Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Youth RISE Foundation is seeking a strategic, mission-driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization’s overall operations, strategic growth, fundraising, financial sustainability, and program development. The CEO will work closely with the Board of Directors and departmental leadership to strengthen organizational effectiveness, cultivate strategic partnerships, expand opportunities for youth ages 15–25, and advance the foundation’s mission. The position offers a potential annual salary of $150,000–$170,000, contingent upon funding availability, organizational financial capacity, and appropriate approval.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)

Youth RISE Foundation

Resources, Inspiration, Service & Empowerment

Position Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Organization: Youth RISE Foundation

Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

Employment Classification: Full-Time Executive Leadership

Reports To: Board of Directors

Compensation Range: Potential annual base salary of $150,000–$170,000

Position Status: Subject to funding availability and formal authorization

Work Arrangement: Primarily organizational leadership, with in-person responsibilities, stakeholder engagement, and travel as required

Travel: Regional and national travel may be required

Application Status: Open to qualified executive candidates, subject to organizational authorization

ABOUT YOUTH RISE FOUNDATION

Youth RISE Foundation (Resources, Inspiration, Service & Empowerment) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing opportunity, leadership, education, personal development, and community engagement for young people ages 15–25.

The foundation seeks to help young people access the resources, relationships, and opportunities necessary to build successful futures. Through mentorship, leadership development, educational support, internships, career-readiness initiatives, and community-based programming, Youth RISE Foundation works to strengthen pathways toward educational attainment, economic mobility, civic participation, and personal growth.

Our approach is rooted in the belief that young people deserve meaningful opportunities to lead, develop their talents, access supportive networks, and contribute to their communities.

As the organization develops its programs, partnerships, funding relationships, and regional presence, executive leadership will be essential to building a sustainable, accountable, and effective nonprofit institution.

POSITION SUMMARY

Youth RISE Foundation is seeking a strategic, disciplined, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization through its next stage of institutional development.

The CEO will serve as the foundation’s senior executive, responsible for translating the organization’s mission into an actionable strategy, establishing operational discipline, developing sustainable funding sources, building external partnerships, strengthening internal systems, and ensuring that the organization operates in accordance with its governing documents, approved policies, and applicable law.

This position requires a leader who can balance long-term strategic planning with the practical responsibilities of operating a growing nonprofit. The successful candidate must be capable of establishing clear priorities, evaluating organizational capacity, developing a strong leadership team, monitoring performance, and ensuring that resources are directed toward the foundation’s mission.

The CEO will work closely with the Board of Directors while maintaining appropriate boundaries between executive management and board governance. The CEO will provide regular updates on organizational performance, financial sustainability, program effectiveness, major risks, and strategic opportunities.

The foundation is seeking an executive who understands that nonprofit leadership requires more than vision. It requires measurable results, responsible stewardship, effective people management, transparent communication, and the ability to build an organization that can sustain its mission over time.

Important compensation notice: The stated salary range is a potential future compensation range, not a guarantee of currently available funding. Any appointment and salary commitment are contingent upon sufficient funding, an approved budget, and appropriate authorization.

KEY EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Executive Leadership and Strategic Direction

The CEO will establish and communicate a clear organizational vision and lead the execution of the foundation’s strategic priorities.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement a multiyear strategic plan aligned with the foundation’s mission, available resources, and long-term objectives.
• Establish annual organizational priorities, measurable objectives, and departmental performance expectations.
• Translate board-approved goals into actionable executive plans, operational initiatives, and implementation timelines.
• Evaluate organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen programs, develop partnerships, improve service delivery, and expand organizational reach.
• Establish consistent executive decision-making, reporting, and accountability practices.
• Ensure that organizational growth is supported by sufficient staffing, funding, systems, and management capacity.
• Lead organizational change, restructuring, and improvement initiatives when necessary.
• Communicate organizational priorities to department heads, employees, volunteers, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure that the foundation’s mission remains central to executive decisions and resource allocation.

The CEO must demonstrate the ability to move the organization from strategic planning to consistent execution, ensuring that commitments are supported by clear ownership, realistic timelines, and measurable outcomes.

2. Organizational Operations and Administration

The CEO will oversee the foundation’s overall administrative and operational effectiveness.

