Friendship House is recognized as a gateway for people struggling with homelessness to reenter society within the Skagit Valley. Friendship House (FH) places special emphasis on transforming a person's crisis situation into an opportunity for empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Friendship House opened its doors in 1986, started by ten ecumenical organizations whose shared commitment to peace and justice called them to help the growing homeless population in the Skagit Valley. Today, Friendship House continues to provide time and space for people to develop stability, heal and change, and has earned a strong reputation for delivering high-level programs and support services for the homeless population in Skagit County. Friendship House operates from a "community model," depending on the solidarity and participation of the people living here. Residents contribute to cooking, cleaning, and basic maintenance of the houses.
Currently, FH offers the following services:
Emergency Shelter: FH provides two emergency shelters and is the largest emergency housing provider in Skagit County and the only single men's shelter.
Friendship House Café, the only no-cost daily meal service in Skagit County,
Hunger to Hope, a food service training program,
Transitional Housing Program, with multiple transitional houses for former residents, which rely on the full participation of the residents and thereby provide the opportunity to gain life-skills in a supportive environment.
Barbara's House, an affordable rental housing property, to allow for long-term affordable low-income rents to graduates of FH programs with limited incomes, at a low fixed monthly rental amount.
Other services to support people and families in their transitions, including showers, a clothing bank and “love and laundry.”
About Mount Vernon:
Mount Vernon and Skagit County have a strong quality of life. Located between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, the area has a little slower pace along with a strong sense of community and involvement, and offers good schools, healthcare, and cultural activities. It is known for the quality of the soil, which supports a wide variety of produce, wine, and craft beer. Recreational activities abound, thanks to the proximity of the Puget Sound, the Skagit River basin, and the North Cascade Range.
The Executive Director Position:
Friendship House is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building community among people in crisis. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operates with a staff of thirty, including 8 core leadership staff who report to the Executive Director. The largest program is the newly opened Skagit First Step Center in Burlington, WA, which is operated by a team of 21 staff members. This new low-barrier shelter is operating at full capacity, with 45 cabins for safe, temporary shelter with access to services. Friendship House partners with other agencies in the region's continuum of care to ensure full support of the individuals in its programs. The organization also involves a robust cohort of volunteers - service groups that provide monthly meal service, deliver sack lunches, and perform street outreach as well.
The ED is responsible for ensuring that FH works toward achieving its mission and goals with the highest integrity and operational standards while adhering to those standards and expectations adopted by the Board of Directors.
Position Priorities:
To be able to leverage the organization's strong community support and program and service capabilities, the new ED will need to learn about the community and organization, its program offerings and their complexity and compliance requirements, and the variety, and inter-relationships of funding streams in the first few months on the job. By building strong working relationships with the board, staff, and community, the new ED will need to address the following key priorities in their first 18-24 months:
1. Develop Clear Strategic Direction. Working with the Board of Directors and staff, the new Executive Director will engage with stakeholders to understand opportunities and community needs across the region and develop the organization's visionary strategic direction to position the organization for growth, and to continue to strengthen its service to the community.
2. Strengthen Staff Leadership Team. Develop, strengthen, and support a strongly collaborative and unified staff leadership team by providing heart-centered and professional leadership and management support, assessing areas for training and increased staff capacity, and mentoring and supporting strong leaders.
3. Improve Financial Management System to Enable Strategic Governance. Strengthen the entire financial management system, including internal reporting and Board understanding of grant deliverables, performance metrics, financing mechanisms, and budget. Develop financial management systems and capacity of the organization and the Board. Develop an excellent understanding and management of compliance requirements and cash flow. It is expected that other infrastructure systems such as Asset Management may need also need upgrading.
4. Identify and Raise New and Diversified Funding to Support Strategic Direction. Develop a coordinated and diversified fundraising strategy that is internally consistent across program areas and includes both institutional and individual donor development strategies. Build strong relationships with funders. Assess the potential for each line of business, identify and secure diversified funding streams to meet and exceed the organization's annual budget.
5. Upgrade Other Organizational Systems including Information Technology, Human Resources, Marketing & Branding, and Volunteer Management.
These priorities may be spread across a broader range of organizational leaders as the new Executive Director acclimates and assesses leadership roles.
Essential Qualifications:
Friendship House is seeking a collaborative, strategic thinker and experienced nonprofit leader who can become a thought leader on homeless issues in Skagit County and grow the organization's capacity and impact. Other essential skills and attributes include:
A passion for Friendship House's mission, grounded in an understanding and experience with homeless population issues.
Minimum of seven (7) years' experience in a management role for a nonprofit or other relevant organization
Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate the organizational “big picture” and strategy.
Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit financial systems, including but not limited to management of restricted funds, management of a property portfolio and the related balance sheet. Ability to develop an upgraded financial management system.
Experience with fund development among both institutional and individual donors and ability to conceive and lead a fund development strategy.
The ability to analyze operational issues and work with Core Staff to create solutions that reflect the strategic direction of the organization
Demonstrated leadership track record of creating successful working relationships with staff and board
A track record of creating and maintaining effective relationships with elected officials, partner agencies and other stakeholders to collaborate to solve homeless issues in Skagit County.
Proficient with Microsoft programs including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Publisher.
Job Requirements:
● Ability to travel locally and nationally ● Willing to take a criminal background check.
Compensation: $100,000-$125,000 depending on experience. Benefits include medical insurance coverage, short term and long-term disability insurance, IRA with contributions matched up to 3% of annual salary after one year, and 6 weeks' PTO.
Application Process:
Friendship House has retained Jan Glick & Associates, LLC to facilitate this search on their behalf. To apply, interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume to: . Resume(s) received without cover letter will not be considered.
