The Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust (“the Trust”) is seeking a seasoned executive leader to drive its mission of providing resources, opportunities, and economic empowerment to the community. The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in steering the organization toward achieving its goals, with a strong emphasis on fundraising, strategic planning, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will be a skilled fundraiser with a successful track record in the Philadelphia area, adept at navigating the city’s development landscape to secure funding and build lasting donor relationships. This role requires a dynamic leader with the ability to develop and execute strategic plans that align with the Trust’s mission. The Executive Director will lead the organization with vision and purpose, ensuring that all initiatives are impactful and sustainable. The Executive Director will oversee all operational aspects of the Trust, including conducting community-engaged assessments of the Trust’s current and potential partners; managing human resources functions such as hiring, team building, developing job descriptions, organizational structuring, professional development, and performance evaluations; and collaborating closely with the Trust board members to ensure effective governance and strategic alignment. A strong relationship with the Board is critical for the success of both the organization and the Executive Director. The Executive Director will be responsible for the management and oversight of the Trust’s programs, fostering meaningful community engagement, and managing partnerships to further the organization’s impact. This role includes overseeing the Trust’s real estate assets, managing office operations, supervising property maintenance, ensuring compliance with leases and contracts, and maintaining vendor relationships essential to the Trust’s properties.
Candidate Profile:
The ideal candidate for this role will be a visionary leader with extensive experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and community engagement. They will have a proven ability to manage complex operations, foster collaboration, and drive strategic initiatives that align with the mission of the Trust. The person in this role will have in-depth experience in the racial equity space. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with the Board and community partners are essential.
Professional Characteristics: Required / Desired Skills
- Proven, effective leadership skills with a deep understanding of how to re-energize a legacy institution within community-engaged organizational contexts
- Established experience in nonprofit financial management.
- Experience in multi-directional management
- Proficient in brand communications, and leading the marketing function of an organization.
- Ability to represent the organization effectively with stakeholders.
- Established experience in strategic planning & implementation, including experience in developing, and adjusting strategic plans.
- Ability to align strategies with organizational mission and goals.
- Established experience with operational management and oversight, including management of staff and various facilities.
- Established experience and insight in leasing, tenant management, vendor selection, and overall operations supervision.
- Established experience in fundraising and grant writing, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
Key Responsibilities:
- Revive and restore the organization through exceptional leadership and vision.
- Fundraising and development, including grant writing and reporting, especially as it relates to organizational programming.
- Cultivate community engagement initiatives to enhance the organization’s presence.
- Advance strategic partnerships aligned with the organizational mission.
- Human Resources Management including hiring staff, the supervision of office personnel, as well as providing leadership and guidance to the staff.
- Oversee benefit and payroll administration.
- Prepare and recommend annual plans and budgets to the Board in alignment with the organization’s mission and the strategic plan.
- Financial Oversight including compliance reporting and adherence to approved plans and operating budgets.
- Maintain accurate organizational records and provide reports, financial statements, and program analyses to Board members and/or relevant partners and stakeholders.
- Market available spaces to prospective nonprofit tenants. Screen and negotiate lease agreements with tenants and set and/or adjust rental rates based on market trends.
- Compliance Management, including ensuring compliance with tenant leases, licenses, contracts, and vendor activities.
- Manage requests for proposals, consultant agreements, and contractor activities.
- Board interface, including acting as staff to the Board and its committees, serving as the Board’s liaison to community and civic groups, government, and elected officials.
Compensation:
This is a full-time in-person role. The salary range is $135,000-$155,000 annually with benefits aligned with nonprofit industry standards including PTO and a 50% employer-paid medical benefit.
Organizational Information:
The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Trustees of the organization.
Service Area / Industry Information:
The Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust (Trust), is a 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 1966 as the Zion Non-Profit Charitable Trust. The Trust serves to provide resources and opportunities that inspire a sense of self-help and that lead to social and economic empowerment. The Trust stands as a source of pride for the Progress Movement, which has for over 50 years provided a variety of economic, social, and human services.
The Leon H. Sullivan Human Services Center (“the Center”) is a 67,000 SF two-story office building designed and constructed uniquely as a one-stop human services center. The Center was erected under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan and dedicated on September 12, 1978
Notes / Additional Information:
This is a full-time, in-person position based in the Philadelphia office. Regular hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and this position requires working occasional evenings and weekends for programming purposes.