Title: Executive Director

Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Reports to: Board of Directors

FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Girls on the Run Northwest Illinois (GOTRNWIL) is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. Our council currently serves over 1,300 girls across McHenry, Winnebago, Boone, DeKalb, and Kane counties. To learn more about our program, visit: https://www.gotrnwil.org/

Girls on the Run believes that all girls and communities should have access to our programs. We strive to eliminate barriers to participation, to continue creating programming that engages all communities, to be intentional about staff and volunteer diversity and to promote a culture of inclusion across the organization. We warmly welcome the participation of any child who identifies as girl, non-binary, or gender expansive in our programs.

Council Positioning and Position Summary

Our council is in an exciting season of growth and transition. After 15 years of service to Girls on the Run, our founding Executive Director is ready to partner with and empower a new leader to guide GOTRNWIL into our next chapter.

The Executive Director of GOTRNWIL will collaborate with community leaders, schools and school systems, non-profit partners, families and participants, and volunteers to create significant impact in our community. The person in this role is responsible for overall development, financial health, and management of the GOTRNWIL council under the umbrella of Girls on the Run International (GOTRI). The ideal candidate will have a passion for youth, experience in fundraising and grant writing, business acumen, and will have successfully managed community impact programs, including evaluation and measurement. Principle responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Strategic Planning

• Provide strategic direction and leadership of the program through careful implementation and continuation of the Strategic Plan.
• Develop a comprehensive GOTRNWIL growth plan that reflects creative program and site development strategies with an intentional focus on growing access and diversifying communities served.
• Collaborate with the Board to identify and plan for infrastructure growth parallel to growth of the program.

Development and Financial Solvency

• Develop sustainable revenue plan with a focus on grant writing, corporate and individual donor development, and stewardship to exceed $400K annually.
• Develop and sustain sponsorship relationships with local, corporate, and national partners.
• Develop an annual plan for prospecting new funding relationships, including sponsorships, individual giving, and community partners.
• Develop creative ways to connect with local businesses.
• Manage a gratitude plan for donors (corporate and individuals).

Staff and Volunteer Leadership

• Provide direction, oversight, and professional development opportunities for the GOTRNWIL program, event, and administrative staff, as well as leadership to the volunteer coaches, and committee leadership.
• Maintain strong relationships with the Board of Directors and Girls on the Run International.
• Assist the Program Team with coach recruitment and retention efforts that result in coaches representing the diversity of girls served. Actively participate in site visits and coach training to better understand the core of our program and of the nature of our different communities. Willingness to coach a team next spring if new to our program.
• Help with all GOTRNWIL activities, big or small.

Operational Administration

• Manage the organization with a business mindset by establishing and implementing efficient systems and strategies, using data and metrics to inform decisions.
• Work with the Finance Committee to execute all financial, operational, and programmatic reports to Girls on the Run International, as well as to funding agencies in a timely manner.
• Maintain and monitor GOTR key performance indicators and GOTRI data collection to track progress toward meeting organizational goals.

Build Community Presence

• Raise awareness of the program by building relationships with local media, service groups, corporate groups, fitness organizations, etc.
• Oversee special events planning and execution such as the season-end 5K events, 15th anniversary celebration events, fundraising events, etc.
• Ensure community engagement and communication is consistent with the GOTR brand and core values.

Qualities and Qualifications

• 8-12 years of demonstrated executive leadership experience, preferably in a non-profit community impact environment.

• Leadership style focused on collaboration, where staff and board skills are recognized and autonomy is encouraged.
• Ability to manage conflict with kindness and positive intent.
• A flexible and adaptable team-player with a sense of humor.
• Strategic leader with strong critical thinking, creative problem solving, organizational and analytical skills.

• Readiness to embrace the work of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, grant writing, setting and managing budgets, and financial forecasting.

• Passion for the Girls on the Run mission.
• Ability to effectively communicate across mediums regarding issues surrounding youth empowerment, self-esteem, body image and whole-person health.
• Strong technological proficiency to navigate an array of web-based software.
• Reliable transportation.

• Strong communication skills.

Work Environment

At Girls on the Run Northwest Illinois, we pride ourselves on a team culture that is collaborative and engaged. We're dedicated to recognizing, celebrating, and supporting each other not only as coworkers, but as people. We respect work-life balance – you will work hard, but we respect your need to recharge your batteries. Our board is motivated and works hard and proactively raises funds in partnership with staff. You will have strong support from Girls on the Run International providing programming support and resources.

This is a full-time position based in the Crystal Lake area. The position allows for flexible remote work provided you have high-speed internet access. The candidate must live within 45 miles to provide direct leadership and support to our community. Some night and weekend availability is needed for GOTR events, funding opportunities and ambassador engagements.

This position is offering a salary of $65,000-75,000 annually, depending on experience.