Questions & Answers

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Who’s on the current Leadership Team / Board and how did they get there?” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: The current Leadership Team includes 5 people on our Leadership Advisory Board and 3 people on our Board of Directors. Together this includes 3 student volunteers (of which one began as a YDM client), 1 parent of a YDM student, 3 current or former engineers, 2 current or former math instructional specialists, and two original co-founders of You Discover Math. We all got here because of a shared belief that math is for everyone, and that every student deserves opportunities to learn math with the support of casting role models.  Find out more about these wonderful individuals on our Meet the Team page!

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: What’s the difference between a role on the Board of Directors and a role on the Leadership Advisory Board?” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: The people on the Board of Directors are legally accountable for the actions of You Discover Math Inc.—its actions, its finances, and its mission delivery. As with any 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Directors are accountable for ensuring the organization remains true to its charitable purpose, for using its funding responsibly & prudently, for reporting its activities truthfully & transparently, and for complying with all applicable laws. Those responsibilities are known as fiduciary duties. The decision-making authority of You Discover Math Inc. is vested in its Board of Directors. Decisions such as approving budgets or entering into legal contracts must be authorized by a resolution of the Board, which the Board approves by means of Directors voting on motions.  

Members of the Leadership Advisory Board (or LAB) participate in almost all leadership activities  

alongside the Board of Directors—attending Board meetings, making proposals, commenting on motions and other formal business considered by the Leadership Team, speaking and leading to influence YDM’s mission delivery and strategy, and so on. However, LAB members do not share the legal accountability for YDM Inc., and therefore the members of the LAB do not vote on formal motions. 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Who is eligible to join the Leadership Team? ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: Leadership team members must…  

• share a genuine interest in YDM’s mission  
• have at least one (1) year of significant experience in some activity relevant to the achievement of the YDM’s mission. 
• commit to keeping our Leadership Team Agreement.  

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Are there financial requirements to serve on the Leadership Team? ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: No. Unlike many nonprofit organizations, YDM does NOT expect leaders to donate money or to personally solicit donations. The reason is, every effort to progress YDM’s goals in each area DOES contribute to fundraising in some important way (directly or indirectly). Instead of money obligations, the expectations that the YDM LT established are about showing care and giving effort. 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Are there different eligibility requirements to be a Director than there are for serving on the Leadership Advisory Board? ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: Yes, there’s one difference in the eligibility criteria. To become a Director, a volunteer must have already collaborated with You Discover Math in a favorable manner for at least six (6) months.  

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: If I join the Leadership Advisory Board, how long would my term be?  ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: One year. We hope great contributors will want to renew their roles on the Leadership Team, and that many LAB members will seek a Director role after their first year.  

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Can I see YDM’s bylaws?  ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: Yes! Our bylaws are available here.  

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: How long are the Directors’ terms?  ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: Three years  

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: How Many Board Members Does It Take to Get Anything Done?   ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: A simple majority of Directors suffices to pass a Board motion. We also use a process to collaborate asynchronously on board motions, which enables many simple Board decisions and actions to be taken in between meetings.  

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Can I See the Books and Records of the Organization?   ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: Yes, here are some links to PDF files of our publicly available organizing documents. You’re welcome to make an appointment to discuss any questions. 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: What’s the Organization’s Financial Situation?  ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: We have zero debt and X months of liquid unrestricted net assets (where X is some positive number). Our program is funded by small donors who believe in our cause, and by some of our clients who have chosen to make a donation to YDM as one way to let one good deed lead to another. We are frugal and gearing up for a future that includes paid pay time jobs for young people in undeserved communities, and expanding these opportunities as we are able to secure grant funding. We could use some help from those with nonprofit grant administration experience to help us get there faster! 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Is the Organization Current on Its Payroll Taxes?   ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: Yes, because we’re an all volunteer organization, so that makes payroll taxes rather difficult to fall behind on 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: What Are the Responsibilities of the Directors? ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: keeping our Leadership Team Agreement and Board of Directors Agreement. 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: When, Where, and How Often Does the leadership team Meet?  ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: every month on a routine schedule (such as the third Tuesday of each month), virtually. The routine schedule is chosen to meet the availabilities of the LT members and may be adapted as the LT composition changes. 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Is the Board Being Sued or Has It Ever Been Sued?   ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: No, and no. 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q: Are directors personally liable if the organization is ever sued?   ” style=”fancy” icon=”arrow-circle-1″]

A: No–unless a Director has acted with gross negligence /  reckless disregard for their most basic duties, there are several safeguards in place that shield Directors from being held personally liable in the unfortunate (and unlikely) event that YDM is ever sued. First, there are laws, including the federal volunteer protection act of 19xx and the Texas ____ act of 19xx, as ___ described very well in their article “Let the good deed go unpunished”. Furthermore, as most every nonprofit organization should, YDM carries insurance that includes coverage for expenses related to legal defense for directors and officers, so that neither an individual director nor the YDM organization would be placed in financial jeopardy should some lawsuit ever be raised. Finally, it bears mentioning that we have a Board of Directors who joined for the right reasons, who pay attention, and who understand & uphold their basic responsibilities. We think that’s a pretty good very good set of PROACTIVE safeguards to stay out of legal trouble in the first place. 

[/su_spoiler]