Chief Executive Officer

Ballinger | Leafblad is pleased to conduct the search for a Chief Executive Officer at Way to Grow in Minneapolis, Minnesota

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
For over three decades, Way to Grow has provided quality year-round family support and educational programming for families in the Twin Cities and its surrounding suburbs. 

The goal of Way to Grow is for every child in the community to feel valued and supported from the moment they are born. Way to Grow’s Great by Eight programming supports children and caregivers from before birth to age eight, providing a year-round education curriculum and assistance for the entire family.

Family Educators provide year-round services and work with more than 2,000 individuals. From helping parents achieve their personal goals to modeling ways to learn at home, the Family Educators customize every home visit to meet the unique needs of each family. They work language-to-language with families to provide access to resources that address housing, employment, early education, health services, and more.

MISSION
Working closely with parents and communities, Way to Grow ensures that children are born healthy, stay healthy, and are prepared for school.

VISION
Together we will ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to succeed in school and life.

IMPACT AREAS
While Minnesota is a leader in education, it faces one of the largest opportunity gaps in the country. To eliminate the educational disparities in our communities, Way to Grow helps stabilize families, build networks of services, and prepares children for school across the community through the collective work of the staff, community partners and volunteers.

Despite continued learning disruptions in 2022, 98% of Way to Grow children were prepared for kindergarten. 2023 was a year of growth for Way to Grow that reflects many years of planning, persistence, and support. Way to Grow expanded its ability to reach families across the Twin Cities Metro, and developed tools to maintain and improve the high level of quality engagement that their program has always offered.

The areas served are:

• Minneapolis and Saint Paul
• Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center
• Richfield
• Saint Louis Park
• Hopkins 
• Other suburbs including Bloomington and Fridley 

GREAT BY EIGHT
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Way to Grow services are free for families in Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. Every family is matched with a certified Family Educator and receives one-on-one support. Programs are customized for each family.

Family Support
Working language-to-language whenever possible, Way to Grow Family Educators build trusted relationships with families to support and stabilize life at home. We help families thrive by providing connections to employment, housing, health, education, and more.

Health & Wellness
From prenatal care to well-child checkups, our Growing Strong program ensures that children are born healthy and stay healthy. Family Educators support the physical and social-emotional needs of the entire family, providing health education, parent-child groups, community events, and resources.

Early Learning
Through monthly home visits, Family Educators guide parents through an understanding of child development, emergent literacy, and social-emotional learning. Parents learn to use books, hands-on learning games, puzzles, songs, and parent education materials to be their child’s first and foremost educator.

Parent Education Groups
Way to Grow hosts a variety of interactive parent-child education and advocacy groups for families. Through learning and playing together, family bonds are strengthened, and caregivers are introduced to a supportive community of other Way to Grow families and Family Educators.

Elementary Education
Way to Grow’s elementary programming teaches the foundational literacy components necessary to build essential reading skills. Parents learn to navigate the education system, build strong parent-teacher connections, and establish academic expectations at home. Year-round virtual tutoring is offered to help students reach grade level literacy.

Dream Tracks
The Dream Tracks youth parenting program prepares young parents (ages 15–25) for success. Dream Tracks provides motivation and empowerment, academic and career goal setting, and information on parenting skills, money management, and reproductive health.

Center-Based Education
Way to Grow operates an accredited preschool available to enrolled Way to Grow families with children ages 3–5. The preschool builds positive relationships between families and schools and prepares children to start kindergarten on track. Programming is centered around project-based topics and the unique interests of each child.

POSITION PROFILE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Way to Grow (WTG) reports to the Board of Directors (BOD) and is responsible for delivering results that support the vision of ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to succeed in school and life. The CEO collaborates with the BOD to set the strategic direction that positions WTG’s pre-eminent in-home and center-based early learning program to best serve families and children of the Twin Cities and its surrounding communities. To facilitate this success, the CEO is equipped with a team of experienced and savvy leaders who execute processes and maximize resources that enable WTG to realize its ambitious objectives.

The primary responsibilities of the CEO include fundraising to meet program and service goals; continuing to transform and expand WTG’s footprint; and leveraging mutually effective relationships with stakeholders, donors, foundations and individuals. Accomplishing this requires the CEO to exercise active leadership and prudent fiduciary oversight, for which WTG is known for in the community. As WTG reflects upon its 35-year history, research continues to provide evidence of the tangible impact its programs and services have had on families and children. 

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The CEO reports to the Board of Directors with direct reporting to the Board President. Positions reporting directly to the CEO are Human Resources Manager, Finance Director, Program Director, Director of Programs, Director of Planned Giving, Vice President of Development and an Executive Assistant. There are currently 45 employees with a budget of approximately $4.7 million.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership 

• Provide outstanding inspirational leadership and set the strategic direction. Articulate the vision and effectively implement long-range and tactical plans so that WTG fulfills its mission and achieves its objectives.
• Build organizational resilience to effectively adapt to the changing educational and socio-economic needs of the communities it serves.
• Continue to transform and grow the WTG footprint at all levels (city, state and national).
• Work actively to ensure commitment and alignment across all stakeholders to the WTG vision and the strategic plan. Effectively implement and execute the strategic plan approved by BOD.
• Reinforce the importance of data and metrics for informed decision-making and the measuring, monitoring, and reporting of educational achievement and organizational outcomes.
• Promote high employee engagement and foster an inclusive and welcoming work environment.

