THE ORGANIZATION

Hope in a Box is a nonprofit with a simple goal: to ensure that every student feels safe, welcome and included at school, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. The organization was founded on the premise that through literature, educators can fight stereotypes, engender a sense of belonging, cultivate empathy, and save lives.

Since 2019, the organization has provided “Hope in a Box” — a unique, end-to-end program that helps educators build an LGBTQ-inclusive classroom –- to hundreds of schools across the country. Educators receive curated books with LGBTQ characters, detailed curriculum for these books tied to Common Core State Standards, and extensive training and mentorship on how to cultivate an inclusive classroom. Hope in a Box builds lasting relationships with our partner educators to ensure they feel supported over the long term to do this important work. Hope in a Box is a thought leader and advocate for LGBTQ-inclusive education at a moment when it is needed more than ever.

Hope in a Box has quickly grown into a national program that has impacted over 50,000 students in over 500 schools. Its goal remains the same: to make LGBTQ-inclusive education the norm, not the exception so that youth feel safe and welcome in their schools, communities and families. Learn more at www.hopeinabox.org.

THE POSITION
 
Hope in a Box seeks an entrepreneurial Executive Director (“E.D.”) with creativity, passion, and a founder mentality who
has the skills and perseverance to run the day-to-day operations of the organization today and the vision and drive to scale the organization and its impact into the future. The E.D. will be a visionary leader with a personal passion for the work of Hope in a Box and the LGBTQ+ community it serves.

The E.D. role is a wonderful opportunity for a focused individual who thrives as a solo operator with a growth mindset. The E.D. will be responsible for ensuring Hope in a Box’s ongoing operations and financial stability and building out a team to support the organization as it scales. They will have (or be prepared to learn) skills in fundraising, strategic planning, and organizational/program leadership and growth, as well as a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

RESPONSIBILITIES

​

Organizational Leadership

​

• Develop and execute a multi-year vision and annual operating plan for Hope in a Box that allows it to provide increased support to schools and teachers throughout the country

• Scale up the organization through strategic increases in headcount and contract workers to support current operations and future growth

• Work with and report to the board of directors to ensure appropriate governance and oversight

 

Financial Management and Fundraising

​

• Provide financial management of Hope in a Box, including by developing an annual budget and a multi-year financial sustainability plan

• Design and implement a fundraising program that increases support from diverse funders and ensures the 
  organization’s financial sustainability

 

Program Management

 

• Manage Hope in a Box’s program development, determining the most effective ways to meet demand for LGBTQ-inclusive literature, curriculum, and community

• Work with educators and experts to strengthen and evaluate core programs, including by designing metrics to measure and communicate impact

 

External Relations

​

• Serve as media spokesperson and champion for Hope in a Box to press, educators and other external constituencies
• Nurture and develop relationships with external stakeholders, including community representatives, funders, public officials, nonprofit leaders, educators, etc.
• Create and execute an effective marketing and communications program

 

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

Hope in a Box encourages interest from a diverse candidate pool and seeks applicants who have an appropriate combination of education, training, skills, lived experiences and voice to thrive in this role. The requirements listed below are guidelines. Hope in a Box realizes that candidates may not satisfy every requirement or meet every qualification listed.

Experience

 

• Experience leading an organization, business or nonprofit unit or program

• Strategic planning and execution experience and a record of delivering results

• Experience fundraising from private and/or public sources to support an organization’s programmatic mission and development priorities

• Experience building and maintaining relationships with a wide array of stakeholders

• Experience serving as an external and public voice of an organization or program and engaging diverse perspectives

• Experience in financial management, including budgeting and reporting

 

COMPETENCIES/ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will have or be:

​

• A visionary and creative growth mindset for supercharging Hope in a Box’s impact paired with the ability to drive execution

• Passion, drive, and focus, and the ability to rally diverse stakeholders around common goals

• An effective advocate for LGBTQ-inclusive education with a commitment to and passion for Hope in a Box’s mission

• Ability to thrive in an unstructured environment with substantial independent work

• Superior communication, financial, and management skills

• Commitment to promoting a multicultural environment where diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are embedded into all aspects of operations

 

To be considered for this position or for additional information on the opportunity, please send a resume and cover letter to or contact:

​

David N. Randall

Principal

Randall Search Associates

415 769 4210

david@randallsearchassociates.com

​

​

Hope in a Box is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity including race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, educational attainment, disability, and geography. We build a culture that reflects the values of equity and inclusion we seek through our work.