Compass To Care - Executive Director

Noetic Search•Chicago, IL

5d•$115,000 - $125,000

About The Position

Compass to Care is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization's next chapter of growth. This role will build on the organization's strong foundation and founder's legacy to expand access to life-saving cancer treatment for children nationwide. As the chief executive and ambassador, the Executive Director will provide strategic, operational, and fundraising leadership while strengthening partnerships, deepening organizational capacity, and advancing the mission to eliminate transportation barriers for families facing childhood cancer. This is an opportunity to guide a nationally recognized nonprofit through an exciting leadership transition and ensure its impact continues to grow for years to come.

Requirements

Demonstrates a genuine passion for improving the lives of children with cancer and a deep commitment to ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatment.
Proven ability to cultivate major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and individual supporters while diversifying revenue and increasing philanthropic investment.
Develops trusted relationships with board members, donors, hospital partners, volunteers, families, and community stakeholders to advance the organization's mission.
Serves as the compelling public face of the organization, communicating its impact through storytelling, advocacy, public speaking, and media engagement.
Ensures sound financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, compliance, and efficient delivery of programs while strengthening internal systems and infrastructure.
Inspires, develops, and retains a high-performing staff while fostering a collaborative, mission-centered, and inclusive organizational culture.
Works effectively with the Board of Directors on governance, strategic planning, fundraising, and organizational priorities, maintaining open and transparent communication.
Identifies opportunities to expand services, leverage technology, strengthen partnerships, and increase the organization's national reach and impact.
Uses data, metrics, and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness, demonstrate impact, and inform strategic decision-making.
Leads with empathy while keeping children and families at the center of every decision.
Sees opportunities to grow the organization's reach and influence while honoring its founding mission.
Builds consensus and empowers others across staff, board, and partner organizations.
Identifies creative solutions and new opportunities for funding, partnerships, and expanding its national impact.
Leads with humility, integrity, and transparency, earning the trust of stakeholders.
Navigates change with confidence and steadiness, particularly during the transition from founder-led leadership.
Connects with diverse audiences through compelling stories that inspire engagement and investment.
Experience in fundraising, organizational leadership, and board partnership.
Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
Authentic and collaborative executive.
Equally adept at setting strategy and leading day-to-day operations.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a founder-led organization transitioning to next-generation leadership.
Experience with major gifts and planned giving programs.
Experience building relationships with corporate partners.
Experience increasing unrestricted funding.
Experience increasing referrals from pediatric oncology centers.
Experience expanding services for families traveling to clinical trials and specialty care.
Experience leveraging technology to improve family access and program efficiency.
Experience developing strategic partnerships with transportation providers, healthcare systems, and other childhood cancer organizations.
Experience enhancing strategic planning.
Experience strengthening board engagement and governance.
Experience with staff development and succession planning.
Experience with data collection and impact measurement.
Experience with marketing and national brand visibility.

Responsibilities

Lead the organization's next chapter of growth, building on its strong foundation and founder's legacy to expand access to life-saving cancer treatment for children nationwide.
Provide strategic, operational, and fundraising leadership.
Strengthen partnerships, deepen organizational capacity, and advance the mission to eliminate transportation barriers for families facing childhood cancer.
Serve as the chief executive and ambassador for the organization.
Guide the organization through an exciting leadership transition.
Ensure the organization's impact continues to grow for years to come.
Establish a clear vision for the organization's future.
Guide Compass to Care through a significant leadership transition and position it for sustainable growth.
Cultivate major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and individual supporters while diversifying revenue and increasing philanthropic investment.
Develop trusted relationships with board members, donors, hospital partners, volunteers, families, and community stakeholders to advance the organization's mission.
Serve as the compelling public face of the organization, communicating its impact through storytelling, advocacy, public speaking, and media engagement.
Ensure sound financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, compliance, and efficient delivery of programs while strengthening internal systems and infrastructure.
Inspire, develop, and retain a high-performing staff while fostering a collaborative, mission-centered, and inclusive organizational culture.
Work effectively with the Board of Directors on governance, strategic planning, fundraising, and organizational priorities, maintaining open and transparent communication.
Identify opportunities to expand services, leverage technology, strengthen partnerships, and increase the organization's national reach and impact.
Use data, metrics, and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness, demonstrate impact, and inform strategic decision-making.
Lead with empathy while keeping children and families at the center of every decision.
See opportunities to grow the organization's reach and influence while honoring its founding mission.
Build consensus and empower others across staff, board, and partner organizations.
Identify creative solutions and new opportunities for funding, partnerships, and expanding its national impact.
Lead with humility, integrity, and transparency, earning the trust of stakeholders.
Navigate change with confidence and steadiness, particularly during the transition from founder-led leadership.
Connect with diverse audiences through compelling stories that inspire engagement and investment.
Be comfortable in the boardroom, with donors, alongside hospital partners, and in conversations with the families whose lives are transformed by the organization's work.
Honor Compass to Care's founder's legacy while expanding its national impact, strengthening organizational capacity, and ensuring long-term sustainability for the families it serves.