Wellspring House
Position Announcement:
Executive Director
Wellspring House, an outstanding nonprofit located in Gloucester, MA, is seeking a dynamic new Executive Director. For 34 years Wellspring has focused on helping families on Boston’s North Shore move out of poverty toward economic self-sufficiency.
The Vision and Mission
Wellspring is guided by the vision of a society where all are welcomed and everyone has the opportunity to live a full and positive life. Believing that each life touches every other life, we work toward this vision of caring for the earth and her people by sharing our resources in a spirit of hospitality. Wellspring House empowers individuals and families to live more secure lives through basic needs assistance, education and job training. Please see www.wellspringhouse.org.
The Organization
Wellspring was founded in 1981 when seven friends pooled their resources to create a place where they could offer shelter to those who needed it. They soon recognized that shelter was only an emergency response, not the answer to homelessness, and they moved to provide affordable housing and education as well. Today Wellspring has an annual budget of $1.75 million and a professional and talented staff (14 full-time and 14 part-time). More than 360 dedicated volunteers provided 4,700 hours of service in 2014, extending the work of a passionate and involved Board of Trustees of 15 members. Programs include:
Wellspring Community Education
- Adult Learning Initiative I & II: Preparation for the HISET (formerly GED) test, computer and keyboarding skills training, focus on English, writing and math and support to enter the work force, a job training program, or higher education.
- MediClerk, a medical clerical job training program, offered in 14-week sessions to provide the skills necessary to succeed in an administrative position in the healthcare field.
- English Language Learning: free one-on-one tutoring and very small classes at the participant’s own pace, beginning any time. 183 students participated in the above 3 programs in 2014.
- Wellspring Education Resource Center (WERC), will provide individual counseling and mentoring to adults seeking post-secondary education.
- Wellspring connects students with sources of scholarships and ongoing support upon completion of a Wellspring education program.
Basic Needs and Homeless Prevention Services
- Family Shelter: For 34 years Wellspring has provided shelter to families experiencing homelessness and has worked intensively with each to find housing and resources to stabilize their family. Currently Wellspring is providing supportive services to close to 100 families housed in motel rooms.
- Homeless Prevention Fund: a resource for families in crisis who need networking and one-time financial assistance in order to stay in stable housing.
- Affordable Housing: Since 1987 Wellspring House has owned and managed 11 Chestnut Street, providing permanent housing. Fourteen individuals lived there in 2014 with the help of a subsidy program through Gloucester Housing Authority.
Additional programming includes the Homeless Prevention Hotline, Back to School Backpacks and the Holiday Store. With its wide range of services – from those provided to families in shelter to assistance to families seeking advice and education – Wellspring touched 2,275 families in 2014.
Twenty-seven percent of Wellspring’s funding comes from state contracts and 73% is from private sources such as corporate and community foundations, individual donors and special events.
The Position
The Executive Director (ED) serves as the organization’s principal leader and representative to the greater community. S/he will:
- Support and articulate the shared vision and mission.
- Ensure continued strategic planning to guide the accomplishment of the mission as well as long and short-range programs, projects and development goals.
- Work with staff in developing, implementing and evaluating programs.
- Help the staff and Board secure financial support. Actively participate in cultivating donors, developing contacts, face-to-face solicitations, events, and public speaking.
- Maintain accountability for sound financial planning, budgeting, reporting, management and compliance in cooperation with the Board’s finance committee and advisors.
- Insure efficient day-to-day staff and operations management.
- Understand and respect the needs of program participants.
- Support Board leadership by providing information, executing policies established by the Board, assisting with recruitment and orientation of members, and appropriately staffing committees.
- Develop working relationships at local, state, and national levels within foundations, government, business, churches, and organizations for advocacy, fundraising, and program collaboration.
- Bring new program initiatives to the Board.
Qualifications
The Executive Director will passionately embrace the mission and foster the organization’s culture. S/he will be an experienced, well-respected leader who combines strategic vision, operational excellence, and financial management with fundraising. S/he will develop a leadership presence in the community and work in a highly collaborative style. The ideal candidate will:
- Be experienced at a senior level in successfully leading and growing an organization.
- Be an effective and respected leader and collaborator.
- Bring a knowledge of poverty, homelessness, job training, and adult education.
- Embody impeccable standards of integrity.
- Have a track record of expanding revenue sources including major gift solicitation.
- Bring experience with nonprofit board(s).
- Demonstrate skills in financial management of multiple funding sources and public sector contracts.
- Offer strong staff and operations management and program development skills.
- Show exceptional communication skills.
- Master’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
To apply, please send cover letter, resume and salary history to Susan Egmont, Egmont Associates, segmont@egmontassociates.com