The Opportunity

United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg (UWGRP) is seeking a strategic, collaborative, community-minded, and innovative person to serve as its next President & CEO.

The ideal candidate will provide executive level leadership through representation and advocacy within the community and by raising awareness, building relationships, and raising funds to advance the mission of UWGRP.

The President & CEO will build relationships based on trust with organizational and community stakeholders. The next executive leader will have the ability to expand UWGRP’s reach across Greater Richmond and Petersburg and will be an integral part of leading collaborative efforts in the community.

Inspired by a genuine excitement and passion to deliver resources and support for Greater Richmond and Petersburg, the President & CEO will develop a clear vision for UWGRP’s next phase in partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, corporate, foundation and community partners. One of the main paths to success in this role will be skillfully balancing a wide array of interests and needs among diverse community partners. The President & CEO will be responsible for developing a thoughtful, fair, and equitable approach to UWGRP’s brand, program management, strategic initiatives, partnerships, fundraising and external relationships.

The next President & CEO will play a key role in the development, implementation, and operationalization of a new strategic direction that is in the process of being crafted. They will bring transformative leadership to all areas of UWGRP including fundraising, operations, financial performance, staffing, and culture. The President & CEO will expand funding streams, strengthen community relationships, and elevate UWGRP’s image in Greater Richmond and Petersburg.

Keys for Success Include:

• Representing the UWGRP in the business, donor, non-profit and civic communities
• Serving and collaborating with the Board as an integral partner to develop and implement the strategic direction and key initiatives of UWGRP
• Ensuring UWGRP is a key community leader, focused on innovation and driving positive change
• Ensuring the long-term and near-term financial viability of UWGRP by shepherding effective fundraising efforts and engaging the next generation of donors
• Creating, strengthening, and leading a culture of trust and credibility, internally at UWGRP and externally with the Greater Richmond & Petersburg community
• Embracing accountability for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• Facilitating consensus among UWGRP board, staff, donors, and community partners in its service area
• Attracting, leading, and retaining a diverse team of exceptional leaders, staff and volunteers

About United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg

United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg traces its roots back more than a century to when a group of concerned citizens got together to discuss how to help meet community needs. Over the 106 years that followed, this United Way has continually improved the lives of those in need. While the needs of the community have changed over time, the mission – to provide everyone with a clear path to success – has not. United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg serves the region’s neighborhoods and rural areas alike, providing direct services and support to partners in the cities of Richmond, Petersburg and Colonial Heights as well as the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan – 11 different localities in all. More than 138,000 friends and neighbors in the region live below the poverty line and more than one in four residents struggle to make ends meet. Working with more than 50 community partners and through the generosity and kindness of the community at large, United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg is creating lasting change – change that improves the quality of life in the region for all who live in Greater Richmond.

United Way is operated by a staff of 26 with an office in Richmond. UWGRP is overseen by an 18-member Board of Directors. United Way raises approximately $7 million annually through a combination of contributions and grants. It also administers Dominion Energy’s EnergyShare program which constitutes approximately $7 million in additional activity each year. United Way’s internal annual operating budget is approximately $3.5 million.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, attributes, and characteristics:

Visionary Leader

The President & CEO will be a forward-thinking visionary leader who is skilled at managing complex organizations. They will excel at building effective, productive, and cohesive teams where new ideas are always welcomed. They will be passionate about achieving real change and measurable outcomes for the community while guiding organizational growth. Continual growth and learning for the entire organization will be a priority.

Successful and Innovative Fundraiser

The President & CEO will be an enthusiastic and strategic fundraiser who can clearly define and convey the relevance of UWGRP’s work to new and existing funding streams. While collaborating with the board, this leader will be exceptional at exploring new ways to comprehensively invest in the Greater Richmond area. They will bring a keen understanding of the changing landscape of philanthropy, will have evidence of successful innovation in fundraising and be eager to engage the next generation in giving. The President & CEO will exude an authentic spirit enabling them to represent UWGRP with a wide range of donors, including corporate leaders, foundations, community partners and government agencies.

