Executive Director

Sterling Search Inc. has been exclusively retained to recruit the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Friendship Shelter Inc. (FSI) with administrative offices in Laguna Woods.

Mission: Friendship Shelter Inc. (https://www.friendshipshelter.org/ ) is a non-profit homeless services agency founded in 1988, dedicated to ending homelessness in South Orange County, one person at a time. A highly-respected and beloved community resource, it operates a full spectrum of services to end homelessness, including outreach, shelter, housing navigation, financial assistance, and permanent housing with supportive services.

Values: Compassion & Acceptance, Responsibility, Integrity, Creativity & Flexibility, and Community.

History of Friendship Shelter

What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a thriving, professional organization that operates two shelter programs in Laguna Beach, a rapidly expanding housing program throughout south Orange County, and regional outreach and case management services to those experiencing homelessness. With annual revenue at about $14M and assets of about $8M, FSI’s purpose remains simple and steadfast: “We do whatever it takes to end homelessness in our community, one person at a time.”

Each night, more than 400 individuals sleep safely in one of FSI’s programs. Its continuum of programs (street outreach, shelter, rapid re-housing, and permanent housing) is designed to meet the complex needs of clients through an integrated, holistic approach. FSI’s unique impact is its capacity to end homelessness for high-acuity individuals whose mental, physical, and/or behavioral disabilities pose significant challenges to obtaining and sustaining permanent housing.

Programs and Services

Outreach

Friendship Shelter’s outreach teams meet people where they are -- whether on the beach, the street, or somewhere in-between-- to engage, assess, and assist as many homeless individuals as possible. The team helps provide access to basic services to meet individual needs of people experiencing homelessness, including shelter and housing connections, physical, mental and behavioral healthcare, transportation, social services, and individualized case management.

Shelter

Friendship Shelter helps each person who walks through the doors of one of its shelters move

out of homelessness and into permanent housing. FSI’s goal is to ensure that its shelters are housing-focused and that clients are set up for success after moving into their housing. Friendship Shelter's Alternative Sleeping Location (ASL) Emergency Shelter (35 beds) and Bridge Housing Program (30 beds) employ evidence-based, nationally accepted best practices for ensuring its shelters are dynamic and effective resources. Both shelters provide basic needs and wraparound services including a safe place to sleep, shower, and do laundry; all meals; assistance connecting to medical and mental healthcare; income, benefit and employment assistance; and transportation support. On-site mental and behavioral health assessment and treatment is available at each site. In the past year, 36% of shelter guests left the program for permanent housing.

Because of its successful shelter programs, FSI and the City of Laguna Beach have been recognized across the region as a leader in right-sized, community-based shelter, as source of community and organizational pride.

Permanent Housing

Friendship Shelter's Housing team works with more than 300 individuals who have experienced homelessness and are now living in permanent homes. They operate Rapid Re-Housing, Housing with Vouchers, and Permanent Supportive Housing programs. Last year, 100% of their housing tenants remained stably housed throughout the year. Friendship Shelter provides rental assistance, deposits, utility assistance, housing location and stabilization services, limited food and transportation assistance, and referrals to community resources, agency partners, health resources and mainstream benefits to help its housing clients maintain stability. Clients work closely with a case manager to set housing stabilization goals and create a plan to maintain their housing. Friendship Shelter is a contracted provider of Cal-AIM housing navigation and supportive services for clients who qualify.

The Opportunity

Dawn Price has dedicated the last 17 years to Friendship Shelter serving as its Executive Director since 2008. She is now ready to retire and pass the baton to a new Chief Executive Officer. Dawn has led Friendship Shelter through significant growth during her tenure both in program expansion and fundraising. There is no question that Friendship Shelter’s programs are effective—the most recent (2024) Point in Time Count shows south Orange County maintained a 5-year reduction of 16% in homelessness while the state of California saw a 20% increase. The measurable impact that Friendship Shelter has on ending homelessness remains a tremendous asset for the new CEO as they take on the role of promoting and advocating for the organization while stewarding existing donors/stakeholders and engaging new ones.

The CEO will have the support and talent of a long-tenured senior leadership team, many of whom have been with the organization for 10+ years and who have played an integral role in setting and executing a vision for the organization. With a shared alignment of mission and a culture that emphasizes collaboration and a “whatever-it-takes” approach, Friendship Shelter offers a new CEO the opportunity to leverage the staff’s passion and talent to continue to enhance and grow the impact of the organization. The staff is matched in commitment to the mission by a dedicated board of directors who are engaged and committed and look forward to supporting the new CEO as they set a vision for the future.

With a client-centered, comprehensive, and best practice approach to ending homelessness, Friendship Shelter has positioned itself as a leading organization with a solution-based approach to addressing one of the most complex and unyielding social issues of our time. The next CEO will have the opportunity to continue this legacy and continue to expand Friendship Shelter’s impact throughout south Orange County and beyond.

Position Description

The Board of Directors is seeking a passionate and visionary leader to serve as Friendship Shelter’s next CEO. The CEO will provide strategic direction, leadership, and oversight to ensure the organization fulfills its vision of ending homelessness in South Orange County, one person at a time.

The new CEO will be an innovative and accomplished leader who will inspire staff, board, and volunteers. They will be charged with building on Friendship Shelter’s reputation and brand as a leader in the homeless space, developing broad programs and best practices that lead to permanent housing solutions for all.

