Executive Director

Full-time | Hybrid | San Francisco, CAhttps://firstgraduate.org/careers/https://firstgraduate.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Final-First-Graduate-ED-Position-Description.pdfThe OpportunityFirst Graduate stands ready for our next chapter of growth and impact. We're seeking anExecutive Director who can both strengthen our organizational infrastructure and champion ourmission externally — someone who is equally comfortable managing budgets and buildingdonor relationships, overseeing daily operations, and inspiring community partners.Our ideal candidate brings deep nonprofit operational experience, proven fundraising success,and authentic passion for educational equity, understanding that sustainable impact requiresboth exceptional programs and the resources to deliver them. They're energized by buildingrelationships with donors and partners, know how to translate a mission into a narrative thatinspires investment, and can think strategically about the next three to five years of growth.If you're a nonprofit leader called to make a measurable impact on educational equity in SanFrancisco, this is your opportunity to lead transformational change. This position offers the rareopportunity to lead an organization with a 25-year track record of proven impact, a committedteam and board, and tremendous growth potential. The incoming Executive Director inherits anorganization performing at the top of its field, with real growth underway. Our model has beenrefined and validated through decades of success, and SFUSD partners are actively requestingour services at additional schools. The momentum this leader will build on includes:● 690 youth are currently served across the middle school, high school, and college &career continuum, up from 300 the year prior● 99% of seniors graduate from high school and enroll in college immediately, comparedto a 46% national average for first-generation students● 78% of First Graduate students complete a four-year degree within six years of enrolling— more than three times the national completion rate for first-generation students● Expanding into a new middle school (Visitacion Valley) and a new high school in-schooladvising partnership (Lowell), with high school enrollment projected to nearly doubleyear-over-year● A growing career pipeline, anchored by a partnership with Deloitte and $239,200 inscholarships awarded annually● 11 new corporate and foundation funders added over the past three years, diversifyingthe organization's funding baseKey ResponsibilitiesThis is a hands-on role split roughly evenly between internal operations and externalrelationship building. Fundraising and relationship building are central to this role. The ExecutiveDirector is expected to be personally and visibly engaged in resource development and externalpartnerships.Organizational Leadership & Operations (~50%)● Serve as chief executive, ensuring strong execution across programs, finance, operations,and people management● Lead a team of 13-20, fostering professional development and a culture of accountabilityand collaboration● Build and sustain an inclusive, high-performing culture where staff feel valued,supported, and set up to grow● Own budgeting, forecasting, and financial management with the finance committee andBoard, ensuring fiscal health and strong internal controls● Ensure compliance with nonprofit governance, labor law, and reporting requirements,and proactively manage organizational risk● Strengthen internal systems and processes to support operational excellence and growth● Ensure programs are delivered with quality, consistency, and measurable impact● Serve as primary liaison to the Board, providing regular updates on financialperformance, fundraising progress, and organizational health● Partner with the Board on strategic planning, governance, and boarddevelopment/recruitmentDevelopment & External Relations (~50%)● Serve as the organization's lead fundraiser, personally cultivating, soliciting, andstewarding major donors, foundations, and institutional funders● Develop and execute a fundraising strategy supporting a ~$2.5M annual budget● Partner with the Board to activate members as fundraisers and ambassadors● Maintain high-quality stewardship and reporting for existing funders● Identify and pursue new funding opportunities aligned with long-term sustainability● Serve as First Graduate's primary external spokesperson, building relationships withschool partners, community organizations, and education leaders across the Bay Area● Increase organizational visibility through strategic outreach, storytelling, andcommunicationsQualifications & ExperienceRequired● Genuine passion for educational equity and First Graduate's mission● High emotional intelligence, integrity, and authenticity, with a relationship-drivenleadership style● Bachelor's degree and 8-10+ years of nonprofit leadership experience, with significantoperational and management responsibility● Demonstrated experience managing organizations or departments with budgets, ideallyin the $2M+ range and teams of 10+ staff● Proven track record of personally leading fundraising efforts, including major donor andinstitutional funder relationships● Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and managing restrictedfunds● Experience working closely with and supporting a nonprofit Board of Directors● Experience scaling programs, revenue, and organizational impact, with comfortnavigating complexity and change● Inclusive, equity-driven leadership style, with a track record of developing, retaining, andmotivating diverse teamsPreferred Qualifications● Background in education, youth development, or college access● Experience with K-12 school systems● Familiar with the San Francisco nonprofit/philanthropic community● Capital campaign or major gifts fundraising experienceOur Team: Culture and BenefitsFirst Graduate is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion andconnectedness. We grow and learn better together with a diverse team of employees. Thecollective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation,self-expression, and talent that our employees bring is an important part of our culture. Inrecruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms ofyour education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation oforigin, age, languages spoken, veteran status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, andbeliefs.We back that commitment with a total rewards package designed to support our team well: asalary range of $170,000-$200,000; generous vacation, personal days, paid holidays, and sickleave; comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid premiumsfor employees; a 403(b) retirement plan; life insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, andshort- and long-term disability coverage. We also provide dedicated funds for ongoingprofessional development and growth.How to ApplyPlease submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to: Susannah Sallin, Search Consultant toNonprofits at apply@sallinsearch.com with "First Graduate Executive Director" in the subjectline. We will respond to all applicants. Thank you.