Executive Director (Part-Time), Calahan Foundation

Title: Executive Director

Location: Hybrid

Status: Part-time, independent contractor

Salary: $40,000 

Reports to: Shirley Calahan, Co-Founder and Vice President; Edward Calahan, Co-Founder and President

Desired start date: Q1 2025

About the Calahan Foundation
The Calahan Foundation embraces the mission of “giving a hand out to give a hand up” through its community outreach and scholarship programs. What began in 2009 as a series of community-based events, including toy and coat drives for local families, has expanded significantly to now include an annual cohort of students receiving four-year scholarships in its Calahan League of College Scholars (CLoCS) Mentoring Program. The Calahans are a close-knit, dedicated and dynamic family who are looking to grow their reach and impact, particularly through the Foundation's scholarship and mentoring programs with high school and college students. Learn more about the work of the family through the Calahan Foundation at https://www.calahanfoundation.org/

The Opportunity: Executive Director

The Executive Director oversees the Foundation’s programs and strategic planning; budgeting and financial administration; fundraising and development and external relations; and works closely with the board president and vice president to support board governance. This is an external-facing role responsible for building and cultivating relationships and leading outreach to and across several key stakeholder groups. The two priority areas for the incoming Executive Director are overseeing the Foundation’s annual scholarship program; and developing a fundraising and development plan that includes annual, individual, corporate, and foundation giving with a focus on significant growth. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone with experience in nonprofit fundraising who is looking for part-time, flexible work with a small, collaborative team. The ideal candidate for this role is someone who is both highly relational and skilled at project management, enjoys bringing both creativity and efficiency to their work, and would be energized by supporting students with scholarship funding to support their successful matriculation through college. 

We know that people of color and women candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every requirement. Please do not be deterred if you have not held an Executive Director title in a prior role. Your gifts and lived experiences matter to us more than titles. You may be exactly who we are looking for!

Responsibilities

Partner with the Board

• Prepare agendas for regular board and committee meetings to keep the board informed of administrative and operational updates
• Provide and send written materials in advance, communicating and responding to inquiries in a timely and accurate manner
• Guide and facilitate meetings in a way that motivates the board to commit to and follow through on specific tasks in an inclusive and efficient manner; keep track of follow-up items
• Collaborate with board leadership and virtual admin. assistant on board development and recruitment strategies, volunteer recruitment for events, and committee organizing, bringing in best practices for board and volunteer management

Program Management + Strategic Planning

• Oversee and project manage the Foundation’s annual scholarship program, including the application, interview and selection process in collaboration with a selection committee 
• Assess the structure, capacity, and overall health of the Foundation’s programs and events; identify opportunities for growth and partnership; and help implement project plans for improvement
• Develop a solid understanding of the goals and ideals of the Foundation and implement strategies that ensure the Foundation’s programs and events are mission-aligned
• Maintain excellent working relationships with board leadership, staff (includes the part-time virtual admin. assistant), and program/event volunteers
• Anticipate challenges, and resolve issues quickly, managing crises rapidly and effectively

Fundraising, Development + External Relations

• Develop and implement a fundraising and development strategy for the Foundation that spans annual, individual and institutional giving, including key performance indicators for success
• Identify and solicit viable prospects for giving ensuring alignment between the work of the Foundation and prospective donors/funders, including grant/proposal writing and updating sponsorship packets
• Oversee and project manage the Foundation’s annual scholarship and awards gala with a lens on continuous improvement, smooth operations, and increasing dollars raised
• Serve as the primary external representative of the foundation, building and maintaining relationships across stakeholder groups (board, family, staff and volunteers, community members, donors/sponsors, elected officials, students and their families) 
• Attend events and conventions of relevance to the Foundation, as needed

Budgeting + Financial Management

• Draft, manage, and monitor an annual budget, ensuring that the board receives timely, clear and accurate financial data with a goal of maintaining a positive financial position
• Prepare for and lead the Foundation’s annual scholarship giving and budgeting for individual events and programs
• Maintain a solid understanding of the Foundation’s overall health at all times

Skills + Experiences

• At least 10 years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector with at least five years in fundraising and development and external relations, specifically; preferably working in youth-serving, youth development, college access and success; experience in individual, institutional and events fundraising is also preferred 
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, social and economic security, and the power of higher education
• Strong project management, organization, and planning skills, including the ability to prioritize, work both independently and collaboratively, and create a blueprint of the key elements that projects require for successful completion
• Excellent time management and ability to offer visibility into on-going work, help the team anticipate challenges to prioritize and execute work efficiently, and track deadlines
• Meeting planning and facilitation experience with a focus on action and follow-through
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills across diverse audiences 
• Sophisticated ability to create meaningful relationships; a strong customer service orientation and relational style
• The ability to deal with confidential information and delicate situations with discretion and care
• The ability to remain poised, focused and disciplined while working in a high-pressure environment
• Strong computer and office software, application, and data management skills (Microsoft Office, Google Office Suite, cloud-based storage, and other tools)

Compensation + Work Environment

The Executive Director is a part-time (20 hours per week), contract position with strong potential to renew and grow, depending on fit and fundraising outcomes. The compensation is $40,000. This is a hybrid position located in Chicago, IL with the ability to work remotely a majority of the time. The selected candidate must be available, as needed, for in-person meetings at the office. Evening and weekend work are occasionally required, particularly during events/meetings.

To Apply

A cover letter is not required to apply for this role. Instead, all candidates will provide a resume and written answers to application questions. Your responses will be shared with the hiring manager as well as the hiring committee for this search, so please put forth your best effort. Up to 3 paragraphs maximum per response, please. Please, no phone calls or emails to the family or board.

The Calahan Foundation is an equal opportunity employer that provides a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.