CEO

Sterling Search Inc. has been exclusively retained to recruit for the new CEO for Fulfillment Fund, a Los Angeles nonprofit organization working to make college a reality for students growing up in educationally and economically under-resourced communities (https://fulfillment.org).

In Los Angeles, tens of thousands of students lack the resources they need to apply, get into, and succeed in college. Fulfillment Fund works to make college a reality for students growing up in educationally and economically under-resourced communities. To this end, their services build pathways to college, help students navigate educational barriers, create life-changing support networks, and empower future leaders.

Fulfillment Fund’s partnerships with local schools and community organizations allow them to bring their forward-thinking, high quality, individualized programs to the first-generation and lower-income students who need them most. Each step of the way, they give these future leaders the tools they need to not only access and afford higher education, but graduate college successfully while building invaluable life skills.

Fulfillment Fund effect is real. Last year, 100% of their high school students graduated. Of these promising students, 95% went on to enroll in college as compared to 67% of students from lower income communities nationally (National Center for Education Statistics). Everything they do comes down to one powerful vision: “That all students, regardless of their circumstances, will one day have the opportunity to attend college, graduate and actively participate in transforming their communities to create a better society.”

College Access Program

Fulfillment Fund’s College Access Program leads curriculum-based lessons covering college planning, self-advocacy, financial literacy, completing the classes necessary for college acceptance, and more. The program delivers services to students attending local Los Angeles partner schools. These services are provided through in-person classes and individualized counseling sessions and through virtual learning platforms, such as Google Classroom, which contains recorded lessons and access to additional resources such as upcoming webinars and scholarships.

College Success Program

Fulfillment Fund’s College Success Program ensures Fulfillment Fund’s empowering support continues beyond high school. Participants receive an array of valuable services, such as entry into Fulfillment Fund University, continued one-on-one advisement, peer mentoring, career readiness opportunities, webinars focused on life after college, and more.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Over the last four to five years, Fulfillment Fund has gone from good to great. Under the leadership of its dedicated Board Chair, Wendy Spinner, and in conjunction with the outgoing CEO, the organization has blossomed into one with a dedicated and impressive Board of Directors with a give/get policy of $25,000, an extremely strong bench in its leadership team, a sophisticated and diverse fundraising program, and a bold and exciting vision for its future. This was all accomplished while sadly recognizing and saying goodbye to its Founder, Dr. Gitnick, working through a pandemic and moving into a beautiful new office in Downtown Los Angeles, which emanates an energy for learning and collaboration to be enjoyed by students and staff.

As Fulfillment Fund emerged from Covid, having survived numerous internal and external challenges, the new CEO will want to know, “how has the organization adapted post pandemic, how is the staff morale, and how would you characterize the organization’s current culture?” In the words of the Board Chair, “we have positioned culture as a top priority, and I am most proud of the collaborative, inclusive and high performing culture that has been established and embraced by its passionate staff.” Fulfillment Fund has not only survived, it has thrived, and the team is ready and enthusiastic about partnering with a new CEO to move the mission forward.

As the search for the new CEO progresses, the organization will be managed by the current CFO and VP of Programs acting as Interim Co-CEOs. This reflects the deep talent within the senior leadership bench and demonstrates, in practice, the collaborative, committed and unified culture of Fulfillment Fund. The new CEO will inherit a staff and organizational culture that is mission-focused, supportive and inspired by a shared vision. Utilizing the talent, historical knowledge and passion for mission that is inherent in Fulfillment Fund’s staff and board, the new CEO will have a unique opportunity to harness this collaborative energy to move the organization to the next level.

With a strong focus on fiscal responsibility and sustainability, Fulfillment Fund now boasts more than one year of operational reserves and is an organization with a strong foundation to launch into the next phase of its journey.

Much research and work has been done towards its 2024-2027 strategic plan, with room for ideas, input and implementation by its next CEO. The plan lays out a bold vision:

“ Fulfillment Fund's ‘north star’ is crystal clear: while we remain dedicated to creating accessible pathways out of poverty through the most enduring catalyst for upward mobility — a college education — we know college isn’t enough. Students need to be empowered and prepared to navigate the working world once they earn their degrees.”

Over the next three years the CEO will need to utilize a wide range of resources and activities to address Fulfillment Fund’s four pillars of focus.

Career Ready College Grads:
Combine the power of community volunteers with effective programming to ensure that each student in its College Success Program graduates from college with measured and proven skills such that within 12 months of college graduation, 75% obtain a position that is a career ladder role or are enrolled in a graduate program that advances their identified career goals.

Biggest and Better Together:
Establish pathways for meaningful volunteer and partnership engagement that allows us to deepen and broaden our work.

Building An Alumni Community:
Engage the Fulfillment Fund alumni community to participate as learners and leaders.

No Longer A Best Kept Secret:
Increase Fulfillment Fund’s brand awareness and community presence.

The new CEO will be joining a financially stable $4M nonprofit organization. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to finalize and lead Fulfillment Fund through a strategic growth process, including growing revenue. Therefore, the new CEO, among other important attributes, must bring a comprehensive working knowledge and demonstrated track record of managing and implementing a successful, robust fundraising program.

The Board of Directors
is seeking a CEO who will lead a high-performing, collaborative team and oversee programs that are ready for significant growth in revenue and services. The new CEO will be charged with building upon the success of Fulfillment Fund by further developing the organization’s vision to achieve its goals for continued financial sustainability, expanded community engagement while also strengthening the scope and impact of its programs. It will be critical for the new CEO to embrace the visionary and collaborative organizational culture Fulfillment Fund has created and is so proud of. This is an excellent opportunity for a bold, visionary and inspirational leader, who is committed to educational access and equity for all.

