Chief Executive Officer (CEO), United Way

For a United Way organization in the nation’s breadbasket, retained by the Board of Directors to conduct an executive search for a CEO to provide strong, innovative leadership with a focus on increasing resource development. Seeking leader to  implement a diversified revenue plan in support of a community impact model to make the greatest difference in the community.  CEO needed to ensure the ongoing viability of the organization’s vision and mission by developing strong relationships with all constituencies.

About the Client:

This United Way has been making a difference in the community since 1980. Uniquely positioned to achieve systemic community-wide change that no single organization alone can accomplish, our client harnesses the resources of corporations, non-profits and government entities to positively impact the community by improving education, financial and health related services.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the successful candidate for CEO will have a unique opportunity to leverage the successful efforts to date and to introduce innovative new fundraising initiatives that will help maximize the value of key community impact programs. There are multiple avenues of untapped potential that the incoming CEO will be able to unleash by empowering a highly motivated team and a dedicated focus on building relationships throughout the community.

About the Position:

We are looking for a CEO who can bring strong, innovative leadership with a proven track record of success in fundraising as part of a diversified resource development plan. The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to communicate and interact effectively with a diverse constituent base, and to grow the funding needed to deliver programs having measurable impact in the community. S/he’ll be a “game changer” who ensures realization of our vision and mission.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will have successfully performed the following:
Serving as the Chief Ambassador in the community, proactively developing strong relationships across a broad spectrum of constituencies

• Working closely with staff and volunteers, ensure sufficient resources to accomplish goals by implementing the diversified revenue plan, and playing a lead role in major fundraising initiatives.
  Working with staff and volunteers to ensure successful realization of goals and best use of resources, as evidenced by measurable outcomes demonstrating community impact.
  Demonstrating strong people management skills, by fostering a respectful culture of empowerment, ownership and accountability through a collaborative approach to interpersonal interactions, and demonstrated interpersonal effectiveness.
• Assuming personal accountability for the overall operation, fiscal integrity, and transparency of the organization, including strong commitment to measuring the community impact of programs and services as the basis for the operating model as well as focus on data driven decision-making.
• Overseeing and accountable for the budget and cost management processes, ensuring the highest degree of financial integrity and transparency.
• Govern through best practices, including support the recruiting and developing of a Board of Directors and other volunteer leadership, helping develop and implement the strategic plan, and ensure polices and operations meet or exceed guidelines established by all governing entities

Successful CEO candidate dramatically increased revenue development (including previously untapped major gifts, planned giving and philanthropic resources). As a result, the organization increased services, the number served, and the quantifiable community impact. The successful CEO candidate also successfully restored the confidence of the community, rebuilt depleted reserves and transformed the internal culture into a service-orientation.