Executive Director

Job Posting: Executive Director
Rappahannock Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (Rappahannock CASA)
Salary range: $75,000 to $85,000

Rappahannock Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is seeking a collaborative and mission-driven Executive Director to lead our work on behalf of abused and neglected children in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, region.

For nearly four decades, Rappahannock CASA has provided an independent, powerful voice for the most vulnerable children in our community. Our goals are simple but essential: to help traumatized children get the services they need to heal and to ensure that every child has the chance to grow up in a safe, permanent home.

Judges in the city of Fredericksburg as well as the counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford and King George rely on the information provided by Rappahannock CASA to make decisions about the well‑being of children at the heart of abuse and neglect cases. Our small, dedicated staff recruits, trains and supports caring, committed volunteers who provide encouragement and a listening ear for these children while also checking in with their teachers, counselors, pediatricians and other service providers to make sure they get the therapeutic support they require. Together, we make certain that the needs and desires of children don’t get overlooked in a very adult‑centered process.

For the past 36 years our work has been largely supported through grants. While we believe grants will remain an important part of our funding, our strategic plan calls for stronger relationships with individual donors, businesses and corporate benefactors. The next Executive Director will have an exciting opportunity to expand community support, strengthen the organization’s financial sustainability and increase CASA’s capacity to serve the growing needs of youngsters in the child welfare system.

This is the right role for you if:

• You are passionate about advocating for vulnerable children and understand the power of well‑trained, committed volunteers.
• You’re energized by a multifaceted role at a nonprofit, able to move comfortably from reviewing detailed court case reports and managing budgets to meeting with donors and speaking to community partners.
• You believe fundraising is about relationships, not transactions, and you are genuinely excited to build lasting partnerships with individuals, corporations and foundation partners that care about the well‑being of children.
• You value creativity, flexibility and absolute discretion. You understand how to navigate the strict confidentiality requirements of the court while sharing the importance of the advocacy we provide with our community.
• You are a self‑directed and collaborative leader who can support an experienced team, keep daily operations running smoothly and manage resources responsibly, ensuring we meet state and National CASA standards.

Employment is contingent on successful completion of fingerprint‑based criminal background checks, a Child Protective Services/central registry search, and any other screenings required by Virginia DCJS and National CASA/GAL standards. Rappahannock CASA is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or family status, pregnancy, caregiver status, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Job Duties

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall administration, financial management, and mission execution of the Rappahannock CASA program. This is a relationship‑centered, mission‑critical role. The leader who thrives here will be a passionate advocate, skilled communicator, and highly organized manager who can inspire volunteers, secure resources, and serve as the official spokesperson for child advocacy in our community.

Responsibilities

I. Fundraising & Donor Stewardship

Every dollar donated to CASA amplifies the voice of a vulnerable child and ensures they have a reliable, caring, well‑trained adult to advocate for their needs and desires. Forging meaningful community connections and inviting individuals to join our movement is the primary function of CASA’s Executive Director.

• Lead all fundraising initiatives, cultivating meaningful partnerships with individuals, corporations, foundations and civic organizations.
• Manage all aspects of donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to strengthen and expand the individual giving base.
• Identify, prepare, and submit grant proposals, ensuring timely reporting and stewardship of grant funds.
• Oversee annual campaigns (such as Giving Tuesday) and work closely with fundraising/event committees to maximize outcomes.
• Set clear, measurable objectives for revenue growth, donor engagement, and community visibility.

II. Public Relations & Community Liaison

We would like CASA to become a household name, associated with championing the best interests of abused and neglected children and ensuring positive outcomes for young people caught up in the child welfare system. A gift for telling stories that share CASA’s measurable impacts while protecting the privacy of the children we serve is essential.

• Serve as the official spokesperson and interpreter of Rappahannock CASA’s purpose, policies, and programs to the media, government agencies and the general public.
• Oversee the organization’s communication strategy, ensuring clear, consistent messaging aligned with CASA’s mission.
• Strengthen CASA’s presence across social media, local media, and community networks to elevate awareness.
• Maintain regular, professional contact with Juvenile and Domestic Relations District courts, National CASA, and other partner agencies.

