Summary
Description
As the only full-time staff member, the Executive Director wears many hats and juggles multiple priorities at the same time. Because of this, the position requires flexible hours, and working occasional evenings (usually fundraising related) and Saturday mornings (8-10am 1-2 times per month) is required. While this role does not fit neatly into a 9-5 schedule, a highly motivated self-starter will appreciate the ability to work from home and to set one’s own schedule. The workload varies throughout the year, with peaks happening around events and fundraisers with lulls between Christmas and New Year’s. Summer is also generally slower since markets only happen every two weeks, rather than weekly during the school year.
The person suited for this role must be equally comfortable with high-level organizational planning and low-level physical work. They must be comfortable wearing all hats: sharing the vision with community leaders, cultivating relationships with funders, hauling food, managing volunteers, and event planning. Confident presentation and public speaking skills are essential. Taking pride in all aspects of work – from menial tasks to strategic planning and community leadership – is an important mindset to have in this role. TLP uses web-based tools to efficiently run the organization and store critical documentation and processes in the cloud, so tech skills are a must. Finally, resourceful and robust fundraising skills are critical. The Executive Director oversees an annual operating budget of $375,000 comprised of individual donations, fundraising events, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and a multi-year City and County of Denver contract.
The position is a remote position with required times on site for programmatic activities. The LoVVe Project does not currently have a physical office.
About The LoVVe Project
The LoVVe Project (TLP) was founded in 2020 in the Virginia Village neighborhood in Denver, Colorado by a community member in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ensure families had access to fresh food while schools remained closed and many people in the community faced economic instability. Once the initial impacts of the pandemic subsided, it was clear that food scarcity remained a persistent issue in Virginia Village and southeast Denver.
TLP partners with Denver Public Schools to meet families where they are – at school – to share free, nutritious, fresh groceries. During the school year, food is shared at free-choice food markets on site at Ellis Elementary School, a secondary site within the same neighborhood, and on the last Saturday of the month. During the summer, we offer Saturday markets every other week to ensure families have a consistent source of food while schools are closed. Over 80% of the students we serve qualify for free/reduced lunch and many families face housing and income instability. Our program represents one of the few consistent safety nets for these families at a time when there is much uncertainty in their lives. Many families have been with us since we began in 2020.
Primary Responsibilities
Mission and Strategy
- Lead the organization in collaborative strategic planning with the Executive Board to ensure that TLP can successfully fulfill its mission into the future.
- Ensure effective systems to track and evaluate organizational and program outcomes that can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other constituents.
- Establish and maintain partnerships with various organizations throughout the city and state to strategically enhance the organization’s mission.
- Actively strive to upgrade professional skills through engaging in appropriate professional training and experience.
Financial Management and Viability
- Develop sufficient resources to ensure the financial health of The LoVVe Project by spearheading and executing fundraising strategies, including grant writing (with experienced grant writers as needed), individual donor development, and fundraising events.
- Working with our outside bookkeeper, ensure the fiscal integrity of the organization, including the development of and submission to the Board of Directors of a proposed annual budget and quarterly financial statements that accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization.
- Oversee the spending, invoicing, and reporting for grant funding in collaboration with TLP Bookkeeper.
- Responsible for fiscal management that operates within the approved budget, ensures maximum resource utilization, and maintenance of the organization in a positive financial position.
Marketing/Communications/Public Relations
- Enhance The LoVVe Project’s image by being active and visible in the community and by working closely with professional, civic, and private organizations.
- Create and implement public relations, marketing, and communications strategies from web presence to social media to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger brand.
Operations & Human Resources
- Implement The LoVVe Project’s programs that carry out the organization’s mission, including leading the planning, procurement, and distribution of food for markets at our schools and markets.
- Ensure The LoVVe Project has the technological resources necessary to operate effectively.
- Ensure staff adhere to The LoVVe Project’s personnel policies and procedures.
- Hire, lead, coach, develop, and retain a competent, qualified staff and team of volunteers.
- Review and enforce all notes, contracts, and other instruments made and entered into on behalf of The LoVVe Project.
Board Governance
- Work closely with the Board of Directors to seek their involvement in evolving the organization’s mission, policy decisions, fundraising, and to increase the overall visibility of the organization.
- Communicate effectively with the Board and provide, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to function properly and make informed decisions
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Minimum of three years’ experience in a leadership position, preferably in a nonprofit organization.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain and generate new revenue streams and maintain the financial health of an organization.
- Experience working with a board of directors.
- Demonstrated ability to establish relationships with individuals and organizations including funders, partner agencies, and government agencies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to envision and convey the organization’s mission and strategic future to the staff, board of directors, volunteers, donors, and overall community.
- Excellent organizational management skills with the ability to coach, manage, and develop high-performance teams and set and achieve strategic goals.
- Solid organizational skills, including planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation.
- Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, and reporting.
- Must be a disciplined “self starter” and willing to work irregular hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
- Familiarity with the community served by TLP.
- Awareness of and commitment to working with diverse populations.
- Demonstrated commitment to TLP’s values.
- Demonstrated competence leveraging web-based software and collaboration tools (Google Suite).
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field.
- Experience working with food-access organizations or related missions.
- Bilingual English/Spanish.
- Previous experience with the community served by TLP.
Salary and Benefits
Salary Range- $70,000-$80,000
Benefits- $300/month health stipend through Slice/Thatch, Unlimited paid time off, Paid Holidays
The LoVVe Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of The LoVVe Project in all areas of employment, such as recruitment and promotion, to provide equal opportunity at all times without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin.
Please visit https://www.thelovveproject.org/careers for the full job posting, including information on how to apply.