Mission Driven

The President & CEO will be energized by leading UWGRP in living out its vision and achieving its mission and values. They will be committed to solidifying the UWGRP into a clear leadership role among philanthropic organizations and community partners. They will be an empathetic leader that focuses on understanding their stakeholders and the community that they serve. The President & CEO will capitalize on the existing strengths of the organization and expand on the assets to accelerate impact for the community. One of the key ways they will do this is in partnership with other nonprofit leaders working as a team to address significant needs. Also, they will build strong programs and initiatives both through UWGRP and in partnership with community leaders.

Community Collaborator

United Way’s new executive leader will be emotionally intelligent, skilled at convening, listening to and seeking to understand the perspectives of a variety of constituents. This will enable the building of trust, inspiring new ideas, building effective relationships to achieve lofty stretch goals. They will have a demonstrated ability to foster collaboration among groups with varying opinions and priorities under a common goal while also giving everyone a sense of shared purpose and engagement in the critical work of UWGRP. Through collaboration and the development of partnerships, they will actively seek relationships with other organizations to move the mission forward. They will be solution-oriented, proactive and will utilize an impact-driven approach.

Champion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

The President & CEO will embrace the significant role the UWGRP can play in addressing barriers to the achievement of economic well-being, racial equality, and quality of life for many in the community. The President & CEO will be dedicated to listening, learning, and amplifying the voices of all. They will promote a workplace environment that that reflects the principles consistent with diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Competencies: Technical Competencies

• Ability to develop ideas and goals, as well as the strategies to achieve them within a complex organization and in a dynamic community
• Experience organizing and executing fundraising efforts of significant proportion.
• Management experience demonstrating the ability to lead a team of strong performers and ensuring accountability for excellent fiscal management
• Ability to interact with a wide range of individuals, such as corporate CEOs, senior level management, boards of directors, managers, employees, volunteers, vendors, clients, and others
• Organizational skills demonstrating the ability to manage several complex priorities and projects
• Knowledge of basic business principles and regulatory requirements applicable to non-profit organizations
• Ability to manage and use appropriate software and technology

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong commitment to the mission of United Way and helping those most in need in our community
• Strong sense of integrity, morality, and ethics
• Collaborative work style that empowers others to be their best
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills that are reflected in an ability to interact professionally as well as build trust with the Board, staff, and community and business leaders
• Resilient when facing challenges
• Proactive with a bias towards action and resolving conflicts
• Believes that asking for donations is an invitation to others to become a part of something meaningful and special
• Able to make decisions under high stress situations
• Able to embrace and effectively manage change

Education: Bachelor's degree preferred.

Experience: At least ten (10) years of leadership experience with strong planning, interpersonal communications, and networking skills. Nonprofit leadership experience is desirable. Extensive experience in the management of organizations of comparable size and mission. Candidates should demonstrate their (i) ability to make well-informed decisions and command the confidence and respect of stakeholders necessary to serve as the leader of the organization; (ii) experience in working with leaders of other organizations and businesses and building successful collaborations with them; (iii) skill and experience in leading and overseeing staff, budgets and successful revenue-producing operations; and (iv) skill and experience in setting goals and implementing strategies to achieve them. A track record of volunteer or professional work in the not-for-profit sector is preferred.

Compensation: Competitive compensation is offered for the role with a minimum starting salary range of $180,000 to $190,000 per year.

Benefits: UWGRP offers health, dental and vision insurance plans, as well as employer-paid short-term disability, long term disability and life insurance plans. The organization offers a 403(b) plan with an employer match. Employer contribution to Health Savings Account with qualified health plan is also available. A paid time off plan and 11 holidays are provided as well. Membership dues in various civic and/or business organizations are budgeted when UWGRP needs to be represented at those meetings (e.g., Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce)

To Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume and five references to:

HR@WarrenWhitney.com.

References will not be contacted until later in the process with the permission of the candidate. The search committee and the consultant understand the importance of confidentiality and that expression of interest may be only explorative in nature.

For best consideration, please respond by January 20, 2023.

United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.