Chief Executive Officer - Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford

Chief Executive Officer

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford seeks a dynamic and mission driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization into its next chapter of impact and growth. This represents an exciting opportunity to become our next CEO and make a positive impact on kids' lives. We are looking for candidates that will lead the overall planning and operation of the organization while providing leadership, direction, and support to the Board of Directors.

Boys & Girls Clubs mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. You will be responsible for bringing this mission to life in this community, as you work to ensure that the kids and teens in your care achieve great futures by providing a safe and fun space, an engaging Club Experience, and managing caring professionals to guide them along the way. As a proof point, 54% of Club alumni said the Club saved their life, so the impact you and your team will have on these kids and teen's lives will be life changing.

Where it all began … Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford is proud to be the birthplace of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America movement, where four women opened the doors and made impact for millions of young people for years to come. This success evolved into an organization with five traditional site locations, an Early Learning Center and three community-based school sites.

Responsibilities

The Chief Executive Officer serves as the visionary leader and chief steward of Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford, accountable for advancing the mission, long-term sustainability, and community impact of the organization. In partnership with the Board of Directors, the CEO provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and external advocacy to ensure the organization delivers measurable outcomes for youth and families.

• Serve as the primary strategic partner to the Board of Directors, guiding governance, policy development, long-range planning, and organizational priorities in alignment with the mission and values of Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford.
• Lead the development and execution of a compelling strategic vision that advances program excellence, expands community impact, and ensures the organization's long-term relevance and sustainability.
• Provide executive oversight of all organizational operations, ensuring high-quality programs, effective systems, and performance accountability that drive measurable mission outcomes.
• Act as the organization's chief ambassador and public representative, cultivating strong relationships with major donors, philanthropic partners, corporate leaders, government officials, and community stakeholders to elevate visibility, influence, and financial support.
• Provide strategic leadership for all fundraising and revenue-generation efforts, setting a bold resource development vision that aligns with organizational priorities and supports sustainable growth.
• Personally engage in major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, while supporting and empowering the Board and senior leadership team to play active and effective roles in philanthropy.
• Oversee the financial health and asset stewardship of the organization, ensuring fiscal integrity, regulatory compliance, and the effective deployment of resources to support strategic objectives.
• Champion a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring adherence to Boys & Girls Clubs of America standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, with safety embedded as a core organizational value.
• Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing executive and management team by setting clear expectations, fostering professional development, and aligning talent with strategic priorities in alignment with the Board of Directors and committees.
• Support the ongoing development and effectiveness of the Board of Directors through leadership, guidance, and collaboration, including board recruitment, engagement, and governance best practices.
• Provide regular reporting to the Board on organizational performance, strategic progress, financial position, fundraising outcomes, and emerging risks and opportunities.
• Undertake special initiatives and strategic projects as directed by the Board of Directors in support of organizational priorities.

Qualifications

The successful Chief Executive Officer will bring a combination of strategic vision, executive leadership, and operational acumen, with the ability to inspire stakeholders and translate mission into measurable community impact.

• Passion for youth development, equity, and community impact, with the ability to embed mission, safety, and accountability into all aspects of organizational leadership.
• Demonstrated executive leadership experience with the ability to set vision, align strategy, and drive organizational performance within a complex, multi-site or multi-program environment.
• Proven ability to partner effectively with a governing board, including experience supporting strong governance practices, strategic decision-making, and shared accountability for organizational outcomes.
• Strategic and financial acumen, with a strong understanding of nonprofit finance, asset stewardship, and risk management, and the ability to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability.
• A track record of leading successful fundraising and resource development efforts, including major gifts, institutional funding, corporate partnerships, and innovative revenue strategies.
• Ability to serve as the organization's chief relationship-builder and external ambassador, engaging donors, community leaders, public officials, and partners with credibility and influence.
• Experience leading organizational growth and transformation, including the ability to manage change, foster innovation, and guide teams through periods of evolution and expansion.
• Operational excellence, with the capacity to design and oversee systems, structures, and performance metrics that support high-quality programming and organizational effectiveness.
• Strong people leadership and talent development skills, including the ability to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing senior leaders, board members and build a values-driven organizational culture with clear succession plans.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate vision, inspire action, and build trust with diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships across staff, volunteers, board members, community organizations, and affiliated agencies.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university preferred; advanced degree or equivalent executive experience a plus.
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly develop fluency in, the mission, values, and operating standards of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and best practices in nonprofit leadership and governance.