Chief Executive Officer

The Client

The YWCA of the City of New York (YW-NYC) was founded in 1858 to provide a haven for young women by offering safe housing and educational resources. The organization quickly expanded to include typewriting and sewing classes and, in 1912, added a job training center and residences. In 1915, with the purchase of a building in midtown Manhattan, the YWCA expanded further and opened the first public swimming pool in New York State. With its historic mission to improve the welfare of girls and women and as a pioneer in race relations, labor union representation, and women’s health initiatives, the YW-NYC has been leading the way for women’s rights and social justice for 163 years.

Current programs are focused on high school girls’ leadership and empowerment and after-school youth development activities. The YW-NYC’s Girls Initiatives are free and open to all self-identified girls, and gender non-conforming youth (14-18) in New York City. Programs include bystander intervention, STEAAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Activism, and Math) classes, and college and career readiness. These programs ensure that every girl gains the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue the education, career, and life options of their choice.

Out-of-School Time (OST) programs create a safe and nurturing environment to support academic achievement, enhance social skills, and foster success in school and life. OST enrichment activities are offered to children K through 8th grade in six elementary and middle schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Programs include cultural diversity efforts to foster appreciation of difference and promote civic engagement, gardening projects, and mindfulness and self-expression.

Headquartered in lower Manhattan, the YW-NYC is governed by a 12-person Board of Directors and operates with a $4 million annual budget and a 100-person staff.   

YW-NYC is a member of YWCA USA, an association of more than 200 independent YWs serving more than 2 million individuals across the country. The YW-NYC is one of four YWs serving the greater NYC tri-state region.

For more information, please visit: https://www.ywcanyc.org/

The Opportunity

At a time of increased awareness of the special burdens inflicted upon girls and women by persistent social inequities and systemic racism, the need for the YW-NYC has never been greater. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a visionary executive to lead one of the oldest nonprofits in the nation to its next phase of growth and impact. The new CEO will reverse the trend of persistent budget shortfalls and leverage the organization’s healthy reserves and recent investments in strategic development resources to ensure the YW-NYC continues to lead the way for girls, women, and social justice.

The Position

Reporting to an active and engaged Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will transform an organization that has been impacted by four successive leadership transitions since 2017. The CEO will provide strategic leadership to meet community needs and advance its mission. As the YW-NYC’s primary representative, the CEO is directly responsible for engaging stakeholders and securing funds to expand programs and ensure the organization’s fiscal health. The new CEO will manage five direct reports and oversee consultants handling the development, finance, and IT functions. Key responsibilities of the position include:

Strategy & Vision

• Develop and implement a long-term strategic plan to advance the mission and serve the community
• In collaboration with the board, set goals and outcomes to realize the strategic plan
• Structure organizational reporting lines to improve efficiencies and increase impact
• Leverage the extraordinary gift from MacKenzie Scott to make transformative investments in support of the strategic plan
• Evaluate and refine the program portfolio to ensure programs are meeting community needs, comply with grants and contracts, and are mission-aligned

Fundraising

• Finalize and execute the fundraising plan, including building the development team and ensuring adequate training and technology to meet the plan’s goals
• Lead business development to expand partnerships and secure new contracts
• In partnership with the board, expand the individual donor base by developing and cultivating relationships with major donors and family foundations
• Successfully plan and execute the annual gala

Leadership

• Lead by example to champion a culture of inclusion, transparency, collaboration, and accountability
• Energize, inspire, and lead a team of committed and engaged staff to realize the organization’s mission and strategic goals
• Recruit, retain, and develop high-performing staff to manage programs, resource development, and administration
• Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the board ensuring clear communication and relevant reporting

Fiscal Management

• Develop budgets and related program and staffing plans ensuring optimal allocation of resources to sustain growth
• Manage outsourced financial management services team and oversee timely completion of audit and tax filings

Communications and Community Engagement

• Serve as the YW-NYC’s primary spokesperson representing the organization in public, in the media, and at events
• Foster strong relationships with community stakeholders, civic organizations, city and government agencies, and corporations
• Advocate and be a loud, proud voice for girls, young women, and children
• Oversee branding, marketing, and communications efforts actively promoting and raising the organization’s profile in NYC’s social justice space

Professional Requirements

The YW-NYC is seeking a transformational leader with strong business acumen and resource development experience. The ideal candidate will understand the ways in which community based educational and leadership programs are used to advance social justice. They will be an accomplished manager able to engage and inspire the organization’s talented and dedicated board and staff. The new CEO will have the following:

• At least 10 years’ executive leadership experience with a social services or social justice nonprofit. CEO experience with an organization serving youth, girls, and/or women is preferred
• Turnaround and change management experience; prior success stabilizing an organization is ideal
• Organizational development experience, with proven success in building strong and effective teams and optimizing an organization’s operating scale
• Strong analytical skills with knowledge of evidence-based program evaluation and community needs assessments
• Expertise creating and implementing strategic plans, including developing business and staffing plans to advance strategic goals
• Prior experience working with a nonprofit board, including a demonstrable understanding of board development and governance
• A track-record of success cultivating individual, institutional, and governmental funder relationships
• Experience overseeing government contract execution and compliance. Prior experience with NYC’s Department of Education or Department of Youth and Community Development is ideal
• Demonstrated ability to partner with individuals of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, generational, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Enthusiasm for developing effective partnerships and positive relationships in the communities the organization serves
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred

Personal Characteristics

The successful candidate will be a visionary leader passionately dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. They will be an entrepreneurial executive who is motivated to transform and strategically build an iconic institution. The new CEO will be energized by the possibilities to develop innovative programs and strategic partnerships to advance the YW-NYC’s mission. The ideal candidate will have:

• A hands-on approach to leadership that includes the grit and humility to roll up their sleeves and do what it takes to get the job done
• An approachable, flexible, and collaborative leadership style
• Exceptional interpersonal skills including active listening ability and commitment to transparent communication
• Strong relationship-building skills including the ability to work effectively within large city and governmental agencies
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills, including persuasive and passionate personal engagement and public speaking ability
• An unwavering commitment to upholding the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to advancing gender and racial justice