Executive Director, Boston

About Cradles to Crayons 

Cradles to Crayons (C2C) provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. 

Founded in 2002, C2C meets a critical need as many children 12 years old and younger live in low-income and/or homeless situations. These living conditions can have negative effects on self-esteem as poverty can lead to increased social and emotional behavioral challenges; it impacts early education since half of children living in poverty start 1st grade up to two years developmentally behind their peers; and safety may be compromised as children living in poverty have increased risk of injury. 

C2C collects new and nearly new children's items through grassroots community drives and corporate donations. Donations are then processed and packaged by volunteers and are distributed to disadvantaged children free of charge through a collaborative network of social service agencies and school partners. 

While meeting the immediate needs of low-income children, C2C also sets a foundation for lasting change by providing meaningful, tangible volunteer opportunities to thousands of individuals and families and hundreds of corporations each year by organizing clothing collections, hosting fundraisers or working in the "Giving Factory" warehouse. It provides parents an opportunity to teach empathy to their children by example through family volunteer opportunities. 

C2C earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the last 10 years. Only 2% of charities rated have received this distinction, differentiating C2C from its peers, exemplifying the high standard of service at C2C and indicating that C2C outperforms most other charities in America. 

Boston 

Founded in Boston, C2C has grown in Massachusetts and beyond: Greater Philadelphia in 2006, Chicagoland in 2016, and NYC in 2020 through C2C’s innovative, national online donation platform, Giving Factory Direct. 

C2C Boston’s diverse Service Partners provide a crucial link between the organization and the children they serve. Service Partners are able to place orders based on the needs of the communities they serve, and C2C Boston in turn provides everyday essentials. Through this collaboration, children are empowered at home, at school and at play. 

For more information on Cradles to Crayons, please visit here.

The Opportunity 

The Executive Director, Boston (ED), will be the leader and strategist of the Boston market, while also partnering with C2C National, in support of the organization’s mission. The ED will be an external advocate and fundraiser, as well as leading an internal team of 30 staff, and a robust logistical warehouse operation. As leader, the ED will spearhead overall management of the market, overseeing fundraising, programs, facilitates management, and financials for a $6.5M organization. 

Reporting directly into the Vice President of Operations at the National level, the ED will continue to lead a high-performing market as it grows in impact and in reach. Additionally, the ED be a comfortable and confident external facing presence with the ability to build relationships across different audiences, including National, staff, volunteers, corporate partners, local Board Members, and the children and families C2C serves. The ED will be the brand ambassador and champion C2C in the community as the organization continues to explore innovative avenues to bolster support from different constituent groups. 

The ED will be integral in developing and implementing engagement strategies with a focus on: 

• Corporate Engagement: By providing meaningful and engaging volunteer opportunities to foster teambuilding, C2C’s mission and model strongly resonates with corporations. C2C will work to maintain and build holistic partnerships and draw upon resources from the corporate community including volunteer hours, product acquisition, financial and pro-bono support. 
• Family Engagement: C2C provides tangible and meaningful opportunities for families who share a desire to embrace the value of service to help children and families in need. Anyone age 5 years and above can volunteer at the Giving Factory warehouse and have a fulfilling service experience. C2C will work to cultivate, maintain and continue to build a base of family supporters to engage in its mission. 

Candidate Profile 

The following offers an aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile; we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups. 

A Passion for the Mission 

The ED must be passionate about the issue of childhood poverty and the overall mission of C2C. This leader must appreciate the importance of driving social change through civic engagement in a dynamic and high growth environment. The ED will embody the values and mission of C2C and, as a result, will inspire and motivate others. Additionally, the ED will be a culturally competent leader, and will demonstrate a commitment to the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The ED will be energized by the prospect of providing leadership for the organization’s staff and local Board of Directors in developing awareness, comfort and confidence to address and champion equity in all aspects of the organization and the communities they serve. This leader will have an eye consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the market to its changing environment.

An Ambassador and Fundraiser for C2C Boston 

The ED is the public face of C2C Boston, sharing its mission and vision with the outside world and helping to increase the organization’s visibility. The ED will bring a propensity for engagement to the role. This leader is flexible, energetic, positive, creative, and ambitious, as well as experienced in establishing strong working relationships in furtherance of an organization’s mission. The ED will be a successful partnership builder and fundraiser and will enthusiastically convey C2C’s goals to existing and potential new donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations. Very comfortable interacting with diverse audiences, the ED will be an effective communicator who brings passion for C2C’s mission as its spokesperson. 

Strategic and Visionary Leadership 

The ED is a strategic, tactical, and entrepreneurial leader able to support a vision for C2C Boston’s next chapter while simultaneously executing on its current strategic priorities alongside the National team. This leader will also embrace the 'hands-on' nature of the mission and this leadership opportunity within varied settings. In tandem with the national executive team, the ED will provide critical input in the development of strategies needed to advance the work of a mission-based organization, from funding to mission delivery. The ED will develop a strong and transparent working relationship with the VP, Operations, other market EDs, and will successfully leverage the skills and talents of a local Board to create and execute on strategic goals, while working closely with the organization’s various constituents on implementation and evaluation 

An Expert in Operations and Nonprofit Management 

The ED is an executive with strong staff, operational and financial management experience. This leader will bring experience building and leading high-performing teams of the highest degree of professionalism and guiding team members’ growth and development. The ED possesses the ability to inspire a staff at various stages of their careers and volunteers with a diverse set of skills and provide a productive work environment and professional growth opportunities. The ED will understand and implement best nonprofit management practices and planning, including compelling communication messages and effective marketing strategies, management succession and, most importantly, ensuring that overall day-to-day operations are aligned with strategic goals. The ED understands the importance of a robust partnership with the C2C National leadership. 

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role will be $180,000 - $190,000 and will be competitive and commensurate with experience. 

Contact 

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Alicia Salerno. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential. 

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process. 

Diversity and Inclusiveness are core values at Cradles to Crayons, and they continuously strive to be a team where everyone feels welcome and supported. It is the policy of Cradles to Crayons to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to express interest. 

About Koya Partners 

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. 

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams. 

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.