Executive Director

Job Summary 

Sophia’s Fund’s mission is to provide support to families who have a child with pediatric cancer. The Executive Director (ED) will have the opportunity to make a positive impact and bring joy-filled moments to families throughout New England who are dealing with the financial and emotional stress from the effects of pediatric cancer.  Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will partner with the Board for overall strategic and operational responsibility for Sophia’s Fund, including fundraising and execution of Sophia Fund programming. The ED will develop partnerships with local pediatric hospitals (or treatment units) and familiarize themselves with the common challenges families impacted by pediatric cancer face. This position provides the opportunity to focus on fundraising and board development in addition to being the smile-maker for children and their families through Sophia Support financial assistance and Project Smile toy donations. In time as the organization grows, the ED will also have responsibility to manage staff, volunteers, interns, and special committees as the position is expected to move from part-time to full-time. 

Major Areas of Responsibility 

General Operations

• Ensure ongoing and consistent high quality of financial oversight and administration,  fundraising, communications, and systems management; establish timelines and  resources needed to achieve strategic goals. Data management and establishing clear metrics to measure success of programming is essential. 
• Enhance and grow Sophia’s Fund’s community partnerships and ensure Sophia’s Fund’s image is active and visible in the community and by  working closely with other professional, civic, and private organizations. 
• Responsible for fiscal management that generally anticipates operating within the  approved budget, ensures maximum resource utilization, and maintenance of the  organization in a positive financial position with assistance from the Bookkeeper. 
• Continue to develop and grow the Board of Directors, founding official committees to best support the growth of the organization. 

Fundraising & Events 

• Donor Stewardship: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with current and potential donors, including individuals, major gift donors, foundations, and corporations. Ensure donors are regularly updated on the impact of their contributions and recognize their generosity appropriately.
• Fundraising Strategy Development: Enhance and implement fundraising strategies and goals to grow our Sophia Support, Project Smile, and CureQuest programming. Create and execute fundraising plans for annual campaigns, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, and planned giving.
• Grant Writing: Identify, write, and submit grant proposals to foundations, government agencies, and other funding sources. Communicate the impact of Sophia Fund programming in a strategic manner in compliance with grant requirements and deadlines. 
• Event Management: Develop a calendar of events that will annually take place and serve as primary fundraisers. Expand success of current events including Sophia’s Supreme Ski-athon and Sophia’s Supreme Scream Halloween Event.

Program Management

• Pediatric Partnerships: Maintain and expand partnerships with pediatric oncology units at hospitals across New England (essential for delivering our programming). Understanding the needs of pediatric cancer families and ensuring support for a diverse range of families most in need. 
• Procedures & Data Management: Ensure program policies and procedures are kept accurate and up to date. Track dollar for dollar the Sophia’s Fund giving and develop clear goals and metrics for measuring program success.
• Storytelling: Capture the impact of Sophia Fund programming to clearly communicate where donor support is utilized. Use social media to demonstrate the impact Sophia’s Fund has on the pediatric cancer community and highlight our differentiators. 
• Sophia Support: Review applications for Sophia Support financial assistance and send out financial grants to approved families. 
• CureQuest: Partner with hospitals, clinics, or organizations to identify where Sophia’s Fund will donate restricted funding for pediatric cancer research.
• Project Smile: Collect in-kind donations of hospital-approved wishlist items, gift cards, and other toys to be delivered to parents and kids staying inpatient for treatment. 

Qualifications 

The ED will be thoroughly committed to Sophia’s Mission mission. All candidates should have  proven organizational, leadership and relationship management experience in a non-profit setting. Prior experience working with pediatric cancer, cancer, or other critical illnesses is  highly valued.  

Specific requirements include: 

• Proven success in fundraising and donor stewardship with the ability to engage and partner with a wide variety of stakeholders. 
• Strong organizational management skills with the ability to develop Board and staff, set and  achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a persuasive and passionate  approach to marketing and storytelling the importance and impact of Sophia’s Fund that drives donor support.
• Team player that is also self-directed and able to collaborate effectively with the board, community partners, and donors. 
• Sensitivity and special consideration when working with a diverse group of patients and families that Sophia’s Fund serves. 
• Bachelor’s degree, MBA, or MA of Nonprofit Administration is highly valued.

This position is part-time, non-benefitted with an estimated 20 hours per week of work. Flexible, remote work hours with occasional need for in-person event management (fundraisers, annual event) in MA/NH.