Thrive Alliance
Leap Arts in Education: Executive Director
Thrive Alliance, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Leap seeks a strategic, creative, compassionate, and entrepreneurial executive director to provide the vision and strategic oversight that will lead the organization and its small and talented team, ensuring that Leap’s mission continues to thrive. The executive director will report to the board of directors and directly supervise two full-time staff members: the program director and operations manager, as well as a contract grant writer, a development specialist, and an outsourced finance team. Additionally, the program director and program manager will oversee school partnerships and manage an average of 25 teaching artists each year. The ideal candidate will be a proven fundraiser, collaborative leader, and advocate, deeply committed to equity and inclusion, and will continue the organization’s RTJI work that embeds these values across organizational practices, partnerships, and programming.
About Leap Arts in Education: Founded in 1979, Leap currently serves over 10,000 students across 33 Bay Area schools, with 40% of these students attending low-income schools. Our 10-15 week residencies place teaching artists, musicians, dancers and architects in local schools. In addition to building artistic skills, the residencies strengthen students' collaboration, communication, and critical thinking while building their confidence. In 2020, Leap built on its success and learnings by launching the collaboratively-run Racial Justice Training Institute (RJTI) - an intensive, eight-hour, artist-led training for teaching artists that strengthens Leap’s curriculum, workforce development, and program evaluations.
Responsibilities Fundraising and Resource Development (40%)
Lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and execution, with a focus on growing individual giving and major donor cultivation, in partnership with the development specialist
Oversee foundation and government grant strategy, in partnership with the grant specialist
Expand corporate partnerships and sponsorships
Identify and implement new earned-revenue opportunities
Organizational Leadership and Management (25%)
Oversee the critical business functions for the organization, including finance, HR, and legal compliance
Ensure strong fiscal management and reporting in collaboration with the Board
Ensure the continued excellence of Leap’s artists residencies
Evaluate and evolve program strategy
Promote a positive, inclusive, supportive workplace culture for staff and contractors
Integrate and participate in the RTJI principles throughout the organization’s culture
Community Building (20%)
Represent Leap and its mission in the community
Oversee marketing, communications, and outreach
Strengthen partnerships with schools, community organizations, and peer nonprofits
Board Partnership and Governance (15%)
Partner with the Board of Directors on strategic planning, financial oversight, fundraising, and governance
Support board recruitment and engagement with attention to board diversity and inclusive leadership practices
Qualifications Required
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive senior nonprofit leadership experience, including
Direct supervision of senior staff
Budget oversight and organizational decision-making
Operational leadership, HR, and compliance management
Proven success with individual and institutional fundraising
Demonstrated team-building and leadership experience
Experience building and maintaining community partnerships
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Strong communication skills, including public speaking, writing, and storytelling
Passion for empowering students to reach their fullest potential through an integrated learning experience that includes art
Preferred
Experience in the arts and/or arts education organizations
Knowledge of the Bay Area school and arts ecosystems
Experience working with a hybrid/remote workforce, who require flexible schedules
Qualities We Value
Strategic thinker who can keep their eye on the big picture
Supportive and passionate leader
Sophisticated and scrappy enough to solve hard problems with creativity and persistence
Collaborative people skills including empathetic listening, honesty and transparency, clear communication and flexibility
Entrepreneurial spirit with a steady hand
Deep commitment to equity and social justice
Compensation Leap offers a competitive salary, from $120,000 to $135,000, depending on experience. The benefits package includes health insurance, paid vacation, and professional development support. This position is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and follows a hybrid work model, combining remote work with in‑person collaboration
To Apply Submit a resume and cover letter in a single pdf document to EdJob@leaparts.org . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a goal of selecting our executive director no later than December 15, 2025. No phone calls, please.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
About Leap Arts in Education: Founded in 1979, Leap currently serves over 10,000 students across 33 Bay Area schools, with 40% of these students attending low-income schools. Our 10-15 week residencies place teaching artists, musicians, dancers and architects in local schools. In addition to building artistic skills, the residencies strengthen students' collaboration, communication, and critical thinking while building their confidence. In 2020, Leap built on its success and learnings by launching the collaboratively-run Racial Justice Training Institute (RJTI) - an intensive, eight-hour, artist-led training for teaching artists that strengthens Leap’s curriculum, workforce development, and program evaluations.
Responsibilities Fundraising and Resource Development (40%)
Lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and execution, with a focus on growing individual giving and major donor cultivation, in partnership with the development specialist
Oversee foundation and government grant strategy, in partnership with the grant specialist
Expand corporate partnerships and sponsorships
Identify and implement new earned-revenue opportunities
Organizational Leadership and Management (25%)
Oversee the critical business functions for the organization, including finance, HR, and legal compliance
Ensure strong fiscal management and reporting in collaboration with the Board
Ensure the continued excellence of Leap’s artists residencies
Evaluate and evolve program strategy
Promote a positive, inclusive, supportive workplace culture for staff and contractors
Integrate and participate in the RTJI principles throughout the organization’s culture
Community Building (20%)
Represent Leap and its mission in the community
Oversee marketing, communications, and outreach
Strengthen partnerships with schools, community organizations, and peer nonprofits
Board Partnership and Governance (15%)
Partner with the Board of Directors on strategic planning, financial oversight, fundraising, and governance
Support board recruitment and engagement with attention to board diversity and inclusive leadership practices
Qualifications Required
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive senior nonprofit leadership experience, including
Direct supervision of senior staff
Budget oversight and organizational decision-making
Operational leadership, HR, and compliance management
Proven success with individual and institutional fundraising
Demonstrated team-building and leadership experience
Experience building and maintaining community partnerships
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Strong communication skills, including public speaking, writing, and storytelling
Passion for empowering students to reach their fullest potential through an integrated learning experience that includes art
Preferred
Experience in the arts and/or arts education organizations
Knowledge of the Bay Area school and arts ecosystems
Experience working with a hybrid/remote workforce, who require flexible schedules
Qualities We Value
Strategic thinker who can keep their eye on the big picture
Supportive and passionate leader
Sophisticated and scrappy enough to solve hard problems with creativity and persistence
Collaborative people skills including empathetic listening, honesty and transparency, clear communication and flexibility
Entrepreneurial spirit with a steady hand
Deep commitment to equity and social justice
Compensation Leap offers a competitive salary, from $120,000 to $135,000, depending on experience. The benefits package includes health insurance, paid vacation, and professional development support. This position is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and follows a hybrid work model, combining remote work with in‑person collaboration
To Apply Submit a resume and cover letter in a single pdf document to EdJob@leaparts.org . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a goal of selecting our executive director no later than December 15, 2025. No phone calls, please.
#J-18808-Ljbffr