The new CEO will demonstrate success by further developing the organization’s vision and achieving its goals for enhancing the impact of its programs, maintaining financial stability, and expanding and strengthening ongoing community engagement with all stakeholders. One of the key goals for the organization is to continue to develop a diversified funding stream, especially as nonprofits continue to be challenged by cuts to government funding.

This individual must possess intellectual horsepower and be naturally persuasive and fair, valuing accountability for themselves and others. The new CEO will lead based on Friendship Shelter’s core values while pursuing continuous improvement and a drive for excellence, ensuring that the best programs are being delivered to all the individuals Friendship Shelter serves.

Leadership

• Works closely with the Board of Directors, establishing a shared vision for the future of the organization and developing and managing appropriate goals and strategies to advance the mission of Friendship Shelter.
• Oversees the development and implementation of short- and long-range asset and fiscal strategic planning initiatives to ensure that current and future services and fiscal goals/needs are clearly identified and addressed.
• Leads a collaborative process with the Board of Directors and its committees, executing decisions effectively and ensuring that the Board of Directors and its committees are informed of critical developments in a timely and effective manner.
• Develops and implements advocacy strategies to advance FSI’s mission by building and maintaining relationships with policymakers, stakeholders, and community leaders to influence public policy and secure support for organizational initiatives.
• Guides the increased awareness and impact of Friendship Shelter, clearly articulating its mission, vision, services, and strategic direction.
• Models respectful, collaborative, and empowering interactions with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, vendors, donors, and the individuals Friendship Shelter serves.

External Affairs / Public Relations / Funding

• Serves as chief fundraiser sustaining current funding levels and actively expanding networks from which new funding can be cultivated across a diverse mix of corporate, foundation, individual, public-sector funders, etc.
• Engages with community groups, local government, and other nonprofits in the community to assess community needs, evaluating partnership opportunities to promote and support the mission.
• Leads and supports the Board in their efforts to engage community members and solicit donors.
• Builds and stewards successful relationships with funders including private, corporate, and local government.

Program Management & Quality Assurance

• In collaboration with the COO, the CEO works to ensure the effective implementation of programs and services for Friendship Shelter’s clients.
• Monitors program outcomes and impact, making data-informed decisions to improve services and meet the needs of their clients.
• Stays informed about best practices and trends in homelessness, housing, and government policies, and incorporates them into the organization's programs and best practices.

Human Resources

• Oversees human resources and ensures the organization is compliant with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Ensures, in partnership with the HR Manager, an effective performance management system for all employees, which includes setting objectives and evaluation on an annual basis.
• Engenders a collaborative environment which encourages staff opportunities for growth within the organization.
• Reviews and assesses compensation against similar organizations and develops strategies to bring compensation to competitive levels within the homeless service organizations’ space.
• Assesses and approves the strategy to effectively mobilize volunteers in support of the organization.

Financial and Risk Management

• Oversees the preparation of the annual budget for the Board of Directors’ financial management, allocation, and expenditure controls for the operations of the organization.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of objectives, policies/procedures, and operations for contract service areas to ensure maximum revenue reimbursement and funder compliance.
• Oversees the management of information technology functions including systems applications and development, database administration, and financial systems.
• Responsible for proper compliance and risk management, ensuring strict contract compliance with funder requirements.

Administration and Operations

• With the Board Chair, coordinates the efforts and initiatives of Friendship Shelter’s Board of Directors, its Board Committees, Board retreats and strategic planning; recruits diverse, talented, and experienced new Board members; encourages and plans Board members’ involvement in a range of the organization’s activities including development of the strategic plan, fundraising, financial oversight, program review, etc.
• Develops and recommends policies and procedures and implements approved Board program goals, and objectives, and works collaboratively to enable the Board, its committees, and individual board members to fulfill their governance functions.
• Partners with the COO to provide oversight of operations and oversees the administration, coordination, and implementation of organizational policies, procedures, strategic planning, and services.
• Regularly provides concise reports to the Board on the state of the organization (key compliance issues, program delivery and outcomes, revenue and expenses, and related administrative matters toward the development and execution of the organization’s mission, policy, and procedures).
• Oversees facilities’ management and safety.
• Executes all other reasonable duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree in a relevant field (Nonprofit Management, Social Work, Public Administration, etc.) preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of senior leadership experience in a nonprofit organization, preferably in homeless services, and/or homeless-adjacent social services.
• Proven track record in fundraising.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management, staff oversight, and strategic planning.
• Strong understanding of issues related to housing/homelessness and programs/policies that lead to successful outcomes.
• Experience overseeing (compliance, auditing, reporting, etc.) government grants.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a large team effectively.
• Experience working with a Board of Directors and knowledge of nonprofit governance best practices.
• Passion for the mission of Friendship Shelter and a commitment to serving and advocating for people experiencing homelessness.
• This is a “hands-on” ED role that requires a willingness to step up and “do what needs to get done” and functions as part of the team to provide the highest quality services to Friendship Shelter’s clients.

The ideal candidate will be a charismatic and inspiring servant leader with a genuine passion for ending homelessness and hold authentic empathy and compassion for all who walk through Friendship Shelter’s doors. Successful candidates will be energized by moving unhoused individuals into permanent housing, while supporting and meeting all clients where they are in their journey to a permanent home. They will have strong leadership and coaching skills to oversee a seasoned leadership team and have the ability to inspire the team with creativity and energy, articulate a vision, set clear goals, and motivate individual and team success. They must be able to cultivate a collaborative environment that encourages open and direct communication.

Compensation

This position offers a base salary of $180,000 to $230,000 plus comprehensive benefits, based upon qualifications and experience.