Executive Director

Executive DirectorMISSION: To end rape culture and empower sexual assault survivors through advocacy, education, and healing. VISION: A world without sexual violence.Resilience, the only stand-alone rape crisis center in the state of Illinois, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that has been on the front lines of supporting survivors of sexual violence for more than five decades. Formerly known as Rape Victim Advocates (RVA), the organization rebranded as Resilience in 2018 to reflect a broader vision of healing, empowerment, and systemic change. Resilience provides services at no cost to survivors seeking treatment for sexual violence at participating hospitals. Its advocacy efforts extend beyond individual services: the experience and knowledge gained through direct service informs and strengthens Resilience's work to advance institutional and systemic change. Resilience is dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through nonjudgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group counseling, and medical and legal advocacy throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The organization also provides public education and institutional advocacy to improve the treatment of survivors and advance positive change in policies, systems, and public attitudes toward sexual violence.Resilience has an operating budget of $3M, 72% through public dollars distributed through the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), a network of community-based sexual assault crisis centers working together to end sexual violence. Governed by a 13-member Board of Directors comprised of civic and business leaders including survivors of gender-based violence. Resilience recognizes and embraces the extraordinary diversity of Chicago and is committed to ensuring that services, employment, volunteer opportunities, leadership, and community engagement are accessible and welcoming to all people.THE OPPORTUNITY Resilience enters its next chapter with a strong mission, committed staff and Board members, significant community need, and meaningful opportunities for growth. The next Executive Director will build on these strengths while addressing areas that require greater stability, alignment, and infrastructure. Reducing reliance on government funding and building a more diversified and sustainable revenue model is a Board priority. Resilience is also exploring new earned and contributed revenue opportunities, including a potential learning management system. The next Executive Director will create the conditions for sustainable growth by growing the base of philanthropic support, clarifying priorities, building capacity, and aligning the Board and staff around a shared direction.STRENGTHENING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND BUILDING A CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY Financial stewardship and revenue diversification will be among the Executive Director's most important responsibilities. The leader will work closely with the Board and staff to strengthen financial sustainability, ensure disciplined fiscal management, and develop a diversified revenue strategy that supports both current operations and future growth. A significant opportunity is to build a stronger culture of philanthropy and substantially expand Resilience's private donor base. Individual giving currently represents approximately 5% of revenue. The Executive Director will bring strategic focus and personal engagement to fundraising while strengthening the systems, relationships, and Board participation necessary for long-term philanthropic success.STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH Resilience has multiple open positions, growing demand for services, and ideas for expanding its programs and revenue. These opportunities are exciting, but they also underscore the importance of strengthening the foundation for future growth. The next Executive Director will assess staffing, structure, systems, processes, and management practices and determine what is needed to support sustainable growth. This includes establishing clear priorities, ensuring accountability, strengthening communication and decision-making, and making thoughtful investments in people and infrastructure. An important part of this work will be strengthening the relationship between the Board and staff. While Resilience has committed Board members and passionate staff, greater alignment, clarity of roles, communication, and trust will be important to the agency's next chapter.STRENGTHENING RESILIENCE'S BRAND AND PARTNERSHIPS The transition from Rape Victim Advocates to Resilience created an opportunity to broaden awareness of the agency's identity, mission, and vision. The Executive Director will help articulate the meaning and breadth of the Resilience brand and position the agency as a leading voice in the field of sexual and gender-based violence. The leader will strengthen strategic alliances with sister organizations, build coalitions for legislative advocacy, deepen community relationships, and expand Resilience's visibility across Chicago, Illinois, and nationally.EXTERNAL LEADERSHIP AND VISIBILITY Because sexual violence remains a topic many people are reluctant to discuss openly, Resilience requires a leader who is bold, credible, compassionate, and confident. The Executive Director will serve as a highly visible spokesperson and advocate for survivors through education, advocacy, public speaking, media engagement, convenings, and participation in conversations at the local, state, regional, and national levels. The leader will represent Resilience thoughtfully in complex and politically charged environments and engage effectively with survivors, staff, donors, public officials, community partners, media, and national leaders in the field.POSITION SUMMARY The Executive Director, reporting to the Board of Directors, is responsible for strategic leadership, financial sustainability, and overall management of Resilience. The Executive Director will develop and execute strategic directions and policies; strengthen revenue and private philanthropy; oversee programs and services; and ensure the agency's overall well-being and sustainability. Securing the resources necessary to sustain and expand operations is a primary responsibility, as is ensuring compliance with Board-adopted policies and applicable regulations and laws. Although responsibilities may be delegated, ultimate accountability rests with the Executive Director. As chief executive, the Executive Director will cultivate a culture grounded in equity, inclusion, belonging, accountability, and respect, fostering an environment in which diverse perspectives and lived experiences are actively sought and incorporated into decision-making.CORE COMPETENCIES LeadershipIn partnership with the Board, provide vision and direction for Resilience's programs, policies, partnerships, and capacity.Be visionary, mission-driven, business-focused, and experienced in guiding organizations through growth and change while maintaining stability and long-term financial viability.Financial Leadership and Fund DevelopmentDemonstrated success building a broad base of financial support and securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and public sources.Lead efforts to diversify revenue, strengthen donor relationships and stewardship, increase private philanthropy, and develop a sustainable culture of fundraising.Demonstrated fiscal leadership, including financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, fund accounting, data analysis, and reporting.Partner with the Board to strengthen its engagement as ambassadors, fundraisers, and relationship-builders.Marketing, Public Relations, and OutreachServe as the face and voice of Resilience, effectively representing its mission, values, and goals.Build visibility, develop community partnerships, serve as a thought leader in the gender-based violence field, and represent Resilience effectively with media, policymakers, funders, health care providers, community leaders, and advocates.Inclusive Management and CultureUnderstand nonprofit structure, governance, and operations and have experience working with or reporting to a Board of Directors.Build a strong, cohesive team and create an environment where staff feel valued, supported, heard, and accountable.Hire, develop, and retain diverse talent; address conflict constructively; incorporate diverse perspectives; and create accountability for shared values.Operational ExpertiseDemonstrated record of sound personnel, fiscal, technology, facilities, and business management.Understand how strong operations and infrastructure support high-quality, equitable, and accessible services.Programming and ImpactEnsure high-quality, trauma-informed, survivor-centered programs and services.Expand program reach and impact while increasing public understanding of the root causes of sexual and gender-based violence.CANDIDATE PROFILE Resilience seeks a highly competent, mission-driven executive with a strong record of fundraising, financial management, community partnership, and organizational leadership. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success growing private philanthropic and earned revenue and will bring exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills. The successful candidate will balance creative thinking with management acumen to move an organization to a new level of effectiveness. The ability to understand financial statements and use financial information to plan, monitor, and evaluate performance is required, as is experience with budget preparation, fund accounting, data analysis, and reporting. Business and personnel management experience and sound senior-level financial leadership are essential. The Executive Director will be the public face of Resilience and must possess excellent communication skills, personal credibility, and the ability to build effective relationships at all levels. Experience representing an organization externally and speaking with media is highly valued. The successful candidate will bring a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, anti-oppression, and racial justice and understand how these principles intersect with survivor services, prevention, organizational culture, and community advocacy. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, innovative leader with demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic and business plans, building consensus around major initiatives, and working closely with a Board of Directors. They will be able to facilitate open, respectful communication with staff, Board members, survivors, funders, community partners, volunteers, and other constituents. The successful candidate will:Drive a culture of