Executive Director - People Matters

Title:  Executive Director

Location:  Ypsilanti, MI (hybrid)

For 40 years, Friends In Deed has worked to help our neighbors in need by filling in the cracks of assistance offered by other organizations and nonprofits. Our mission is focused on poverty alleviation and allows Friends In Deed flexibility, in order to accommodate changing needs of the community. 

Our workplace culture and the work we do have a direct impact on people in need and strengthen our community to end poverty. We recognize racial injustice exists and continues in our community and we are dedicated to combat systemic barriers to opportunity for those we serve.

If you are passionate about serving your community and driving meaningful change, this position is ideal. As a member of the leadership team, the Executive Director serves as the external face of the organization in Washtenaw County.  The position reports to the Board of Directors and assumes a strategic role in the overall strength of the organization including growth and operational stability. The Executive Director has primary day-to-day responsibility for staff leadership, fundraising, donor relations, strategic planning and implementation, and managing all operational activities of the organization. The Executive Director is full-time servicing Washtenaw County and is based in Ypsilanti, MI.

Primary Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

• Leads employees, volunteers, and the organization to serve clients in alignment with organizational mission to achieve the desired community impact.
• Fosters and advances donor relations to acquire commitments for maximum impact to funding and partnerships.
• Directs advocacy work regarding poverty reduction at local, state, and federal levels.
• Writes grants and oversees staff grant activity to procure funding.
• Collaborates with local non-profit leaders in the Nationwide Circle program.
• Partners proactively with the Board of Directors on operational and strategic issues as they arise.
• Produces new funding opportunities to expand services and enable organization growth.
• Establishes, develops, and maintains relationships with numerous diverse stakeholders and political groups to allow the organization to influence programs, strengthen services, and engage with community resources.
• Provides timely and accurate preparation, analysis, dissemination, and presentation of strategy, plans, budgets, financial reports, metrics, and financial trends.
• Leverages social and economic data to identify trends and ties reporting to diversity strategies.
• Responds to inquiries and requests from governing bodies, community organizations, and stakeholders.
• Supervises, hires, schedules, assigns work, mentors, develops, evaluates performance, provides feedback, and effectively resolves employee relations matters for the organization.

 Ideal Candidate will possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent related work experience
• 7+ years of related experience
• 3+ years of community service or non-profit experience
• 3+ years minimum of people management experience
• Experience in one or more of the following preferred; financial literacy programs, educational programs, poverty alleviation, housing, and/or emergency services
• Ability to secure new grants, donors, and revenue streams

Friends In Deed supports the health and well-being of its team by providing excellent benefits including 70% employer-paid health insurance, generous paid time off including vacation and paid holidays, 3% retirement savings match, and a hybrid work environment.

 Friends in Deed is an Equal Opportunity Employer.