Executive Director

Executive Director

Friends of the Children - Stockton

Stockton, California

• Provide enthusiastic leadership, inspiration, strategic direction, focus, and long-term vision for the organization.
• Be the lead fundraising champion and enthusiastic spokesperson, ambassador, and advocate for Friends of the Children - Stockton.
• Build trust across staff, board, community partners, families, and donors. Model professionalism and high ethical standards throughout the organization.
• Partner with the Board to expand governance capacity, strengthen committee infrastructure, and diversify leadership representation.
• Lead and model Friends of the Children’s commitment to fostering a culture of engagement, empowerment, support, belonging, and mutual respect.
• Foster a transparent, approachable, collaborative, and servant-oriented leadership culture where staff feel heard, valued, and supported.
• Work closely with the National CEO and National staff to ensure that Friends of the Children - Stockton and National are working together as collaborators, that the program is administered with fidelity, and to promote and grow the mission locally and across the county.
• Work closely with other Executive Directors in the state of California to align around opportunities for leadership, fundraising, and statewide collaboration.

• Lead all fundraising and resource development efforts, including establishing clear fundraising goals, objectives, and results.
• Define, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, foundations, and corporations, including local and regional funding opportunities that deepen community investment.
• Explore and develop diversified and earned-income revenue opportunities that strengthen long-term sustainability.
• Represent the organization throughout Stockton's philanthropic, civic, business, and nonprofit communities.
• Serve as the organization's chief storyteller and external relationship builder.
• Work closely with public officials to develop a funding base that includes an appropriate amount of public funding (city, county, state, and federal).
• Work with the nonprofit community to implement and sustain strategic partnerships and collaborations.

• Develop and execute strategic plans, annual operating plans, budgets, revenue and expense projections, and growth initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for expansion, innovation, and increased community impact.
• Monitor organizational performance and proactively manage risk.
• Partner with the Board and National leadership to achieve long-term goals.

• Ensure fidelity to the Friends of the Children model.
• Support program leadership in delivering exceptional service and outcomes for youth and families.
• Monitor outcomes and foster continuous improvement.
• Cultivate quality feedback loops for program participants (youth, caregivers).
• Work with the Program Director to ensure that systems are in place to validate effective program implementation.
• Support the ongoing training and development of program staff to meet the requirements of the program with regard to skills, knowledge, and understanding of program content.
• Maintain alignment of the organizational structure and staffing to maximize effectiveness and results.

• Provide sound financial stewardship and organizational sustainability.
• Recruit, develop, supervise, and retain a high-performing team; ensure the effective supervision, guidance, development, and evaluation of all staff, and a work environment that results in positive morale and employee retention.
• Maintain accurate and timely communications with the Board of Directors and staff.
• Maximize organizational effectiveness without compromising program and organizational performance.
• Collaborate with, and benefit from, National team Finance, HR, and Operational resources to maximize effectiveness.

• A bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience in nonprofit or related environments is desired.
• A passionate appreciation for child development, youth outcomes, and long-term mentoring models.
• Demonstrated success leading an organization and motivating others within a fast-paced, start-up work environment.
• Strategic thinker with experience building, scaling, launching, and leading organizational growth initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading across fundraising, operations, finance, strategy, and people leadership.
• Significant fundraising experience and the ability to successfully secure major gifts and diversified revenue streams.
• Strong executive presence and credibility with donors, board members, community leaders, and public stakeholders.
• Working knowledge and experience in the Stockton and San Joaquin County philanthropic and business communities strongly preferred.
• Cultural competence and sensitivity when working with diverse communities and family structures.
• Exceptional listening skills and an approachable, empowering leadership style.
• Outstanding storytelling, written and verbal communication skills, and public speaking abilities.
• Creativity, innovation, and willingness to explore new approaches.
• Exceptional decision-making, organizational, and time management, delegation, and follow-up skills.
• Effective leadership and supervisory skills; ability to collaboratively set goals, provide direction, ensure accountability, and motivate others to achieve and overcome barriers.
• Ability to assess opportunities and mitigate strategic risks, while monitoring progress and making timely course corrections.
• A team player, with a commitment to collaboration and partnership with National and peer leadership.
• Bilingual English/Spanish language skills are a valuable asset.

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