Chief Executive Officer

STAFF COUNT: 12

Meet Attack Poverty

is a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and transforming under-resourced communities. The organization’s core vision is to equip people to attack poverty in their own lives by moving beyond mere charity to focus on long-term development—providing a “hand up, not a hand out”. To achieve this, Attack Poverty adopts specific pockets of poverty to establish “Friends Communities,” fostering collaborative, mutual relationships with local churches, government organizations, and residents. Their holistic approach aims to restore broken systems by leveraging existing community assets and equipping locals to lead the change they want to see in their own neighborhoods.

The organization carries out its mission through four foundational pillars: Basic Needs, Education, Revitalization, and Spiritual Growth. Their Basic Needs initiatives provide immediate stability through emergency disaster relief, food and water distributions, and housing assistance. Through their Education and Revitalization pillars, they offer youth after-school programs like the You Can Academy, adult ESL and GED classes, and organize neighborhood improvement efforts such as home repairs, community cleanups, and community gardens. Finally, their Spiritual Growth programs—which include Bible studies, prayer walks, and Faith & Finances classes—seek to nurture personal faith, viewing spiritual renewal as the crucial foundation for lasting transformation and human flourishment.

About the CEO

The Chief Executive Officer provides visionary leadership and strategic direction to advance the mission of Attack Poverty and strengthen the communities it serves. The CEO oversees organizational strategy, operations, partnerships, fundraising, and culture to ensure long-term sustainability and meaningful community impact. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, leadership team, staff, and community partners, the CEO guides the organization toward growth, excellence, and mission alignment across all locations and programs.

The CEO’s responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the organization, ensuring all programs, operations, and initiatives align with Attack Poverty’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Lead the development and execution of the organization’s long-term strategic plan in collaboration with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, community engagement, and excellence across all locations and departments.
• Monitor community needs, sector trends, and emerging opportunities to strengthen and expand Attack Poverty’s impact.
• Communicate the organization’s mission, impact, and vision to stakeholders, funders, community partners, and the broader public.

Organizational Management & Oversight

• Oversee the effectiveness and integration of all programs, operational systems, and organizational policies.
• Supervise and develop the senior leadership team, providing coaching, support, and accountability to ensure strong performance and collaboration.
• Ensure the organization maintains strong financial health through sound budgeting, forecasting, resource stewardship, and internal controls.
• Oversee risk management practices and ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, partner organizations, donors, churches, civic groups, and public agencies.
• Serve as the primary ambassador of Attack Poverty, representing the organization in community settings, media, fundraising events, and public forums.
• Promote a collaborative, community-centered approach that empowers local leaders and supports the holistic development of individuals and neighborhoods.

Fundraising & Resource Development

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for fundraising efforts, including donor cultivation, grant development, corporate partnerships, and major gifts.
• Collaborate with the senior leadership team and Board to secure the financial resources needed to sustain and grow organizational programs.
• Ensure transparent, timely, and compelling communication of program impact to donors and stakeholders to strengthen long-term engagement.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the CEO:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, non-profit management, social work, or related field required.
• Master’s degree in a related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience, preferably within nonprofit, community development, or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience overseeing programs, staff, budgets, and strategic planning.
• Previous CEO or ED experience strongly preferred.
• Proven ability in fundraising.
• Proven ability to build partnerships, engage diverse stakeholders, and lead in community-based settings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Collaboration and leadership skills.
• Experience in designing and leading internal review processes that empower staff while maintaining strict adherence to budgetary and impact goals.
• Ability to identify the downstream effects of programmatic shifts, ensuring that short-term wins do not compromise long-term organizational stability.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Ability to motivate, develop, and lead teams.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to ensure strong governance, strategic alignment, and organizational accountability.
• Provide timely and accurate reporting to the Board on organizational performance, opportunities, challenges, and financial health.
• Support Board development, recruitment, and engagement to strengthen organizational leadership capacity.