Executive Director

Lift Up Carolinas

Lift Up Carolinas (formerly Assistance League of Charlotte) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) member volunteer-driven organization committed to improving the lives of children and families through impactful, community-based philanthropic programs. As we enter our 33rd year of serving families in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, we remain steadfast in our mission: We feed, we clothe, we mentor, we educate.

Lift Up Carolinas funds its initiatives primarily through revenue from its thriving thrift shop, supplemented by grants and donor contributions. These efforts enable us to reinvest resources into the community through six key philanthropic programs. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, 214 member volunteers dedicated 57,505 service hours to support local children, while 99 nonmember volunteers contributed 5,301 hours.

The Executive Director, in a newly created position, will be pivotal in advancing Lift Up Carolinas’ mission by leading a dynamic and comprehensive fundraising strategy beyond thrift shop operations. This role requires an entrepreneurial self-starter with a passion for philanthropy, strong interpersonal skills, and a creative approach to resource development and fundraising. Reporting directly to the Board President, the Executive Director will collaborate with volunteers and staff to establish and execute ambitious fundraising goals and strategies. Key responsibilities include developing funding strategies, managing budgets, supervising staff, and acting as the organization’s spokesperson. The Executive Director will also drive organizational growth, ensure policy compliance, and support operational efficiency.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategic Planning:

  • Collaborate with the Board of Directors to develop and implement strategic plans that align with our organization’s mission and values.
  • Lead the organization in setting clear goals and objectives, measuring progress, and adapting strategies to achieve long-term impact.
  • Work in partnership with the Board of Directors to cultivate a culture of collaboration and accountability among volunteers, board members, and staff, promoting shared ownership of organizational goals.
  • Ensure effective communication and engagement with all stakeholders, including Board members, Advisory Council, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners, to align efforts and priorities.

 

Community Awareness:

  • Cultivate a mutually beneficial working relationship with community groups, other nonprofits, and organizations.
  • Serve as the primary spokesperson for news media interviews and through public speaking engagements.
  • Attend local events to raise awareness among corporate donors and volunteers about our organization.

 

Fund Development:

  • Develop and implement comprehensive fund development strategies to secure financial support from individual donors, corporate sponsors, grantors, and other funding sources.
  • Attend committee meetings and actively collaborate with the Grants Chair and committee members to provide input and support in identifying potential grantors, writing, submitting, and managing grant applications, ensuring compliance with all reporting requirements.
  • Establish and maintain a comprehensive donor database to effectively track contributions, donor engagement, and relationships.

Finance:

  • Work with the Finance Committee to develop and recommend an annual budget for board and membership approval.
  • Manage the organization’s resources within budgetary guidelines and in accordance with current laws and regulations.

Human Resources Management:

  • Navigate the unique dynamics of a membership-driven organization to achieve program goals and organizational objectives.
  • Foster a positive work and volunteer environment that prioritizes diversity and fosters a sense of belonging.
  • Supervise and manage the organization’s employees.
  • Lead efforts to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and highly qualified staff, ensuring ongoing professional growth and team effectiveness.
  • Ensure compliance with the organization’s Employee Management Guidebook for Supervisors and other relevant policies.

Other:

  • Resourceful and capable of working independently in a small-staff environment.
  • Flexible availability to attend meetings, donor events, and community speaking engagements to support outreach and partnership development.
  • Knowledge of Microsoft 365, TEAMS, and Excel would be helpful.

 

Qualifications:

  • 3 – 5+ years’ experience as the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field. Master’s Degree is desired.
  • Excellence in general management with the ability to coach staff, manage and develop high-performance teams (including outside consultants), set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget
  • Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships
  • Strong fundraising experience that engages a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate presenter

 

Key Competencies:

  • Ability and sensitivity to appreciate the points of view of the board members, other agencies/organizations, and the community, including a keen awareness of their needs and how to build collaborative partnerships
  • Ability to efficiently respond to questions from staff and members of the community
  • Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or board of directors
  • Ability to interview, hire, and train employees; plan and assign tasks; appraise performance; address complaints, and resolve problems
  • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; exhibit independent judgment in the development, implementation and evaluation of plans, procedures and policies

Candidates will be subject to a criminal background check, credit check, and verification of references.

Salary Range:

$80,000 – $100,000

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter (include your experience relating to the five criteria above) to: president@lucarolinas.org

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job classification. They are not to be construed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned.

Lift Up Carolinas’ policy is to provide equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status. Lift Up Carolinas will engage in an interactive process with employees requesting medical or religious accommodations.