Executive Director, Los Angeles

Thrive Scholars•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

Thrive Scholars is seeking an Executive Director for its flagship location in Los Angeles, California, to drive financial support for the organization in the region; to grow, deepen and develop strong relationships with funders, academic and community-based leaders; and enable high performing local students to flourish in college and beyond. With Thrive’s deep roots, proven success and a strong existing network in the region, this is an ideal opportunity for an experienced, high-energy, self-starter with a strong track record in fundraising and passion for college and career access and success. As the founding location of Thrive Scholars, this region has many deep-rooted investors. Our goal for Los Angeles is to significantly grow the donor pipeline with the goal of raising at least $4M annually, significantly increasing the number of Scholars who can be recruited to participate. Reporting to Thrive’s Chief Development Officer, this executive will be joining a passionate and dedicated team of 6 other Regional Executive Directors (Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, and New York) who are committed to measurable and meaningful impact. As the primary face and champion of Thrive’s work and impact in Los Angeles, California, the Executive Director will be charged with creating the narrative around local support, closing five, six and seven figure gifts, generating a network of donor support, building relationships with nonprofit and school district leaders, and inspiring, leveraging and activating a local advisory board. While this role will collaborate with national program teams and leadership, Thrive’s ED’s do not manage programmatic work; the focus of the role is on building financial support, stakeholder relationships, and community awareness in the region to enable the delivery of our national program model for students in the area.

Requirements

Commitment to the mission and work of Thrive Scholars.
Minimum of 10 years total experience strongly preferred; minimum of 5 years fundraising experience strongly preferred with an elevated comfort level working with high-net-worth individuals.
Proven track record of building a strong body of support from new donors, community partners, corporate partners, and other key constituents in support of an organization with which they were not previously engaged.
Ability to compellingly convey Thrive's mission, impact, and needs across the community in an authentic way that honors Thrive Scholars and their families.
Ability to establish and sustain relationships with a diverse body of stakeholders, rallying them towards a common goal of college and career access and success throughout the Los Angeles region.
Experience managing a seven-figure fundraising goal and knowledge of nonprofit revenue sources preferred, with a nuanced understanding of and networks in the Los Angeles philanthropic and corporate communities.
Demonstrated success in fundraising, with a focus on individual major gifts, especially with family offices, foundation relations, and/or corporate partnerships, and track record of stewarding and closing multi-year support.
Experience building and maintaining within-sector and cross-sector partnerships, and when necessary, problem-solving through partnership challenges and conflict.
Excellence in systems building and management with the demonstrated ability to manage one’s work and approach towards successful outcomes.
Strong skills in planning, organizing, and oral and written communication, including strong presentation skills.

Responsibilities

Serve as an inspirational external leader who actively engages and energizes Thrive’s supporters, partners, scholars, families, volunteers, and corporate partners.
Identify, cultivate, and solicit five, six and seven figure gifts from individuals, families, foundations and corporations to meet ambitious seven-figure revenue targets; leverage a nuanced understanding of the Los Angeles philanthropic space to lead regional fundraising efforts
Steward outstanding philanthropic relationships to ensure a continuity of support.
Capitalize on existing relationships with regional donors to build a growing network of engaged individual, foundation, and corporate partners.
Establish and develop relationships with key prospects, ensuring their continued engagement, with an eye towards ensuring sustainable multi-year support; this will include drafting proposals and grant reports along with effective moves management and donor strategies and stewardship.
Steward, appoint, and grow local champions to serve on the Los Angeles Regional Advisory Board to meet fundraising and recruitment goals, and enhance Thrive’s profile in the community; leverage the Regional Advisory Board to drive fundraising success in the region.
Support the efforts of the national development team, leveraging an area of interest or expertise to further the efforts of Thrive more broadly.
Engage a community of local academic, nonprofit and government leaders invested in Thrive Scholars’ success and willing to support the organization’s goals.
Play a highly visible external role and serve as the main ambassador and champion for Thrive and its Scholars across the Los Angeles region, coordinating with the national recruitment team to engage students, schools, and other access/success programs. Develop strong relationships with the senior leadership of partnering school districts and local community-based organizations to support the recruitment of the region’s Scholars.
Engage and build a strong rapport with the region’s Scholars.
Establish effective day-to-day systems to ensure productive workflows and cross-team collaboration within Thrive’s Los Angeles region, demonstrating exceptional follow-through.
Maintain responsibility for Los Angeles revenue, with an acute understanding of the full operating budget and grant compliance.
Partner closely with Thrive’s national leadership to create and maintain clear lines of communication around local fundraising initiatives and progress.
Leverage existing prospect and donor tracking and moves management systems and programs to stay abreast of and report on active fundraising opportunities.
Provide strategic guidance and thought partnership to Thrive’s senior leadership team on local initiatives.