III. Managerial & Operations

Our Assistant Director/Advocate Manager has 12 years of experience with CASA and can assist with the majority of these tasks.

• Employ, train, direct, and evaluate Rappahannock CASA staff.
• Manage the CASA office, secure and maintain organizational properties and resources.
• Monitor overall casework alongside case managers, ensuring strict compliance with National CASA standards and the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
• Read and approve each sensitive case report before it is submitted to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
• Oversee and maintain preparations for the annual audit and multi‑year DCJS audits.

IV. Board Relations & Governance

Our nine‑member board currently meets nine out of 12 months during the year, and most of those meetings are virtual.

• Serve as an ex‑officio member of all committees and assist the Board and committee chairs in planning and coordinating meetings.
• Prepare proposed annual fiscal budgets for Board approval each spring and keep the Board fully abreast of all budgetary matters.
• Provide the Board with regular, comprehensive reports on the operational and financial status of the program.
• Identify and suggest key community leaders to the Board for potential recruitment to the Board, committees, or event groups.

Skills Required

Required

• Leadership experience with a volunteer, non‑profit or public service agency.
• A bachelor’s degree, or in lieu of a degree, some college combined with four or more years of relevant fundraising and leadership experience.
• A genuine passion for making sure children land in safe, loving homes where they’re never harmed again.
• Strong financial management, grant writing, fundraising, and public relations/people skills.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in basic office technology (typing, email, data entry) and modern social media platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to keep highly sensitive court and casework information strictly confidential and to remain objective when viewing such information.

Preferred

• Community Ties: Existing relationships and local ties to the Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford or broader Rappahannock region are helpful.

Work Schedule

This full‑time position is salaried and primarily in‑person Monday through Friday, though presence is required on occasional evenings and weekends for fundraising and training events. We maintain a “work to the job, not the clock” dynamic at CASA, so some days are longer than others, and some are short and primarily via telework. We foster a flexible, supportive environment where high expectations exist alongside equally high levels of empathy – and a bottomless jar of chocolate.

Additional Info

Rappahannock CASA is a focused, high‑impact nonprofit doing profound, life‑changing work with a small, experienced staff and a dedicated group of volunteer advocates. Our staff operate with a high degree of autonomy, recruiting and training new volunteers, organizing ongoing education for existing volunteers, guiding advocates through their cases, attending court hearings, and forging relationships with court staff, local departments of social services, children’s guardians ad litem, and regional service providers.

Professionalism, transparency, accuracy and relationship‑building are central to everything we do. Whether in a courtroom, at a school meeting or in any other setting where important decisions are being made, our goal is to make sure every child we serve has a strong and consistent voice.

The Executive Director will work alongside two deeply experienced CASA professionals: Our Assistant Director/Advocate Manager, who has 12 years with CASA, and our Advocate Manager/Recruiter, who began as a CASA volunteer before joining the staff a decade ago.

The Executive Director reports directly to a supportive and engaged Board of Directors. We are a close, collaborative team fiercely committed to securing the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children.

First Year Success Looks Like:

Rappahannock CASA is a financially sound organization built on decades of careful stewardship. The next Executive Director will inherit a strong foundation and be expected to manage the organization’s operations thoughtfully while preparing Rappahannock CASA for our next steps.

During the first year, success will look like:

• Building a strategic fundraising plan: Growing individual, corporate and foundation support, pursuing grants and expanding campaigns such as Giving Tuesday
• Increasing community awareness: Strengthening communications and outreach to attract volunteers, donors and community partners.
• Operating with excellence: Managing finances and administration responsibly while ensuring audit readiness and compliance with National CASA and Virginia standards.
• Collaborating with the Board: Establishing a seamless, communicative partnership with the Board of Directors, delivering clear, regular reports on program status and budget performance.