Mission of the Role
To secure long-term financial sustainability, grow diversified funding, strengthen governance and operational systems, and lead a high-performing team to deliver mission impact at scale.
Outcomes (12-Month Results)
- Fundraising and Sustainability
- Raise sufficient funds to cover Executive Director salary and core operating costs (target: USD $250k).
- Establish a minimum 12-month cash runway.
- Secure 3–5 new donor partnerships.
- Convert at least 30% of one-time donors into recurring supporters.
- Deliver a 3-year fundraising and sustainability plan.
- Program Impact and Growth
- Maintain program quality while supporting measured growth toward the 2030 goal (10,000 students; 500 Conversation Partners).
- Conversation Partner and student satisfaction ≥ 85%.
- Conduct an impact evaluation of the program.
- Strengthen MEL systems to support funder reporting and learning.
- Organizational Leadership and Team Performance
- Provide effective line management to the volunteer staff.
- Design a transition plan from volunteer-led to salaried senior staff.
- Establish clear KPIs and accountability structures for all functional areas.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and adaptive organizational culture grounded in decolonial values.
- Support leadership development for emerging staff as the organization grows.
- Conduct annual performance reviews for senior staff.
- Governance and Compliance
- Deliver timely quarterly reports to the Board.
- Ensure 100% on-time grant, financial, and legal reporting.
- Maintain zero major compliance or governance issues.
- Brand, Partnerships and External Engagement
- Represent Conversations Unbound at 2–4+ sector events.
- Strengthen organizational visibility among funders, universities, and migration-focused partners through media and partnerships.
- Formalize partnerships with at least 3 strategic institutions (e.g., funders, universities, NGOs).
Key Responsibilities
- Lead fundraising strategy and donor development.
- Oversee programs, finance, HR, and operations.
- Strengthen systems for planning, budgeting, data, reporting.
- Guide senior leadership team and drive performance culture.
- Serve as primary liaison to the Board.
Core Competencies
- Fundraising Mastery
- Strategic Thinking
- Relationship Building
- Communication Excellence
- Operational Discipline
- Leadership Maturity
- Execution and Accountability
- Mission Alignment (Decolonial Practice)
- Adaptability
- Data-Informed Decision-Making
Culture Fit
- Deep commitment to decolonial, equity-centered practice
- Transparency in financial and program decision-making
- High ethical standards and accountability
- Collaborative, non-hierarchical leadership style
- Empathy balanced with clear expectations and results
Experience Requirements
- 5-6 years leadership in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations
- Proven track record of significant fundraising
- Managed budgets of $800k or above
- Experience working with Boards and governance structures
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
Preferred
- Lived experience of forced displacement
- Fluency in Spanish, French, or Arabic
A-Player Benchmark
- Exceeded fundraising targets for 3+ years
- Built sustainable, diversified funding models
- Well-networked with donors and philanthropic actors
- Developed next-line leaders
- Left behind stronger systems and culture
- Demonstrated measurable mission impact
First 90-Day Expectations
- Identify and build relationships with potential major donors, at least 2-3 ongoing conversations
- Present a fundraising and sustainability plan to the Board
- Stabilize team and define KPIs for all departments
- Fix any operational or compliance gaps
- Develop a 12-month execution roadmap
To Apply:
Submit your application to to applications@conversationsunbound.org. Please include the following: 1) resume, 2) cover letter detailing how your experience aligns with the above qualifications, and 3) a 1-page description of your strategy to raise philanthropic funds for Conversations Unbound over 1 year, including which funders to target, why, and how given that the organization has no major donors at present.
Conversations Unbound is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of forced displacement.