Responsibilities include:

• Supervise executive leadership and ensure that departmental responsibilities are clearly defined.
• Establish organization-wide operating procedures and reporting standards.
• Monitor departmental productivity, staffing capacity, project implementation, and operational risks.
• Ensure that leadership meetings, reporting processes, and organizational communications support effective decision-making.
• Review operational workflows and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Ensure that employees and volunteers understand their responsibilities, reporting relationships, and performance expectations.
• Coordinate cross-departmental initiatives and resolve significant operational barriers.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of organizational technology, administrative systems, and internal controls.
• Ensure appropriate records management, documentation, and retention practices.
• Develop continuity plans for leadership transitions, unexpected vacancies, and other operational disruptions.
• Maintain an appropriate balance between organizational growth and administrative capacity.

The CEO is expected to establish an operating environment in which responsibilities are understood, decisions are documented, and organizational commitments are monitored through completion.

3. Fundraising, Grants, and Revenue Development

Fundraising and financial sustainability are central responsibilities of this position.

The CEO will lead the development of a diversified funding strategy that supports the foundation’s operations, programs, staffing, and long-term sustainability.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop an annual fundraising and resource-development strategy in collaboration with the finance and development functions.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with individual donors, philanthropic foundations, corporations, community organizations, and institutional funders.
• Support the identification, evaluation, and pursuit of grant opportunities.
• Participate in major donor meetings, fundraising presentations, and institutional partnership discussions.
• Develop relationships with prospective corporate sponsors and strategic funding partners.
• Establish a structured donor cultivation, stewardship, and retention strategy.
• Ensure that grant applications and fundraising proposals accurately reflect organizational capacity, program objectives, and intended outcomes.
• Oversee the development of fundraising goals and monitor progress against approved targets.
• Ensure that restricted contributions are used in accordance with applicable donor requirements.
• Establish appropriate processes for grant reporting, funder communication, and compliance.
• Work with the finance function to evaluate the sustainability and full cost of proposed programs and initiatives.
• Develop contingency plans for delayed grants, fundraising shortfalls, and changes in donor support.

The CEO must understand that fundraising targets should be realistic, measurable, and aligned with the organization’s actual capacity. Prospective contributions and pending grant applications must not be represented as secured revenue.

4. Financial Management and Fiscal Stewardship

The CEO will provide executive oversight of financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation in partnership with the finance leadership and Board of Directors.

Responsibilities include:

• Participate in the development of the annual operating budget.
• Monitor organizational financial performance against the approved budget.
• Review financial reports, cash-flow projections, operating expenses, and funding commitments.
• Collaborate with finance leadership to establish financial reporting and forecasting processes.
• Ensure that financial decisions align with approved organizational priorities.
• Monitor financial risks, funding gaps, and anticipated cash requirements.
• Support the development of appropriate financial policies, internal controls, and approval procedures.
• Ensure that significant financial commitments receive the appropriate authorization.
• Review the financial implications of new hires, executive compensation, program expansion, and contractual obligations.
• Work with the Board and finance leadership to develop a long-term financial sustainability plan.
• Ensure that financial information provided to the Board is timely, accurate, and sufficiently detailed for oversight.
• Support independent audits, financial reviews, tax filings, and other required reporting when applicable.

The CEO must exercise sound judgment in making financial commitments and must not authorize expenditures or compensation obligations that exceed delegated authority or available resources.

5. Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

The CEO will maintain a productive working relationship with the Board of Directors and support effective nonprofit governance.

Responsibilities include:

• Implement board-approved strategic priorities and organizational policies.
• Prepare executive reports, strategic updates, operational summaries, and other requested materials for board meetings.
• Provide the Board with timely information regarding organizational performance, financial condition, material risks, and significant developments.
• Support board recruitment, orientation, engagement, and leadership development as authorized.
• Coordinate with board leadership to establish clear expectations for communication and decision-making.
• Ensure that management decisions remain within the authority delegated to the CEO.
• Identify matters requiring board review, approval, or formal action.
• Support the development and maintenance of bylaws, governance policies, conflict-of-interest procedures, and related organizational documents.
• Encourage meaningful board participation in fundraising, strategic planning, community engagement, and organizational oversight.
• Ensure that board members receive accurate information necessary to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities.
• Respect the distinction between board oversight and day-to-day executive management.

