Chief Executive Officer-Area Congregations Together in Service (ACTS)

Organization Overview

Area Congregations Together in Service, ACTS, is a nonprofit organization in the Richmond, VA metropolitan area dedicated to preventing homelessness in our community by providing financial support and community resources to our neighbors in housing crisis. ACTS partners closely with local governments, landlords, faith communities, and other social service providers to deliver coordinated, client-centered support that keeps our neighbors in their homes.

Position Summary

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) serves as the chief strategic and operational leader of ACTS, reporting to and working in close partnership with the Board of Directors. The CEO is responsible for advancing the organization's mission to prevent homelessness, ensuring program quality and impact, building a sustainable financial base, cultivating key community and government relationships, and leading a high-performing, mission-driven team. The ideal candidate combines deep commitment to housing justice and homelessness prevention with strong nonprofit management, fundraising, and public policy acumen.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Board of Directors to set and advance the organization's strategic vision, long-range goals, and annual priorities.
• Monitor local and national trends in homelessness, affordable housing policy, and the social safety net to ensure the organization's programs remain responsive and evidence-based.
• Lead organizational planning processes, including strategic planning, annual operating plans, partnership development, and program evaluation.

Programs and Service Delivery

• Provide oversight of ACTS’ homeless prevention programs, ensuring high-quality, client-centered service delivery.
• Ensure programs meet funder and partner requirements and that outcomes are tracked and reported accurately.
• Champion a trauma-informed, equity-centered approach to working with individuals and families experiencing housing instability.
• Use data and client outcomes to continuously assess program effectiveness and drive improvement.

Fundraising and Resource Development

• Serve as the organization's chief fundraiser, cultivating and stewarding relationships with individual donors, congregational partners, foundations, corporate partners, and government funders.
• Oversee the development of grant proposals and reports, particularly for federal, state, and local homelessness prevention funding streams
• Diversify and grow the organization's revenue base to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• Represent the organization at fundraising events, donor meetings, and public forums.

Financial and Operational Management

• Ensure sound fiscal management of the organization, including budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance with grant and contract requirements.
• Work with the Board Treasurer to maintain financial health, appropriate reserves, and strong internal controls.
• Oversee organizational infrastructure, including human resources, technology, facilities, and risk management.

Community and Government Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local government agencies, housing authorities, landlords, and peer service providers.
• Serve as a visible public spokesperson and advocate for homelessness prevention and affordable housing policy at the local, regional, and/or state level.
• Represent the organization in coalitions, task forces, and community planning bodies focused on housing and homelessness.

People and Culture

• Build, lead, and develop a diverse, skilled, and mission-driven staff team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and care.
• Ensure staffing levels, structure, and professional development support program quality and organizational growth.
• Model and promote practices that support staff wellbeing, given the demanding nature of crisis-oriented social services work.

Board Governance

• Work closely with the Board Chair and Board of Directors to ensure effective governance, including timely and transparent reporting on programs, finances, and strategic priorities.
• Support Board recruitment, orientation, and committee work as needed.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in the nonprofit, social services, or housing sector, including at least 3 years in a senior executive role.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, including grant writing/management and donor cultivation; experience with government contracts (HUD, CoC, ESG, or similar) strongly preferred.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget development, oversight, and nonprofit financial reporting.
• Knowledge of homelessness, housing instability, and the systems that serve those affected.
• Track record of effective people leadership, including hiring, developing, and retaining diverse, high-performing teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience representing an organization publicly to media, funders, and policymakers.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in social work, public administration, public policy, business, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience); Master's degree preferred.
• Lived experience or direct service background in homelessness prevention, housing, or related human services.
• Existing relationships with regional housing, homelessness, or human services networks and funders.
• Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors in a governance capacity.

Core Competencies

• Mission-driven leadership and integrity
• Strategic and systems-level thinking
• Fundraising and relationship-building
• Financial acumen and operational discipline
• Equity-centered, trauma-informed practice
• Crisis management and sound judgment under pressure
• Collaborative, transparent communication

Working Conditions

This position is based in Richmond, VA with regular travel within the service area for meetings, site visits, and community events; occasional regional or national travel for conferences and funder meetings may be required. The CEO may occasionally need to be available outside of standard business hours to respond to organizational or community needs.

Benefits for full-time staffing including paid leave, annual leave, sick leave, personal leave, and other days that meet the needs of employees. Benefits also include 100% paid cost of employee health coverage and IRA Contribution Savings Plan, both available after three months of full time service.

ACTS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with lived experience of housing instability or homelessness.

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