the quality and availability of education for children in Afghanistan today, and for years to come.