Executive Director

The Organization:

Education and Leadership Foundation (ELF) is a community benefit nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and strengthening underrepresented communities through education civic engagement immigration services and advocacy. Rooted in a commitment to equity and social justice ELF works to expand access to educational opportunities provide critical immigration resources and support and encourage meaningful civic participation. Through innovative programs community partnerships and direct services the organization helps individuals and families overcome barriers access opportunities and build pathways toward greater stability and success. Guided by a vision of creating lasting impact both locally and globally ELF strives to be an inspiring and sustainable model of community service advocacy and positive social change.

The Opportunity:

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive of the Education and Leadership Foundation (ELF) providing strategic leadership and organizational oversight in partnership with the Board of Directors. The ED is responsible for advancing ELFs mission and expanding its community impact through effective leadership of the organizations programs people finances and operations. This includes guiding strategic planning and program development; overseeing fiscal management and organizational sustainability; recruiting developing and supporting staff; and ensuring programs and services are effectively implemented evaluated and aligned with ELFs goals. As a key ambassador for the organization the Executive Director also plays an active role in fund development and grant writing advocacy community engagement public relations and partnership development cultivating strong relationships with community leaders funders donors partners and other stakeholders. This is a highly visible and impactful leadership opportunity for an individual who can balance strategic vision with effective execution while strengthening ELFs capacity sustainability and ability to serve the communities at the heart of its mission.

The Ideal Candidate:

A seasoned values-aligned executive who:

• Provides visionary leadership to guide ELF in achieving its mission and long-term goals.
• Develops and executes the Foundations strategic initiatives in collaboration with the Board of Directors and staff.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with the community educators government entities and funding sources to build strategic partnerships.
• Represents ELF publicly in media at events and in meetings with key stakeholders.
• Enhances ELFs image by being active and visible in the community and by working closely with other professional civic social and traditional media and community organizations.
• Promotes and nurtures a culture of collaboration inclusivity and excellence within the organization.
• Acts as a key ambassador for ELF building relationships with community leaders local organizations schools and other stakeholders.
• Advocates within the public and private sectors for issues relevant to ELF including education and leadership development initiatives at local regional and state levels.
• Maintains an active presence in the Fresno community to understand the evolving needs and opportunities related to ELFs work.
• Promotes equity and inclusion of communities of color through advocacy organizing movement- building and public policy.
• Leads the Foundations fundraising efforts including securing grants individual donations and corporate sponsorships.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive fundraising plan to support ELFs programs and operations.
• Ensures the effective use of the Foundations resources by preparing annual budgets monitoring expenditures and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with current and potential donors sponsors and supporters.
• Creates project budgets quarterly financial reports and oversees program budgets for relevant stakeholders.
• Supervises and mentors a team of dedicated staff fostering a positive work culture.
• Oversees recruitment training and professional development of staff members.
• Develops and manages an organizational structure that supports the efficient functioning of ELFs programs and operations.
• Ensures that all staff have clear expectations and are accountable for performance.
• Administers internal activities leads policy development and participates in employment and administrative policy decisions.
• Oversees the design implementation and evaluation of all ELF programs and services.
• Ensures alignment of programs with ELFs mission values and community needs.
• Develops metrics and measures to track the effectiveness and impact of programs.
• Evaluates program outcomes making recommendations for improvements and innovations as necessary.
• Ensures confidentiality compliance safety and quality improvement activities across all programs & services.
• Collaborates with the Board of Directors to ensure effective governance and the alignment of the Foundations activities with its mission and vision.
• Provides timely and accurate information to the Board to help inform their decisions and oversight.
• Assists in the recruitment and orientation of new board members and provides ongoing support to the Board in its duties.

Additional Qualifications

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field; masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in an executive senior management or comparable community-facing role.
• Minimum of five years of experience in the nonprofit sector with demonstrated success working with culturally and economically diverse communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to advocacy equity social justice and expanding opportunities for underserved underrepresented and immigrant communities.
• Proven ability to build relationships foster collaboration and develop trusted partnerships across diverse communities organizations government entities funders and other stakeholders.
• Strong executive leadership and organizational management skills including demonstrated experience with budgeting and fiscal oversight staff leadership and development program management strategic planning and organizational operations.
• Strategic and systems-oriented thinker with the ability to advance policy advocacy and systems-change initiatives in support of the organizations mission.
• Strong negotiation consensus-building and relationship-management skills including experience working effectively with funders community partners public agencies and other external stakeholders.
• Ability to establish a compelling organizational vision translate that vision into strategic priorities and actionable plans and inspire staff and stakeholders around a shared mission.
• Demonstrated record of community and civic engagement with the ability to serve as a visible and credible representative of the organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to lead with integrity sound judgment accountability diplomacy and professionalism.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish with the ability to communicate effectively with multilingual and multicultural communities.
• Excellent written verbal public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other technology and business applications necessary to effectively lead organizational operations.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings weekends and other nontraditional hours as necessary to support organizational programs events community engagement and leadership responsibilities.
• Must possess and maintain a valid California drivers license reliable transportation and automobile insurance meeting applicable legal and organizational requirements as well as meet applicable agency driving and insurability requirements.

Compensation Information

The position offers a competitive annual salary between $120000 - $140000 plus an exceptional benefits package including medical dental vision life insurance PTO sick time and 401(k) with company match.

Application Process

• To be considered candidates must apply by 12:00 PM Friday October 9 2026.
• Apply online through Sierra HR Partners:
• For confidential inquiries contact Andres I. Magos at or at 559.388.8423

Education and Leadership Foundation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Required Experience:

Director