The CEO must recognize that the Board retains its governing responsibilities and that executive authority is exercised subject to the foundation’s bylaws, board resolutions, applicable law, and approved delegations of authority.

6. Departmental Leadership and Executive Team Development

The CEO will establish a cohesive leadership structure capable of supporting the foundation’s current operations and future growth.

Responsibilities include:

• Recruit, develop, supervise, and evaluate qualified departmental leaders.
• Establish clear reporting relationships and position responsibilities.
• Set annual performance objectives for executive and departmental leadership.
• Conduct periodic leadership reviews and assess departmental effectiveness.
• Address material performance concerns through appropriate and documented management processes.
• Promote collaboration between finance, human resources, programs, operations, public affairs, and other organizational functions.
• Identify gaps in organizational capacity and recommend staffing priorities.
• Ensure that leadership vacancies and succession risks are appropriately managed.
• Support professional development and leadership continuity.
• Maintain appropriate separation of financial authorization, oversight, and operational responsibilities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, respect, and service.

The CEO should build a leadership team based on organizational needs, demonstrated qualifications, available funding, and clearly defined responsibilities rather than titles alone.

7. Human Resources and Organizational Culture

The CEO will support the development of a responsible, effective, and mission-aligned workforce.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that recruitment, onboarding, supervision, performance management, and separation procedures are appropriately administered.
• Work with human resources leadership to maintain current personnel policies and procedures.
• Promote consistent application of employment policies and standards.
• Ensure that employees and volunteers receive clear expectations concerning conduct, communication, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Support appropriate workplace investigations and corrective action when required.
• Monitor workforce capacity, retention, engagement, and organizational culture.
• Encourage equitable access to professional development and advancement opportunities.
• Ensure that employment classifications, compensation practices, and workplace policies are reviewed for compliance with applicable law.
• Support appropriate separation of duties and confidentiality protections for personnel matters.
• Ensure that managers receive guidance and training necessary to supervise effectively.

The CEO is expected to model professional conduct and establish a workplace culture that supports the foundation’s mission while protecting the organization, its workforce, and the young people it serves.

8. Programs, Services, and Community Impact

The CEO will provide executive oversight of program strategy, quality, sustainability, and mission alignment.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that programs advance the foundation’s stated mission and strategic priorities.
• Work with program leadership to establish program plans, operating standards, and measurable outcomes.
• Review program participation, service delivery, participant feedback, and impact indicators.
• Evaluate whether proposed initiatives have sufficient funding, staffing, and implementation capacity.
• Support the development of mentorship, leadership, educational, internship, and career-readiness initiatives.
• Ensure that program activities are responsive to the needs of the communities served.
• Promote collaboration between program staff, community partners, educators, and service providers.
• Monitor program risks, safeguarding practices, and participant confidentiality.
• Ensure that program claims and impact reports are accurate and supported by evidence.
• Recommend program improvements, expansion, consolidation, or discontinuation when appropriate.
• Ensure that young people have meaningful opportunities to participate in program feedback and organizational improvement.

The CEO must ensure that the foundation measures success through meaningful outcomes rather than relying solely on activity counts, program announcements, or organizational expansion.

9. External Relations, Public Affairs, and Partnerships

The CEO will serve as a principal representative of Youth RISE Foundation in external relationships.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain relationships with philanthropic organizations, educational institutions, community leaders, employers, and nonprofit partners.
• Represent the foundation at professional meetings, conferences, community events, and stakeholder briefings.
• Communicate the foundation’s mission, strategy, programs, and accomplishments accurately.
• Support strategic partnerships that increase program access and organizational capacity.
• Develop relationships with organizations that can provide expertise, funding, facilities, internships, or other resources.
• Coordinate with public affairs leadership on external communications and reputation management.
• Respond appropriately to significant stakeholder concerns and organizational inquiries.
• Ensure that public statements accurately reflect the foundation’s activities, financial position, and organizational commitments.
• Support appropriate crisis communications and reputational risk management.
• Maintain professional relationships with current and prospective funders.

