Executive Director

Executive Director

Executive Director 150 150 executivedirector
Abramson Scholarship Foundation
Published
April 18, 2021
Location
Washington DC
Category
Job Type
Contact Name (not public)
Rita Shapiro
Main Phone
2024705425

Description

Executive Director
The Abramson Scholarship Foundation (abramsonfoundation.org) seeks an experienced, dynamic Executive Director who will lead the organization forward as it celebrates its 30th anniversary and embarks on a new strategic plan. Highly-qualified candidates will be adept at engaging and leading our nonprofit’s board members, student Scholars, volunteers, staff, alumni, donors and supporters.

About the Abramson Scholarship Foundation
The mission of the Abramson Scholarship Foundation is to provide critical financial assistance and comprehensive mentoring to promising District of Columbia public high school graduates attending four-year colleges. We are a nonprofit organization that helps ensure our Scholars have the opportunity to attend college and the support to succeed once there. Our program takes a twofold approach. First, the Foundation provides scholarships to students who otherwise may not be able to attend college. Second, the Foundation provides its Scholars with personal and professional guidance through mentorship programs designed to enhance the Scholars’ academic success, emotional growth and well-being, and professional development.

The Foundation was established as a continuing tribute to the memory of Frederick B. Abramson, a distinguished member of the Washington legal community, who had a rich and varied legal career, marked by a commitment to education and mentoring. Over the past 30 years, the Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships to over 300 students. We currently support approximately 35 Scholars who are at various stages of their college journey.

The Position
The Executive Director manages the Foundation’s day-to-day operations and reports to a volunteer Board of Directors, which is engaged in all aspects of the Foundation’s operations. The Executive Director supervises the Foundation’s Program Manager, works closely with the Board President, Vice President, and Executive Committee, and provides leadership and supervision in Board and staff relations, external relations, fundraising, strategic planning and execution, and financial management.

Key Responsibilities
Fundraising and Financial Operations
• Engages in fundraising activities such as identifying, cultivating, and soliciting new funding sources (e.g., law firms, businesses, individuals, foundations, grants, Foundation alumni and volunteers, strategic partners, and elsewhere), and maintains existing funding sources and donors.
• Oversees the Foundation’s financial management, including fundraising, accounting, annual audit, budget, and financial reporting.
• Manages the Foundation’s operations, including employee compensation and benefits, and equipment procurement and maintenance.

Board Governance
• Collaborates with the Board to set specific performance objectives to align with short- and long-term goals as defined by the Board in the strategic plan.
• Works in close partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, and others to develop multi-year programs and financial goals and plans.
• Attends Board meetings and provides reports, updates, and advice to the Board.

Program Execution
• Facilitates work with Board Committees in crafting and implementing program strategies and policies.
• Works with Board Committees to select Scholars and to establish mentoring relationships; supervises and reviews existing mentor relationships and ensures regular communications with Scholars.
• Leads the larger Abramson Foundation community in the execution of projects, work and goals.

Communications and Outreach
• Develops partnerships and conducts outreach to the legal, civic, judicial, business, and corporate sectors, to recruit individuals and groups to support the Foundation’s mission.
• Represents the Foundation before the public, media, donors, grantors, potential partners, Scholars, teachers, counselors, Scholars’ families, mentors, advisers, volunteers, and Scholar alumni.
• Creates longitudinal materials that tell Foundation Scholar success stories and collects supporting data that demonstrates the Foundation’s impact.

Qualifications and Attributes
A range of skill and experience is needed to succeed as the Foundation’s next Executive Director. Leadership, the ability to communicate, dedication to fundraising, and commitment to young people and higher education are essential. The following will be highly valued in the selection of the Executive Director:
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Relevant professional background with a minimum of five years of senior-level nonprofit management experience preferred; fundraising experience highly desirable
• Passion for the Foundation’s mission, including an understanding of and demonstrated commitment to disadvantaged and underrepresented communities, preferably in higher education.
• Strong organizational skills that include an ability to anticipate organization needs and to work both independently and collaboratively, and to manage multiple, ongoing projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to create work product that meets goals in a timely and professional manner.
• Technology savvy, with a high proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), Google Suite, and an ability to work with (or willingness to learn) internet-based tools such as Salesforce, Slack and GradSnapp.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Aptitude for analytical thinking and capable of devising creative solutions to solve problems fully and rapidly.
• Dedication to a workplace environment that promotes positive employee relations and focuses on outstanding performance. Motivates and empowers staff to excel.
• Availability to attend occasional evening functions and occasional weekend events in the District of Columbia.
• Willingness to work remotely (including after COVID) from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Compensation
Salary will be commensurate with experience, and competitive with similar non-profit organizations.

The Abramson Scholarship Foundation provides a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please email, as one PDF, a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to recruiting@abramsonfoundation.org with the subject line “Executive Director Application.” The Foundation will not contact references without prior notification to candidates. Application deadline is May 15, 2021. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Foundation values a culture of diversity and inclusion, and the Foundation’s employment and hiring practices comply with applicable federal and District of Columbia law.

How To Apply

Please email, as one PDF, a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to recruiting@abramsonfoundation.org with the subject line “Executive Director Application.” The Foundation will not contact references without prior notification to candidates. Application deadline is May 15, 2021. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Foundation values a culture of diversity and inclusion, and the Foundation’s employment and hiring practices comply with applicable federal and District of Columbia law.