The Board is committed to ensuring the new CEO’s success and has already created a “Transition Committee” that will onboard and help transition the new CEO into the role.

This is currently a hybrid position with a 3x/week in-office schedule with the expectation that the CEO will also be onsite beyond that schedule whenever necessary.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors and oversees all strategy and operations which includes human resources, financial management, administrative duties, program management, fund development, marketing, community and local government communications, and strategic planning.

Board and Strategic Visionary Leadership.

• Lead a collaborative process with the Board of Directors and its committees, executing critical decisions that are timely and effective, while also ensuring that the Board of Directors and its committees are informed of critical developments through clear, consistent, and timely communication.
• In partnership with the Board of Directors and Senior Management team, develop and implement strategies to foster the acceleration of Fulfillment Fund’s mission, support leadership and nurture/sustain the engagement of all staff members.
• Continue to support the development and cultivation of a strong Board of Directors, representative of Fulfillment Fund’s diverse community.
• Lead, and with the Board Chair, contribute to the development of the board and play an integral role in developing prospects and cultivating major donors/funding agencies.

   

  External Relations and Fundraising

• Oversee all efforts in guiding increased awareness and impact of the organization, clearly articulating its mission, vision, programs, and strategic direction.
• Create and implement a comprehensive fund development plan that includes the expansion of government grants, identifies individual and corporate prospects and donors, and enhances a short-and long-term diversified funding base.
• Continue to raise the public profile of Fulfillment Fund by serving as a key spokesperson and advocate for the organization, as well as being a visible, visionary, and influential leader and fundraiser in the community.
• Define and execute the strategy of effectively mobilizing volunteers in support of its programs.
• Continuously assess community needs, evaluating partnership opportunities to promote programs uniquely suited to the mission.
  

  Program Management

• Maintain and support the high-quality, evidence-based programing that has positioned Fulfillment Fund as a thought leader in the field.
• Evaluate existing and future programmatic needs, including potential areas for program expansion, to ensure services remain in alignment with its mission and Fulfillment Fund’s strategic vision.
• Assess, oversee, and execute programmatic excellence by establishing operational benchmarks and setting timelines to achieve strategic goals.
• Continually review and evaluate programs and report findings to the Board of Directors accordingly.
  

  Human Resources

• Embrace, maintain and deepen Fulfillment Fund’s culture which emphasizes a commitment to program excellence through the lens of a collaborative, passionate and unified staff.
• Direct personnel to ensure that the organization is effectively structured and staffed with competent and high-performing employees.
• Manage an effective performance management system for all employees that will include setting objectives and evaluation on an annual basis.
• Motivate, build, guide, train, and lead a high-performance management team and provide mentoring as a cornerstone to management development.
• Foster engagement, team building, and consensus across the organization through regular meetings, collaboration, and other professionally sound methods.
• Oversee key cultural initiatives and ensure collaboration with all department leaders.

   

  Financial and Operational Management

• Manage, monitor, and oversee all financial reporting including management of budget and revenue; oversee facilities, risk management, and operational management.
• Provide guidance to direct reports in developing budgets and operational plans.
• Work with finance personnel to assess fiscal requirements.
• Execute all other reasonable duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
  

Professional Experience and Qualifications

• Passion for the mission and work of Fulfillment Fund with experience working in a similar nonprofit related mission.
• A minimum of 7 years of senior management experience, with increasing levels of responsibility and management of staff, preferably with direct stewardship of Boards of Directors.
• A demonstrated track record in raising funds and stewarding relationships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and government entities.
• Experience as the leader or part of a senior team in guiding a complex organization through significant growth and/or change.
• Proven track record of management success with comparable P&L, planning, and operations responsibilities.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies, including key community leaders, volunteers and organizations.
• A demonstrated ability to plan and operate strategically, to build public support, to strengthen infrastructure, to inspire staff and the Board of Directors, and to develop effective programs.
• Exceptional financial, organizational, and administrative skills.
• Excellent knowledge of fiscal management, budgeting, and cash flow management.
• The ability to plan, set goals and objectives, organize and follow through.
• A strong interpersonal and communication skill set and demonstrated ability to work effectively with and gain the respect and support of varied and changing constituencies, including staff, Board members, potential donors, volunteers, and others.
• A team builder with a track record of effective staff management, including hiring, rewarding, and retaining talented managers and administrative staff members.
• Ability to juggle many responsibilities at once and to operate both independently and with the flexibility to be part of a team.
• Computer literate: Knowledge of Word, Excel and ability to learn database software.
• Bachelor’s degree required, with an advanced degree preferred.

  
  

  The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following capabilities:

• Entrepreneurial spirit, imagination, vision, leadership, and integrity.
• Creative with an openness and willingness to consider new ideas from the board, staff, and community stakeholders, while also demonstrating respect and value for the work and effort that has brought the organization this far.

• Commitment to the mission and work of the agency, with the credibility and persuasiveness to secure support from others.
• A manager who leads by example and exemplifies the values and ethics of the organization.
• An organized individual with strong creative and conceptual skills.
• A doer who functions effectively without being autocratic or political; must be a team player who is inclusive, flexible, creative, energetic, and fair minded.
• A decisive and resourceful individual who will accept responsibility and take charge of results, as well as work successfully with limited resources.
• A leader who promotes, deepens and sustains the organization’s positive and cooperative culture.
• A self-starter who is confident enough to express opinions, to forge ahead when appropriate and hold back when necessary, with a sensitivity to the feelings and opinions of others.
• An energetic person who is emotionally mature and dependable, a collegial individual.
  

The position offers a salary range of $230,000 to $265,000 with a comprehensive benefits package.