10. Organizational Expansion and Long-Term Sustainability

The CEO will assess and guide opportunities for organizational development and expansion.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop a sustainable growth strategy based on demonstrated community needs and organizational readiness.
• Evaluate the financial and operational feasibility of opening new offices, community centers, or program locations.
• Establish appropriate implementation plans for approved expansion initiatives.
• Identify potential local partners and funding sources before committing resources.
• Ensure that new locations have appropriate leadership, policies, staffing, and operating procedures.
• Monitor the performance and sustainability of existing programs and locations.
• Develop continuity plans that reduce reliance on any single donor, employee, or funding source.
• Establish measurable criteria for evaluating expansion decisions.
• Ensure that the foundation’s administrative infrastructure can support its intended scale.

Expansion must be guided by funding, community need, operational readiness, and the foundation’s ability to maintain service quality.

11. Legal Compliance, Risk Management, and Safeguarding

The CEO will ensure that organizational leadership appropriately identifies and manages material legal, operational, financial, and reputational risks.

Responsibilities include:

• Support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Ensure that required organizational registrations, filings, and reports are completed by the appropriate individuals.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of contracts, insurance, data protection, and recordkeeping.
• Ensure that conflicts of interest are disclosed, documented, and managed through established procedures.
• Support appropriate financial controls, risk assessments, and incident reporting.
• Ensure that youth-facing activities follow applicable safeguarding requirements.
• Promote appropriate confidentiality and information-security practices.
• Escalate significant legal, financial, safety, and compliance concerns to the Board or appropriate advisers.
• Coordinate with qualified legal, accounting, insurance, and compliance professionals when needed.
• Ensure that organizational practices are consistent with the foundation’s governing documents and approved policies.

The CEO is responsible for executive oversight and must seek appropriate professional advice when issues require specialized legal, financial, or regulatory expertise.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required Qualifications

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Significant leadership, management, or executive experience in a nonprofit, public-service, healthcare, educational, community-based, or comparable organization.
• Experience developing strategies and translating organizational objectives into operational plans.
• Demonstrated financial literacy and the ability to work with budgets, financial reports, forecasts, and resource-allocation decisions.
• Experience building relationships with external stakeholders and organizational partners.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and make well-reasoned decisions.
• Experience leading teams, supervising managers, or coordinating multidisciplinary initiatives.
• A commitment to ethical leadership, responsible governance, and organizational accountability.
• A demonstrated commitment to youth development, educational opportunity, or community empowerment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Senior executive experience, such as CEO, Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, or equivalent leadership.
• Experience securing grants, cultivating major donors, developing sponsorships, or managing institutional fundraising.
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and supporting governance processes.
• Experience leading organizational restructuring, operational improvement, or organizational expansion.
• Familiarity with nonprofit accounting, financial controls, grant compliance, and regulatory reporting.
• Experience developing performance metrics, program evaluation processes, and organizational dashboards.
• Experience building partnerships across education, healthcare, government, philanthropy, and community organizations.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, healthcare administration, finance, social sciences, or a related discipline is preferred.

A graduate degree, such as an MBA, MPA, MPA/MPP, or related qualification, may be advantageous but is not necessarily required where a candidate demonstrates equivalent relevant experience.

Relevant professional certifications, executive training, and demonstrated results may strengthen an application.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Strategic judgment: The ability to identify priorities, evaluate trade-offs, and make decisions consistent with the foundation’s mission and resources.

Financial discipline: The ability to understand financial information, manage risk, and distinguish secured resources from anticipated revenue.

Fundraising leadership: The ability to cultivate relationships, develop credible proposals, and support sustainable funding.

Operational execution: The ability to translate strategic priorities into defined responsibilities, timelines, and measurable results.

People leadership: The ability to recruit, develop, motivate, and hold leaders accountable.

Governance awareness: The ability to work productively with a Board of Directors while respecting fiduciary responsibilities and delegated authority.

Communication: The ability to communicate complex matters clearly to staff, board members, funders, partners, and community stakeholders.

Integrity: A demonstrated commitment to transparency, confidentiality, responsible decision-making, and ethical conduct.

Adaptability: The ability to navigate organizational change, uncertainty, funding constraints, and evolving community needs.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

The CEO will be evaluated against a mutually agreed-upon performance plan approved through the foundation’s appropriate governance process.

Potential performance areas include:

Organizational strategy

• Development and execution of an approved annual operating plan.
• Progress against strategic priorities and organizational milestones.
• Completion of periodic executive and departmental performance reviews.

