Executive Search - Friends of Children

Friends of Children seeks an experienced nonprofit leader with a deep knowledge of public service to increase the reach and impact of its important work with child welfare.

Organization

Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, Friends of Children (FOC) does whatever it takes to help children and young people impacted by the child welfare system thrive. Through its support programs, FOC helps children meet basic needs and provides important tools, resources and mentorship opportunities. FOC also ensures that foster children are not shielded from the public eye - that they are seen and heard through policy advocacy efforts that make important systematic changes benefitting the lives of children across Massachusetts.

“We speak the truth on behalf of children, no matter how difficult it is to hear. We are champions of their best interests and advocate for the rights and dignity of children in and aging out of foster care. We recognize the whole child and commit to changing the course of their lives. Their future and our community’s legacy depend on it.”

Since its launch in 1990, FOC has grown from an organization that provided individual child advocacy support to parents. FOC has since created publications, sponsored conferences and led a variety of initiatives, including child welfare reform advocacy at the state level, all designed to maximize the potential of collaborations that foster improved service delivery to children and their families across Massachusetts.

FOC is led by the Executive Director, who oversees three Directors--of Policy, Programs and Development--a Program Manager and a Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator. While FOC is based in Northampton, Massachusetts, it has recently committed to an office in Boston that will host efforts to support young people who have aged out of the system, as well as provide a base for Boston-based policy advocacy and fundraising. FOC has an operating budget of $780,000 and a Board of Directors consisting of seven supporters.

Opportunity

With its bilateral focus on programs and policy/advocacy work, FOC is at the forefront of the state dialogue on the importance of improving the foster care system in Massachusetts. The Executive Director will lead FOC by:

Serving as the face of the agency with legislators and policy decision-makers, state social service agencies, donors, and community partners.

Developing and Overseeing a Strategic Plan to elevate the critical role of FOC as it continues to address child welfare programmatic and policy issues. That plan will include administrative, programmatic and external strategic aspects.

Developing and executing a short and long-term fundraising plan that ensures the continued growth of current programs and the support of Boston area activities, as well as growing future endeavors by developing relationships that will generate new revenue streams.

Organizational Management

• Hold administrative responsibility for the public accountability of FOC
• Lead and oversee development and implementation of a strategic plan, working closely with FOC staff and the board to ensure alignment and achievement of goals
• Ensure responsible financial management, effective allocation of resources and oversee budget management and legal compliance
• While keeping the board informed of FOC programs and development, formalize board guidelines and expectations, increase engagement of board members to provide guidance on strategic areas of focus and potential funding and assist with the recruitment of new members
• Provide leadership for all staff

Fundraising/ External Relations

• Champion and raise the profile of FOC in state government and with additional community partners
• Develop strategies to increase and diversify sources of revenue to support organizational stability and growth
• Develop and grow relationships, raising awareness with current and potential funders to support short- and long-term revenue strategies that include diversifying income sources and developing individual giving
• Represent FOC within the community through direct involvement, public relations programs that include personal contact, creation of literature and media exposure
• Manage grant writing, thinking strategically about the relationship between grantors and grantees

Program and Policy work

• Working collaboratively with the staff, help to create and implement strategies that increase FOC’s reach, range, and methods of programmatic assistance and policy/advocacy work, while maintaining balanced growth
• Follow and track human service changes that could impact FOC’s child advocacy work

Strategic Partnerships

• Seek opportunities to create community awareness and partners around the need for child advocacy
• Serve on external committees as needed

Special requirements

• Travel between Northampton and Boston regularly

Qualifications

• Minimum of six years of experience in a management role at a public service nonprofit
• Familiarity with the child welfare system preferred
• Prior work in organizational development
• Experience with board management
• Proven ability to create revenue streams and raise funds, including grant writing experience
• Strong networking and convening skills
• Outstanding public speaking ability and comfort
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Team builder and team leader with experience and skills in staff management, staff development and facilitating collaborative decision-making
• Unquestionable integrity and high ethical standards.

Application Guidelines

This executive search is being conducted by TSNE with consultant Mimi Brunelle. Interested candidates should submit materials through the link below. All submissions will be acknowledged, and candidates’ confidentiality will be protected by the search committee.

Candidates should include a resume and cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of FOC, along with salary expectations and how they learned of the position.

Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. The salary range for this position starts at $95,000 to $105,000. FOC also offers health insurance reimbursement, life insurance, cell phone reimbursement and paid time off.

Friends of Children actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates and welcomes people to apply who are representative of the cohorts FOC serves, as well as those from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, religions, ages and sexual orientations. FOC will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.