Volunteer Executive Director (Part-Time)

Executive Director

Status: Part-Time, Volunteer

Location: 100% Remote

Reports To: Board of Directors

Direct Reports: Program Director, Operations Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA

Salary Range: Volunteer

FELT NYC, Inc (dba FELT Education) is a 100% volunteer, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in the state of New York. The current volunteer executive director is transitioning to a new role, and we are looking for an experienced nonprofit leader to support the organization’s continued growth. The volunteer executive director will manage a fully volunteer staff, including volunteer program director, operations coordinator, volunteer coordinator, and volunteer instructors. In addition, the executive director will manage a new AmeriCorps VISTA (paid by AmeriCorps) serving as operations staff tasked with continuing to strengthen operational processes and infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will have a professional background leading nonprofit growth and development and the capacity to volunteer 20 hours each week to support the growth and positioning of Felt to be a key online provider of free, trauma-sensitive English language instruction, helping newcomers support their families and build safety and community.

About Felt Education

Our Vision: At Felt Education, we envision a world where every displaced person, no matter the reason, can thrive within a safe, supportive community. We believe in building communities that create change.

Our Mission: Through accessible, trauma-sensitive education, Felt creates pathways for immigrants, refugees, and survivors of war, torture, and human trafficking toward safety, stability, and opportunity for themselves and their communities.

Our Ethos: We uphold human dignity of our learning communities and their members through voice, choice, access, and education, prioritizing their physical, emotional, social, and academic safety in community. We believe in building a student-led legacy of learning, opportunity, and intergenerational empowerment by honoring the courage to persevere and creating an affirming environment for ALL.

The Role

The Executive Director (ED) will play a key role in leading the organization’s overall success through strategic direction, operations/administration, Board/volunteer relations, and ensuring fiscal viability. The executive role is critical to building sustainable growth, maintaining Felt’s innovative, trauma-informed approach to adult education, and establishing a clear vision for organizational development. The Board of Directors is looking for a dynamic visionary to steer the organization through its next phase of growth, transitioning to a sustainable foundation, including future paid staff. The job description below is our ideal combination of strengths and focus.

If you are someone that is interested in giving back to support Felt’s mission during these challenging times, we want to hear from you to discuss your availability and approach. This position comes with a seat on the board of directors, if desired.

Essential Duties

Fundraising & Financial Management - 40%

• Fundraising Strategy: Design and execute a comprehensive, diversified annual and long-term fundraising plan, including individual giving, grant writing, corporate sponsorships, and special events.
• Grant(s) Management: Identify, research, write, and submit competitive grant proposals; ensure timely, accurate reporting for secured funds; and/or recruit contractor(s) or in-house grant writer(s) to do so.
• Fiscal Oversight: Develop and manage the organization's annual budget, including monitoring all revenue and expenditures, providing clear, regular financial reports to the Board, and ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures and accounting practices.
• Donor Stewardship: Oversee systems for donor cultivation, acknowledgment, and retention to build a sustainable funding base.

Leadership & Strategy - 30%

• Strategic Leadership: Lead the development, execution, and regular review of a multi-year strategic plan in partnership with the Board of Directors
• Organizational Vision: Provide strategic leadership and clear vision to team members, contractors, volunteers, and supporters
• Mission Alignment & Program Oversight: Ensure all programs, activities, and internal functions are consistently aligned with the organization's 501(c)(3) mission, ethos, and community need.
• Culture & Morale: Foster a positive, engaged, and professional organizational culture that motivates and retains distributed staff and volunteer talent.
• Community Building: Serve as the chief spokesperson and ambassador for the organization, articulating its mission, impact, and needs to the public, partners, and funders.

Operations & Administration - 15%

• Professionalization: Implement and standardize essential administrative systems, including improved communication protocols, reporting structures, and data management appropriate for a fully remote organization.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure all organizational activities comply with New York State and federal 501(c)(3) requirements, including timely filing of annual reports (e.g., Form 990, CHAR 500).
• Risk Management: Develop and oversee policies to manage organizational risk, protect organizational assets, and ensure volunteer, student, and data security.
• Technology & Infrastructure: Oversee the selection and management of remote technologies (e.g., project management software, video conferencing, cloud storage) to optimize distributed teamwork and remote programming.

Board & Volunteer Relations - 15%

• Board Support: Act as the primary liaison between the staff and the Board of Directors, preparing materials, reports, and recommendations for Board meetings to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Team Building & Succession: Prepare forward-thinking succession plans and build independent, sustainable, and cohesive teams.
• Volunteer Management: Provide direct supervision, coaching, and support to the volunteer leadership team (e.g., Program Director, Academic Team Leads, Operations Coordinators).
• Recruitment: Oversee the development of effective recruitment, onboarding, training, and recognition programs for the entire volunteer base.

Qualifications

• BA/BS/MPA/MPAP or similar degree/training and/or 5+ years experience in nonprofit management
• Nonprofit training certifications/Experience in lieu of formal education accepted
• Demonstrated experience in budget development, financial oversight, and fundraising (grants and individual giving).
• Experience in transitional leadership and/or moving organizations through change management
• Exceptional written, verbal, and public speaking/communication skills.
• Understanding of nonprofit 501(c)(3) compliance and governance principles.
• Trained and experienced in trauma-informed/trauma-sensitive education/care
• Proven ability to effectively manage and motivate distributed teams and volunteers in a virtual setting.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and individuals, compassionate and demonstrates cultural sensitivity
• Excellent communication and interpersonal relationship skills
• Comfortable functioning independently in a 100% remote environment while prioritizing well-being

Schedule

• This is 100% remote position, with opportunity for travel (up to 10%) for strategic partnerships, conferences, events, and donor relations.
• Flexible hours with an average of 20 hours per week (PT)

Compensation & Benefits

• This a Volunteer position
• Flexibility of work location and hours to meet needs of the organization
• Professional training and development will be provided on operational, program, and cultural sensitivity aspects of Felt programs as well as trauma-informed practices

How to Apply

To be considered, please send your resume and a short description about why Felt’s mission resonates with you to Board Chair Sally Fairman at sfairman@feltnyc.org.