Executive Director

Executive Director

Friends of the Children - Stockton

Stockton, California

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with Friends of the Children - Stockton to recruit the organization's next Executive Director.

Friends of the Children is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization with a powerful mission to impact generational change by empowering youth who face the greatest obstacles through relationships with paid professional mentors—12+ years, no matter what. For more than three decades, the Friends of the Children model has produced measurable outcomes for children and families across the country. Friends of the Children’s impact is evident - a longitudinal study by the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon confirmed that for every $1 invested in Friends of the Children, the community benefits over $7 in saved social costs.

Established in 2024, Friends of the Children - Stockton has been building the infrastructure, partnerships, and organizational capacity to support sustainable growth in its mission. The chapter has a strong foundation in place, including strong seed funding (approximately $1.7 million in fundraising revenue last year), a dedicated and mission-driven staff team of five, an engaged seven-member Board of Directors, and the collaborative support of a proven national network, including operational, financial, programmatic, and leadership resources. The chapter is poised to accelerate its visibility, expand its impact, and strengthen its position as a leading force for children and families throughout Stockton and San Joaquin County. The Executive Director role is an incredible opportunity to build upon this momentum, helping establish Friends of the Children - Stockton as one of the region's most visible, trusted, and influential organizations serving children and families through its two-generation approach.

Friends of the Children – Stockton seeks a highly relational, entrepreneurial, and community-centered Executive Director to guide the organization through its next phase of start-up growth and impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors and partnering with Friends of the Children National, the Executive Director will serve as the organization’s chief executive, fundraiser, strategist, ambassador, and culture-builder. This leader will focus on expanding visibility, increasing philanthropic investment, strengthening community partnerships, building organizational capacity, and advancing long-term outcomes for children and families throughout Stockton and San Joaquin County. The successful candidate will be a compelling advocate and storyteller who can build authentic relationships with donors, community leaders, partners, staff, families, and other stakeholders. This is an ideal opportunity for an accomplished nonprofit executive who combines strategic vision, entrepreneurial business acumen, and hands-on leadership with a deep commitment to mission.

The Executive Director will provide strategic, mission-centered leadership while serving as the organization’s lead fundraiser, spokesperson, ambassador, and advocate. This leader will partner closely with the Board, National leadership, staff, and peer Executive Directors to strengthen governance, support collaboration, and ensure fidelity to the Friends of the Children model. They will lead fundraising and community relations efforts by cultivating donors, foundations, corporations, public officials, and nonprofit partners to build a diversified and sustainable funding base. The Executive Director will oversee strategic planning, annual operations, budgeting, growth initiatives, performance monitoring, and risk management to advance long-term organizational goals. They will also ensure high-quality program delivery, sound financial stewardship, strong administrative systems, and a supportive team culture that promotes staff development, accountability, morale, and retention.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree preferred, and 10 or more years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience in nonprofit or related environments. They should bring demonstrated success in fundraising, operations, finance, strategy, people leadership, organizational growth, and major gift development, along with strong executive presence and credibility with donors, board members, community leaders, and public stakeholders. The successful candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, culturally competent, and approachable leader with excellent communication, storytelling, decision-making, and supervisory skills, as well as a strong commitment to child development, youth outcomes, and long-term mentoring models.

The salary range for this position is $145,000–$165,000, including incentive compensation, depending on qualifications and experience. Friends of the Children offers a comprehensive benefits package and a culture that values collaboration, belonging, professional growth, and work-life harmony.

The search for the Friends of the Children - Stockton Executive Director is being conducted by The Moran Company. Questions about the position can be directed to Angie Heer, The Moran Company: angie (at) morancompany.com.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Angie Heer at The Moran Company via the secure online portal. The resume should include all professional education and experience, examples of nonprofit leadership accomplishments, dates of employment (month and year), position/title, and organization names. The cover letter should highlight your relevant experience, passion for Friends of the Children Stockton’s mission, and your approach to building and scaling an organization. Applications should be submitted by July 19.

To view the full Position Profile and/or APPLY, click HERE