Executive Director

CASA Court Appointed Special Advocates Yolo County•Woodland, CA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director (ED) is Yolo County CASA’s chief external officer, chief fundraiser, and public voice. The ED’s primary charge is to grow the organization’s revenue and community presence so every foster child in Yolo County can be matched with a CASA volunteer. The ED spends the substantial majority of their time outside the office: cultivating and soliciting major donors, building foundation and corporate partnerships, strengthening relationships with government agencies and elected officials, and serving as the organization’s chief spokesperson. The ED retains full accountability to the Board of Directors for all organizational outcomes i.e. programmatic, financial, and operational, but does not manage internal day to day operations. Yolo CASA has an experienced Program Director who manages programs, staff supervision, finance and bookkeeping, HR administration, and office operations, and reports directly to the ED. The ED’s internal role is that of leader and chief champion: setting direction, connecting the team’s daily work to the mission and to the donors who fund it, and empowering the Program Director to run the organization. This structure exists deliberately to protect the ED’s external focus; candidates should expect and embrace a role that is predominantly relational, revenue-oriented, and community-facing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree or CFRE credential a plus.
5+ years of progressive leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit, with a documented personal track record of securing major gifts, grants, or sponsorships; experience growing an organization’s revenue is strongly preferred over experience merely maintaining it.
Demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting individual donors at the 4-figure level or above, and securing foundation or corporate funding.
Experience leading through others: supervising senior staff, delegating operations, and managing by goals and accountability rather than direct control.
Excellent verbal/written communication skills with diverse audiences - in-person, digital, and social media platforms.
Knowledge and experience in developing and implementing strategic plans, and in working effectively with a community-based Board of Directors.
Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds; commitment to the mission and vision of Yolo County CASA.
Must have reliable transportation to travel to off-site meetings, trainings, community events, and other work-related locations as required.
Must pass a Department of Justice background check upon hire.
Must be eligible to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or CFRE credential

Responsibilities

Develops and executes a multi-year fund development plan spanning major gifts, annual giving, foundation and corporate grants, planned giving, and signature events, with annual revenue goals set jointly with the Board.
Manages a portfolio of major donors and prospects; leads cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 5/6-figure gifts.
Researches, pursues, and secures new funding sources, including foundations, corporations, government funding streams, and individual philanthropy, with an expectation of increasing revenue within the first 18–24 months.
Oversees the strategy and success of annual fundraising events, including sponsorship solicitation, marketing, and volunteer engagement, with event execution supported by staff.
Partners with the Board to build a culture of philanthropy, including supporting 100% board giving, equipping board members to open doors and make introductions, and engaging them in cultivation and stewardship.
Ensures the donor database, gift acknowledgment, and donor communications are accurate, timely, and relationship-building, with administration supported by staff under the Program Director.
Serves as chief spokesperson, giving voice to Yolo CASA’s vision with donors, media, community organizations, civic groups, faith communities, and the public.
Develops and maintains strong working relationships with the dependency court, county agencies, elected officials, California CASA, and community partners.
Leads marketing, communications, and brand visibility strategy to advance the CASA mission, expand volunteer recruitment pipelines, and grow the donor base.
Represents Yolo CASA at community events, including occasional evening and weekend engagements, which are a core and expected part of this role.
Works with Board to develop, review, and report on strategic goals, revenue goals, and organizational performance; provides regular dashboards on fundraising pipeline, finances, and program outcomes.
Develops the agency budget in collaboration with the Board Treasurer and Program Director; adheres to the Board-approved budget and all financial policies adopted by the Board.
Works with the Board President to support the work of the Board, including meeting planning, member recruitment, and governance policies.
Keeps the Board informed of trends in child welfare, philanthropy, and the CASA network that affect strategy.
Leads and supports the Program Director while overseeing organizational performance, operations, HR, finance, IT, vendors, and compliance.
Retains ultimate accountability for program integrity and compliance with Welfare and Institutions Code §100–109, CA Rule of Court 5.655, and all funder and government requirements, with day-to-day management delegated to the Program Director and program staff.
Fosters a healthy, mission-driven organizational culture and ensures fair and consistent administration of HR policies through the Program Director.