Fundraising and sustainability

• Development of an annual fundraising plan and funding pipeline.
• Progress against board-approved fundraising targets.
• Diversification of funding sources and improvement in donor stewardship.
• Accuracy and timeliness of grant reporting.

Financial management

• Adherence to the approved operating budget.
• Timely review of financial reports and cash-flow forecasts.
• Appropriate management of expenses, commitments, and financial risks.
• Development of realistic financial sustainability projections.

Organizational operations

• Clear departmental responsibilities and reporting structures.
• Improved consistency of operational procedures.
• Timely resolution or escalation of significant operational issues.
• Effective implementation of approved initiatives.

Program outcomes

• Establishment of measurable program objectives.
• Timely reporting of program performance and participant outcomes.
• Demonstrated alignment between program commitments and available resources.

Governance and compliance

• Timely executive reporting to the Board.
• Implementation of board-approved policies and resolutions.
• Completion of required compliance activities and appropriate risk mitigation.

Performance targets should be established only after reviewing the organization’s baseline performance, available resources, and approved strategic plan.

COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYMENT TERMS

Potential Annual Salary: $150,000–$170,000

Youth RISE Foundation anticipates a potential annual base salary range of $150,000 to $170,000 for this executive position, subject to the conditions described below.

The range reflects a proposed compensation framework rather than a representation that the position is currently funded at this level.

Final compensation will depend on:

• The foundation’s secured and sustainable financial resources.
• The approved annual operating budget.
• The candidate’s qualifications, experience, and responsibilities.
• The organization’s staffing and operational needs.
• A documented assessment of reasonable compensation.
• Approval by the appropriate independent and authorized decision-makers.

Funding and salary conditions

The position will not carry a guaranteed salary commitment until funding has been secured, the compensation package has been approved, and a formal written employment offer has been authorized.

The foundation must not treat anticipated grants, uncommitted donations, or prospective fundraising revenue as available funds for an unconditional salary promise.

If the foundation cannot support the proposed compensation, it should reconsider the position’s timing, scope, or employment arrangement before making an offer.

Potential executive benefits

Subject to funding, eligibility, and approved policies, the employment package may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Retirement benefits.
• Professional development and executive training.
• Approved business travel reimbursement.
• Other benefits included in the authorized employment agreement.

No specific benefit should be represented as available until it has been approved and can be provided by the organization.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND SCHEDULE

This is an executive leadership position requiring flexibility to address organizational priorities, attend leadership and board meetings, engage external stakeholders, and respond to significant operational matters.

The CEO may be required to attend occasional evening or weekend events, conduct regional or national travel, and participate in meetings outside standard business hours.

The foundation should establish reasonable working expectations, clear executive performance standards, and appropriate boundaries for after-hours responsibilities.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit:

1. A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
2. A cover letter describing their executive leadership experience and interest in Youth RISE Foundation.
3. A statement outlining their approach to organizational strategy, fundraising, and nonprofit sustainability.
4. Relevant examples of accomplishments in leadership, financial stewardship, organizational development, or community impact.
5. Professional references, if requested during the selection process.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to participate in an initial screening, executive interview, strategic discussion, and reference checks.

Finalists may be asked to present a proposed first-year leadership plan addressing organizational priorities, financial sustainability, fundraising, operational effectiveness, and program impact.

Application instructions, submission deadlines, and interview arrangements will be communicated through the foundation’s designated recruitment channel.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

Youth RISE Foundation seeks to build a professional and inclusive environment in which qualified candidates can contribute their experience, judgment, and leadership.

Employment decisions will be made in accordance with applicable law and the foundation’s approved employment policies.

The foundation values ethical leadership, accountability, community engagement, responsible stewardship, and a demonstrated commitment to expanding opportunities for young people.

A NOTE TO EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES

The Chief Executive Officer will have an important role in shaping the foundation’s organizational direction, strengthening its institutional capacity, and advancing its mission.

This opportunity is suited to an executive who can combine strategic thinking with practical implementation, cultivate meaningful partnerships, build sustainable funding relationships, and establish systems that support measurable community impact.

Candidates should understand that the foundation’s long-term success depends on responsible financial management, effective governance, consistent execution, and the ability to align organizational ambitions with available resources.

Youth RISE Foundation is seeking leadership that can build a sustainable institution—not simply maintain an organizational title.