Fundraising/Donor Relations

• Drive key results by formulating and executing comprehensive marketing, branding and fund development strategies to enhance revenue from major donors, foundations, government agencies, and corporations.
• Identify, cultivate and extend relationships with individual, foundation and corporate supporters to help further underpin the financial security of WTG.
• Promote a culture of fundraising within WTG, both at the staff and board level.
• Establish and meet annual fundraising goals and/or capital campaign commitments. 

Financial Management

• Own and be accountable for all financial matters ranging from day-to-day operations, budgeting, and capital/legacy funds management. 
• Ensure sound financial controls and policies are in place to mitigate risk and thereby safeguard WTG’s   reputation and it assets.
• Maintain diverse revenue streams and manage and further develop endowments to ensure financial stability and sustainability.

Talent Development

• Spearhead the on-going health and development of WTG human capital. Ensure vigorous recruitment, performance management, training and development, and compensation/benefits programs in place and routinely assessed.
• Lead and manage a high performing team of senior leaders so that succession plans can anticipate and respond to organizational growth and/or leadership vacancies. 

Educational Program Management

• Direct the delivery of a portfolio of products, programs, and wrap-around services to address gaps in early learning and educational programming. 
• Ensure program directors and family educators stay current with on-going research and changes in early learning and childhood education. 
• Develop and manage internal growth strategies that position WTG to extend its services to additional geographical regions.

Board & Stakeholder Relations 

• Cultivate and maintain a strong and transparent bond with the WTG Board of Directors. Ensure open communication and reporting on financial, programmatic, and impact performance against stated milestones and objectives. 
• Build robust relationships with other key stakeholders including community service providers and government/legislative entities, to discuss emerging challenges and/or partner where appropriate. The end result of these efforts is to further enhance WTG’s role as premier service provider in this space.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten years or more of relevant and progressive leadership experience culminating in a senior position with significant operational authority. Five years or more of this experience should include people management. 
• Demonstrated drive and passion for fundraising with a proven track record of cultivating and advancing significant contributions through effective coalition and relationship building.
• Proven ability to think strategically and successfully lead, transform and grow an organization.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, and the ability to interact effectively with all levels of WTG: staff, management, leadership team and the board of directors.
• Demonstrated business acumen, fiscal management and budgeting expertise. 
• Proven record of leveraging technology, data, and insights to inform decision making and demonstrate results.
• Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills underlying the ability to build trust and collaborate with others.
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or other advanced degree.
• Background in early childhood learning, education or social services.
• Prior non-profit leadership experience to include running a capital campaign.

LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

Strategic Agility: Demonstrates effective strategic thinking, systems thinking and problem-solving skills. Gets to the heart of complex problems and issues through rigorous analysis. Manages ambiguity and has the ability to digest and integrate conflicting information. Thinks ahead of the market and effectively identifies and responds to shifts in the external environment. Willing to think outside of existing systems and structures. 
Character and Integrity: Maintains a consistent moral compass, demonstrates principled leadership and an uncompromising commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behavior Follows through on commitments and is seen as trustworthy, authentic, and credible. Ensures inclusion and the fair treatment of others. Behaves consistently with clear personal values that complement those of Way to Grow.
Passion: Enthusiastically embraces and lives the Way to Grow mission, vision, and values. Fierce and consistent advocate for Way to Grow within the Twin Cities metropolitan region, across greater Minnesota, and on a national scale. Takes initiative and is energetic and resilient in the face of setbacks. 
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Possesses a growth mindset and continuously looks for ways to expand and improve. Innovative, adept at creating new products, programs, practices, and revenue sources. Flexible, embraces change and challenges. Has the ability to mobilize, execute, and deliver results.
Empathy and Interpersonal Ability: Perceptive and attuned – reads people well. Able to understand the feelings and attitudes of others; is insightful and empathic. Conveys respect and dignity and open to a variety of perspectives and opinions. Collaborative, supportive, and effective at building relationships.
Communication: Relates to others in a confident, relaxed manner. Possesses exceptional listening skills. Expresses self well, both verbally and in writing. Communicates and networks effectively. Successfully persuades and influences others. Presents ideas in logical, professional, and compelling ways. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The salary range for this position is $200,000-$230,000, depending upon qualifications and experience. Compensation includes participation in the comprehensive benefits plan.

TO APPLY
Inquiries may be directed to Lars Leafblad, lars@ballingerleafblad.com or Damon Shoholm, damon@ballingerleafblad.com
Applications will be accepted until September 27, 2024 or until the position has been filled, which may be earlier. There will be an immediate and ongoing review of candidates, so we encourage and appreciate early applications. All inquiries will remain confidential.