Friends of Literacy Executive Director
Who We Are
Friends of Literacy (FOL) is a nonprofit organization serving East Tennessee with a mission to transform lives through literacy and foster a lifelong love of reading.
Our organization exists to help people achieve the critical literacy skills they need to navigate the world. We do this by providing literacy programs for adults and children and in collaboration with other non-profit organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Position Description
The Friends of Literacy Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of FOL, reporting to the Board of Directors. In partnership with the board, the executive director will be responsible for building relationships with current and potential community partners and donors; developing and implementing the organization’s fundraising and resource development strategy; and shepherding the implementation of the organization’s educational programming model.
Key Responsibilities
Vision: Develop a strategic vision for Friends of Literacy’s role in providing literacy programs and resources to the community. Seek and understand input and objectives from the board, staff, financial partners, and other key stakeholders. Anticipate future needs of the organization.
Resource Development: Lead revenue development and fundraising initiatives to ensure FOL has the resources to sustain and grow its programs. Develop a narrative and collateral to support staff and board members in fundraising strategically. Apply for grants supporting the FOL mission.
Leadership and Management: Manage a results-driven staff and ensure a positive and strong culture of accountability, transparency, communication, inclusion, and support. Encourage innovation and creativity. Develop metrics for effective team and organization performance. Manage FOL operations with a focus on continuous improvement.
Governance: Collaborate with the Board of Directors in maintaining the health of the organization through strong governance and fiduciary practices. Work with the board to articulate the vision for FOL’s role in the community.
Advocacy and Community Relations: Maintain a high level of visibility and engagement in the community through the building and nurturing of relationships with existing and prospective partners and stakeholders. Develop, strengthen, and nurture relationships with government officials to facilitate funding, recognition, and broad support for literacy programs.
Programming: Collaborate with staff and board members to develop and implement programs that support the organization’s mission and strategic goals and address unmet needs in the community. Assess opportunities for partnerships and identify pathways to expand the organization’s reach.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree
Demonstration of successful fundraising track record
Excellent coalition-building skills with an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
Five or more years in nonprofit leadership or management roles
Ten years of professional work experience
Pass criminal background and sex offender registry check
Desired Qualifications
Master’s degree
Experience in education
CFRE certification or course work
Compensation & Benefits
The salary for this position is $65,000-$75,000 annually, dependent upon qualifications and experience. Friends of Literacy allows a flexible schedule with primary office hours of 9:00am-5:00pm, though some evening events are required. All full-time employees are offered health insurance, IRA, and PTO.
To Apply
Nonprofit Leadership LLC has been retained to manage the national search. To apply, please submit a resume and personalized cover letter to elle@nonprofit-leadership.com. In your cover letter, please share your proudest fundraising campaign or event. The deadline to apply is October 4th; early applications are strongly encouraged as the screening process begins once applications are received. All applications will be acknowledged via an email receipt.
Our Mission
The mission of Friends of Literacy is to transform lives through literacy and
foster a lifelong love of reading.
Our Vision
All children and adults in our community have the literacy skills they need to
achieve their goals.
Our Values
Respect: We welcome everyone to our safe, diverse, and non-judgmental community.
Stewardship: We maximize our impact with responsible use of our resources.
Empowerment: We equip our students, staff, and volunteers with knowledge and confidence.
Celebrate: We foster a culture that joyfully recognizes all accomplishments.
Transformation: We inspire students’ successes, which enhance the vibrancy of East Tennessee.