Compass To Care - Executive Director

Noetic Search, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass to Care seeks an Executive Director to lead the organization's next chapter of growth, building on its founder's legacy to expand access to life-saving transportation for children with cancer nationwide. You will provide strategic leadership, strengthen partnerships with hospitals, foundations, corporate supporters, and fundraise to advance organizational capacity and impact.

The role requires compassionate, visionary leadership, the ability to balance continuity with innovation, and a

Job description

Mission

Compass to Care’s mission is to fund transportation, so children with cancer can get to critical treatment, no matter the distance. Compass to Care is the trusted nationwide leader in removing transportation barriers for children with cancer. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Compass to Care partners with hospitals and families across the country to ensure children can access the life‑saving treatment they need. By funding reliable travel support, including gasoline and parking, Uber/Lyft, flights and lodging, Compass to Care delivers hope, stability, and healing when it matters most.

Background

The background of Compass to Care is rooted in the personal experience of its founder, Michelle Ernsdorff‑May, who survived childhood kidney cancer. As a child, Michelle’s family struggled financially to travel to the specialized treatment she needed. One of the defining moments came when her father had to hitchhike more than 200 miles home from the Mayo Clinic after Michelle was unexpectedly hospitalized because the family could not afford transportation. Her mother served as Michelle’s primary caregiver throughout her treatment while pregnant with her fourth child. Motivated by her family's experience, Michelle founded Compass to Care: The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation in 2010 to honor her parents and help families facing the same barriers. Since its founding, Compass to Care has grown into a nationwide nonprofit focused on removing transportation barriers for children with cancer. The organization funds transportation expenses through programs that cover Gas, parking, and train fare (ACCESS LIFE); rideshare transportation through Uber and Lyft (CARE & BACK™); and airfare, lodging, and ground transportation for long‑distance treatment or clinical trials (Flights of Hope). Its work is designed to ensure that families can focus on their child’s care rather than the financial burden of getting to treatment.

Opportunity

The organization has grown significantly over its 16‑year history with an annual operating budget of over $700k today and a goal to exceed $1M. As funds are raised, impact is amplified. Today Compass to Care serves over 367 children, up from 150 children served in 2020. Shaped by a 9‑person board of directors, a 10‑person associate board, active volunteers and two internal staff – Chief Operations Officer and Manager of Programs – the opportunity for a new Executive Director is to build on a strong founder‑led legacy while guiding the organization into its next phase of growth, impact, and sustainability.

Mission with tangible, measurable impact

Compass to Care addresses a specific and critical barrier to pediatric cancer care: transportation. The next Executive Director has the opportunity to lead an organization whose impact is clear, helping ensure children can access life‑saving treatment regardless of where they live or their family’s financial circumstances.

Build on an established national reputation

Since its founding in 2010, Compass to Care has developed a recognized niche as a national nonprofit focused exclusively on transportation assistance for children with cancer. A new leader can strengthen partnerships with pediatric hospitals, oncology social workers, foundations, and corporate supporters while expanding the organization’s reach to serve more families.

Lead the transition from founder‑led to next‑generation leadership

The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to:

• Honor Michelle Ernsdorff‑May’s vision and the Ernsdorff family’s legacy.
• Preserve the organization’s mission‑driven culture.
• Introduce new strategies, systems, and innovations that position Compass to Care for long‑term sustainability beyond its founding generation.

Expand fundraising and organizational capacity

The incoming leader can diversify and grow revenue through major gifts and planned giving, foundation and government grants, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, national awareness campaigns, and individual donor engagement and recurring giving. Current funding streams include events, grants, and individual gifts. There is an opportunity to grow major gifts, create a planned giving program, and build relationships with corporate partners. Increasing unrestricted funding would enable Compass to reach more eligible families and invest in organizational infrastructure.

Scale national impact

The Executive Director can explore opportunities to:

• Increase referrals from pediatric oncology centers.
• Expand services for families traveling to clinical trials and specialty care.
• Leverage technology to improve family access and program efficiency.
• Develop strategic partnerships with transportation providers, healthcare systems, and other childhood cancer organizations.

