Chief Executive Officer

Indyhunger; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare reimbursement

Dental and vision coverage

SIMPLE IRA retirement plan

Flexible work arrangements

Paid time off

Job summary

Brooke's Place, based in Indianapolis, seeks a mission-driven CEO to lead the organization with warmth and clinical integrity while guiding responsible growth. The CEO will report to the Board, oversee fundraising, operations, and partnerships, and ensure program quality and organizational culture.

The role requires strong communication, financial acumen, and the ability to translate vision into sustainable results, while engaging staff, volunteers, and donors in Central Indiana.

Qualifications

• Eight to ten+ years of proven nonprofit leadership.
• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, business, social services, or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee leadership, fundraising, and program operations for Brooke's Place.
• Partner with the Board on strategic direction and growth.
• Ensure financial oversight, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead staff, volunteers, and community partnerships to expand impact.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Fundraising

Public advocacy

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Brooke's Placefor Grieving Young People
Indianapolis, IN
Chief Executive Officer

The Opportunity

Few childhood events are as life-altering as the death of a parent, sibling, or significant person. Since 1999, Brooke's Place has helped change the lives of grieving children and families through peer support groups, therapy services, camp-based programming, and community education. With the retirement of a long-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brooke's Place is seeking a mission-centered, people-oriented leader who will preserve the organization's warmth and clinical integrity while preparing it for responsible growth.

Brooke's Place is the only organization providing ongoing grief services specifically for children and families in Central Indiana. Poised for continued growth, we seek an inspiring and experienced leader who can build on a strong foundation of committed donors, volunteers, staff, and community partners. The next CEO will bring strong communication and relationship-building skills, sound business judgment, emotional intelligence, and the ability to translate vision into sustainable results without losing sight of the mission.

What and Who You'll Lead

As CEO, the selected candidate will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of Brooke's Place organization, including but not limited to: community and public relations, fundraising; development and cultivation of donors, program service models and expansion; human resources management, grant-writing oversight; financial management and compliance; Board of Directors administration and support; and legal, tax, risk and facilities management. Three of the 15 staff members report directly to this individual, who reports to the Brooke's Place Board of Directors.

The CEO will partner closely with the Board on strategic direction, fund development, and organizational priorities. Working in partnership with clinical and functional leaders, the CEO will strengthen the people, systems, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to expand impact while protecting program quality and organizational culture.

The role also requires visible and flexible leadership of a mission-driven team whose programs, volunteer activities, donor events, and family needs may extend beyond traditional business hours.

Key Priorities for the First 12 Months

• Build trust with staff, board, donors, and community partners through presence, transparency, and consistent follow-through, establishing relationships with deeply passionate volunteers, staff, and donors.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Programs Director and program team to assess the current state of programs and operations, assessing whether the model is right-sized and right-shaped for current demand, future growth, geographic reach, and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Work with the Advancement Director and team to strengthen financial systems, stewardship practices, and development infrastructure, with meaningful progress toward new major gift relationships, corporate partnerships, planned giving efforts, and a diversified revenue base.
• Evaluate the facilities, technology, data, staffing, and operating capabilities needed for the organization's next phase.
• Deepen referral and community partnerships across schools, healthcare, hospice, funeral service, nonprofit, civic, and business networks.
• Improve the use of outcomes and evaluation to demonstrate impact, inform decisions, and support fundraising.
• Foster a culture in which staff and volunteers feel supported, valued, accountable, and equipped to succeed.

Who We're Looking For

Brooke's Place seeks a leader first, with genuine passion for this mission. The ideal candidate:

• Brings eight to ten or more years of proven senior leadership, preferably in the nonprofit sector (through employment, board membership, and/or volunteerism).
• Think strategically and has demonstrated experience leading organizational growth, managed change, and driving strategic planning processes that produce measurable results.
• Serves as the organization's chief fundraiser, with a demonstrated track record in major gifts, foundation relations, corporate partnerships, grant procurement, and revenue diversification across multiple funding streams.
• Serves as a visible public ambassador for Brooke's Place, telling the organization's story compellingly to boards, funders, media, policymakers, and the public, while actively advancing advocacy efforts around critical childhood grief programming.
• Holds high standards of fairness, transparency, integrity and accountability.
• Possesses a strong financial acumen and exercises disciplined financial stewardship, with the ability to oversee budgets, manage risk, and make sound resource allocation decisions that keep the mission and the bottom line in balance.
• Carries a genuine commitment to helping grieving children and families to thrive in the midst of grief.
• Believes, as a daily practice, that every grieving child deserves to feel safe, supported and understood in their grief journey.
• Brings a practical, engaged leadership style and is willing to roll up their sleeves alongside staff, volunteers, and board members to meet the needs of the organization and the families it serves.
• Leads, motivates, and develops a dedicated team, supporting staff in carrying out their respective roles with clarity, purpose, and a culture of shared values and belonging.

Qualifications

• Brings eight to ten or more years of proven leadership experience in nonprofit sector (through employment, board membership, and/or volunteerism).
• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, business, social services, or a related field is required. Equivalent relevant education and experience will be considered.
• A master's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, business, counseling, social work, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience growing a smaller nonprofit or mission-based organization is preferred.
• Knowledge of Central Indiana and relationships across its nonprofit, civic, philanthropic, healthcare, or business communities are advantageous.

Compensation and Benefits

• Brooke's Place offers competitive compensation, including a salary range beginning at $120K, commensurate with the candidate's relevant experience and qualifications.
• Benefits include healthcare reimbursement; dental and vision coverage; a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan; flexible work arrangements; and paid time off, including holidays, sick time, and vacation time.