LIVELIKELOU FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Reports to: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Chief Executive Officer

Start Date: 8/1/2021

The LiveLikeLou Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to the cause of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and our purpose to Leave ALS Better Than We Found It. We do this work in honor of our namesake, baseball Hall of Famer, and Luckiest Man Lou Gehrig, and the more than 16,000 people living with this 100% fatal disease each day across North America.

There are three parts to the LiveLikeLou mission:

• Raising awareness for the cause of ALS through meaningful philanthropic partnerships, including Lou Gehrig’s Fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, with 170,000 living members, 14,000 undergraduates, and our growing communities of support through ALS families, ALS researchers, and partners we engage.
• Supporting ALS research to find a treatment or a cure by attracting and retaining ALS researchers and encouraging novel and pre-clinical scientific collaborations through our partnership grants, career development awards, and emerging ALS researchers collaboration and learning events.
• Supporting ALS patients and their families by complementing other patient care organizations with unique offerings such as our nationwide volunteer service programs, Iron Horse scholarships, and partnership with Hope Loves Company camps for children of ALS families.

LiveLikeLou was founded as a grassroots effort by Neil and Suzanne Alexander upon his diagnosis with ALS in 2011, and before his death in 2015, the organization raised more than $4 million for the cause of ALS. In 2018, LiveLikeLou expanded to become a national nonprofit foundation, through a governing, administrative, and philanthropic partnership with Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Lou Gehrig was a Phi Delt. Neil Alexander was as well.

Under the strategic leadership of the LiveLikeLou Board of Trustees, and with an expanding network of devoted volunteers and partners, LiveLikeLou is poised for tremendous growth and continued impact on the cause of ALS. The new LiveLikeLou executive director role will build upon the infrastructure, programs, and opportunities developed to-date, position this growing foundation for long-term success, and transition into their new role with the assistance of Co-founder and current Director of LiveLikeLou Suzanne Alexander.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GOALS:

• Expand the impact of our ALS family and ALS research programs by developing new funding sources and strategic partnerships to Leave ALS Better Than We Found It.
• Support board and volunteer committees devoted to the cause of ALS.
• Optimize the philanthropic partnership, marketing network, and administrative support of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
• Enhance the visibility of LiveLikeLou and build new communities of support.

COMPETENCIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

FUNDRAISING

• Develop and implement detailed plans that define the fundraising strategies and methods for the engagement, cultivation, solicitation, acceptance, acknowledgment, recognition, and on-going stewardship of grants, philanthropic gifts, and pledges.
• Maintain and enhance current engagement strategies for grants from corporate and family foundations, ALS family organizations, ALS research organizations, and Phi Delta Theta.
• Directly solicit financial support from interest groups at all levels, and leverage board and committee relationships to identify new funding sources.
• Employ donor-focused prospect research methodologies to match the Foundation’s fundraising programs and initiatives with the interests, values, and motivations of current and prospective donors and grant makers.
• Validate relevant prospect and donor information with key stakeholders to establish a plan of action for engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Optimize administration and tracking of development and fundraising activities through Salesforce database.

ALS PARTNERSHIP AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Seek, propose, and build strategic partnerships that will expand the impact of ALS awareness, research, and family programs.
• Analyze and report program impact, develop and propose annual grants, and execute grant payments.
• Oversee programs to ensure engagement of partners, and effective, safe, and responsive execution of processes and events. Develop and lead implementation of improvements.

BOARD AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Partner with the board of trustees to identify and implement strategic priorities and ensure alignment with the goals of Phi Delta Theta.
• Partner with board-appointed committee chairs to identify and implement annual priorities and execute through regular meetings and quarterly reports to the board of trustees.
• Facilitate the board process to recruit and select potential board and committee candidates.
• Prepare for and support a strategic planning process engaging volunteer leadership and key constituents to develop a long-term plan. Manage tracking of the plan’s objectives and modify operational and resource plans based upon performance and regular scanning of external conditions.
• Serve as corporate secretary to board of trustees and as non-voting member or liaison to multiple board-appointed committees, ensuring that meetings, agendas, minutes, and administrative priorities are properly executed.

COMMUNICATION

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, donor-focused communications plan to inform constituents of strategic needs, funding priorities, and gift opportunities to expand communities of support and inspire informed gift decisions.
• Collaborate and lead brand consistency with Phi Delta Theta’s Senior Vice President of Growth, Engagement, and Philanthropy in communication tone, voice, and terminology to capture the attention of varying relevant audiences.
• Ensure that communication strategies and tactics leverage the latest digital media best practices to increase brand engagement.
• Engage constituents through regular writing, compelling content development, and “story telling” of program impact and philanthropy exemplars.

ADMINISTRATION

• Collaborate with Phi Delta Theta Chief Executive Officer and staff leaders to maximize operational synergy and strategic outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Senior Vice President of Finance to develop, manage and report budget performance, and support and participate in the annual audit process.
• Support the staff execution of financial transactions, insurances, grant obligations, donation acknowledgements, third-party contracts, and non-profit state registrations, in line with annual budgets and board priorities, and with proper financial practices.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATION:

• A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree is preferred
• Experience in cause-related nonprofit management is required, with multi-state or national reach preferred
• Strong interpersonal ability to engage professionally with seasoned executives, as well as undergraduate constituents, medical/research field leadership, and families facing the ALS journey
• Excellent writing, speaking and presentation skills to broaden and excite stakeholder audiences and compel financial support
• Comfort with ambiguity and drive for results required
• Proven ability to accomplish work through remote staff and volunteers required
• Proven ability to successfully solicit grants and donations of $100,000 and greater
• Direct experience with grassroots fundraising and management of special events required

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

• Salary will be determined depending on the candidate’s background and experience.
• Phi Delta Theta offers an excellent benefits package including retirement planning.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a home office outfitted with sufficient networking and workspace
• Must have ability to initiate and manage multiple distanced communications events via Zoom or other distanced video communication tools per month, including periodic weekend and after-hours meetings
• Frequent travel
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer

INQUIRIES:

• Interested candidates should provide a cover letter and resume to Human Resources Specialist Cynthia Buresh by July 2.

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