Executive Director

Organizational Profile

Vision

Together, we see neighbors serving neighbors to foster community connection and to live independent and healthy lives.

Mission

Hearts and Hands connects caring volunteers with older adults by providing transportation, in-home support, and caregiver respite to uphold their dignity, improve their quality of life, enhance their ability to live in their homes of choice, and assist their primary caregivers.

History

Hearts and Hands was founded in 2003 by Rev. Mary Ann Pula, an associate pastor at the Akron United Methodist Church. The program was initially designed to address transportation barriers to rural communities such as Akron. Rev. Pula built an interfaith coalition among the faith communities in Akron to pool volunteers to assist with transportation. As the program grew, it became noticeable that older adults needed additional assistance in their homes, such as minor home repairs, laundry assistance, changing lightbulbs, etc., to remain independent, and this was work that neighborly volunteers could assist. All services are designed to be neighbor-helping-neighbor, which includes conversation and reducing social isolation. During COVID, however, social isolation became even more prevalent, and the program began to address the issue intentionally by adding a third service pillar—companionship.

The program has grown from servicing Akron to Erie County and Eastern Niagara County (North Tonawanda to Middleport Corridor).

Executive Director Tenure

2003-2008 Rev. Mary Ann Pula (Founder)

2008-2015 James Bender

2016-2019 Kathleen Oczek

2019-Present Aaron Carlson

Team

Hearts and Hands is led by a volunteer board of fifteen individuals. Currently, 53% of the board members are women, and 13% identify as people of color or LGBTQ.

The professional staff includes three full-time staff members (including the Executive Director) and two part-time staff members.

The accounting function is outsourced.

As an agency whose primary purpose is connecting volunteers to older adults in the community, our primary service delivery method is engaging 258 volunteers.

Endowment: No endowment is currently established. Establishing an endowment is being considered as part of our next five-year strategic plan.

Fundraising: Two campaigns with a target of $53,000.

• The Annual Campaign (individuals, civic organizations, and businesses) has a goal of $43,000 for 2025. Board support in 2024 was $10,800, or 25% of the annual campaign goal.
• The Faith-in-Action from partner congregations has a goal of $10,000 per year.

Event Fundraising: Solicitation of $5,000 in sponsorships for volunteer appreciation events.

Grant Writing/Development: $330,000

Gifts-in-Kind: $160,000

Contract Development: $212,705

Strategic Plan

We are currently developing our 2025-2030 strategic plan.

Service Portfolio

Neighbor-Serving-Neighbor Program 2024 Statistics

• 7,118 requests completed for transportation, in-home support, and caregiver respite.
• 90,303 miles driven by volunteers to assist the community.
• 7,737.25 hours donated by volunteers to provide services to their neighbors.

In February 2025, we signed a contract with WNYICC to provide screening and health navigation services to the Medicaid 1115 population.

Job Description

Title: Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Start Date: June 30, 2025

Hours: 40 hours per week/exempt

Salary: $75,000-85,000 annual

Benefits:

70% Health

3% Match Simple IRA

$400 FSA

40 Hours Sick

Vacation starts at 80 hours per year.

12 Holidays

Christmas Eve to New Year's Day Vacation

The Executive Director (ED) supports the care recipients, volunteers, staff, and board members in working toward fulfilling the vision and mission of the agency. The ED ensures ongoing programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, establishing strategic partnerships, establishing a secure pipeline of volunteer development, acquiring the needed funding and resources to execute strategic priorities, and ensuring consistent quality of finance and administration, communications, and systems.

The Executive Director must possess the following:

• Strong management, oral and written communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of older adult services, trauma-informed care, and case management.
• Build strategic partnerships with various community partners, including faith communities, community-based organizations, government, and the private sector.
• Ability to respond to crises and maintain agency reputation through emergencies related to individual safety, program impact, and community impact.
• Nonprofit or corporate management experience.
• Fund development and revenue generation experience.
• Financial management, development of, and adherence to complex operational budgets. Experience and skill in working with a Board of Directors.
• Ability to communicate the organization’s mission effectively to donors, volunteers, and the community.
• Previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence, including funders, partner agencies, and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to market agency to community stakeholders using various means.
• Management of personnel and ability to build and cultivate relationships with diverse employees.
• Experience with grant management and implementation of and adherence to regulatory compliance.
• High-level strategic thinking and planning. Ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers, and donors.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree preferred with five or more years of senior-level nonprofit management experience or equivalent experience.
• Valid New York State driver’s license.

Closing deadline of applications by April 25, 2025. Inquiries should not be sent to Hearts and Hands: Faith-in-Action, Inc. or Board members. We will contact you via email regarding next steps.

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Salary : $75,000 - $85,000