Executive Director - Experienced - On-site

Canal Shores is a unique, well-respected, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to enrich the lives of adults and children by providing recreational opportunities and environmental stewardship. Canal Shores accomplishes this mission through four main pillars : Golf, Youth Development, Community Engagement, and Ecology. Headquartered in Evanston, IL, Canal Shores is a multi-use property with golf as the centerpiece. “The Evans at Canal Shores” is located in both Evanston, IL (11 holes and a golf training campus) and Wilmette, IL (8 holes) on Chicago’s North Shore. It is on this golf course that Canal Shores provides youth golf and development opportunities as well as open community gathering space for various activities. In addition, Canal Shores invites the public to enjoy its bird sanctuary, 3-plus miles of walking paths carved out next to the “Canal,” and the ecological wonders that surround the property. Canal Shores is governed by a Board of Trustees currently consisting of 17 Trustees with several Board elected committees.

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Job Description

Canal Shores is seeking an executive management level professional who will report to the Board of Trustees via the President of the Board as the main liaison. This individual will oversee Canal Shore’s general administration, various programs, and strategic planning and execution, with a primary focus on fundraising, financial management, marketing, and community relations. The Executive Director will work closely with Kemper Sports Management on all golf operations and activities and should have a solid understanding of the game of golf and the golfing experience. This person will also be the primary liaison and the “face of Canal Shores” with all internal and external partners and neighbors. This individual will need to build close working relationships with all essential Canal Shores partners including volunteers, key donors, and community and local government / jurisdiction leadership. These partnerships include, but are not limited to the following : Kemper Sports, First Tee – Greater Chicago, Western Golf Association, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, The Golf Practice, American Legion Post 42, Northwestern University, Evanston Hospital, The Canal Shores Lumberjacks and golf course greenskeepers / maintenance crew, and the City of Evanston and Village of Wilmette governance, park district leadership, and Council Members.

This individual will be responsible for building upon the organization’s already existing fundraising capabilities to bring Canal Shores’ total charitable fundraising to the quarter to half a million-dollar range annually. This will be accomplished by implementing baseline annual fundraising events and practices, and building a long-term sustainable development strategy in addition to creating new revenue streams through innovative activities / events and programs.

This individual must have an outgoing and energetic personality, positive attitude, strong work ethic, solid communication skills (both oral and written), and be self-motivated, well-organized, accountable, and work well both independently and with others in teams. The ideal candidate should have at least seven years of practical related development and management experience.

The training for this position will be on the job and provided by the Board President, golf course management team, and other Trustees as appropriate.

Salary and Benefits

Canal Shores will provide a starting annual salary ranging from $105,000 to $125,000, commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications, with the potential for compensation growth based on job performance and fundraising / financial success meeting or exceeding annual goals. In addition, Canal Shores will provide the following benefits : an individual-sponsored health care plan, Paid Time Off (PTO) of three weeks (15 business days) per year for vacation / personal time / sick leave, plus 10 paid holidays.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Canal Shores relationships with all internal staff and volunteers, community / neighborhood, golf course operation partners, and donor community (both individuals and organizations)
• Initiate dialogue and cultivate ongoing interactions with potential donors
• Educate potential donors about Canal Shore’s mission and initiate requests for financial support to grow and expand the corporation’s mission
• Arrange and conduct meetings with potential donors
• Identify, create, and implement new revenue generating programs / events
• Conduct internal analysis and report on progress to Board of Trustees through President, as main liaison, concerning developments regarding fundraising and revenue generation, and the impact on golf course operations
• Assist the Board of Trustees in making informed decisions by communicating accurate and detailed reports in an effective and timely manner
• Assist the Board of Trustees in identifying and recruiting potential future members with development experience who could help advance the mission
• Effectively use specific Canal Shores selected technology and databases in addition to standard PC applications for maintaining accurate records, effective collaboration, and reporting to Board of Trustees
• Recommend and help implement procedural improvements / efficiencies
• Implement long-term and sustainable development strategy
• Supervise and direct other Canal Shores staff, including the Ecology Coordinator, and develop a long-term staffing strategy working with the Board of Trustees
• Perform some general administrative duties, including data input, word processing, correspondence, record keeping, etc.
• Perform various other duties as assigned by the President, other officers, Board of Trustees, and golf course management team

Qualifications

Other Attributes

Strong operational management and fundraising / not-for-profit awareness; marketing oriented; professional in demeanor and presentation; commitment to hard work, excellence, and goal accomplishment; high energy; business-like communicator familiar with structure and deadlines; ability to effectively present ideas in detail at the board level; strong commitment to the highest ethical business practices.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to Dan Niemiec at dniemiec@canalshores.org by February 7, 2025 .

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Salary : $105,000 - $125,000