Strengthen organizational excellence

Beyond program growth, the next leader can enhance strategic planning, board engagement and governance, staff development and succession planning, data collection and impact measurement, and marketing and national brand visibility.

Be the organization’s chief ambassador

The Executive Director will serve as the public face of Compass to Care, sharing compelling stories that connect donors, partners, volunteers, and families around a common purpose: ensuring transportation is never the reason a child misses cancer treatment.

The leadership opportunity

For the right leader, this is more than a traditional nonprofit executive role. It is an opportunity to steward a deeply personal mission born from lived experience, preserve a respected founder’s legacy, and shape the next chapter of a national organization with significant potential for growth. Success will require balancing continuity with innovation—maintaining the compassion and family‑centered approach that defines Compass to Care while building the organizational capacity, partnerships, and financial strength needed to expand its impact for years to come.

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Compass to Care will lead the organization’s next chapter of growth, building on its strong foundation and founder’s legacy to expand access to life‑saving cancer treatment for children nationwide. As the chief executive and ambassador, the Executive Director will provide strategic, operational, and fundraising leadership while strengthening partnerships, deepening organizational capacity, and advancing the mission to eliminate transportation barriers for families facing childhood cancer. This is an opportunity to guide a nationally recognized nonprofit through an exciting leadership transition and ensure its impact continues to grow for years to come.

Core Competencies

• Mission‑Driven Leadership – Demonstrates a genuine passion for improving the lives of children with cancer and a deep commitment to ensuring equitable access to life‑saving treatment.
• Strategic Leadership – Establishes a clear vision for the organization’s future while successfully guiding Compass to Care through a significant leadership transition and positioning it for sustainable growth.
• Fundraising & Resource Development – Has a proven ability to cultivate major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and individual supporters while diversifying revenue and increasing philanthropic investment.
• Relationship Building – Develops trusted relationships with board members, donors, hospital partners, volunteers, families, and community stakeholders to advance the organization’s mission.
• External Ambassador – Serves as the compelling public face of the organization, communicating its impact through storytelling, advocacy, public speaking, and media engagement.
• Operational & Financial Leadership – Ensures sound financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, compliance, and efficient delivery of programs while strengthening internal systems and infrastructure.
• People Leadership – Inspires, develops, and retains a high‑performing staff while fostering a collaborative, mission‑centered, and inclusive organizational culture.
• Board Partnership – Works effectively with the Board of Directors on governance, strategic planning, fundraising, and organizational priorities, maintaining open and transparent communication.
• Innovation & Growth Orientation – Identifies opportunities to expand services, leverage technology, strengthen partnerships, and increase the organization’s national reach and impact.
• Results & Accountability – Uses data, metrics, and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness, demonstrate impact, and inform strategic decision‑making.

Leadership Characteristics

• Compassionate – Leads with empathy while keeping children and families at the center of every decision.
• Visionary – Sees opportunities to grow the organization’s reach and influence while honoring its founding mission.
• Collaborative – Builds consensus and empowers others across staff, board, and partner organizations.
• Entrepreneurial – Identifies creative solutions and new opportunities for funding, partnerships, and expanding its national impact.
• Authentic – Leads with humility, integrity, and transparency, earning the trust of stakeholders.
• Resilient – Navigates change with confidence and steadiness, particularly during the transition from founder‑led leadership.
• Influential Communicator – Connects with diverse audiences through compelling stories that inspire engagement and investment.

Candidate Profile

The ideal Executive Director is a strategic, relationship‑oriented nonprofit leader who can preserve Compass to Care’s deeply personal mission while strengthening its organizational capacity, expanding its national impact, and ensuring its long‑term sustainability. This individual will be equally comfortable in the boardroom, with donors, alongside hospital partners, and in conversations with the families whose lives are transformed by the organization’s work. They bring experience in fundraising, organizational leadership, and board partnership, along with exceptional communication and relationship‑building skills. An authentic and collaborative executive, the successful candidate will inspire confidence among donors, partners, staff, and volunteers while serving as a passionate ambassador for the organization’s mission. Equally adept at setting strategy and leading day‑to‑day operations, the next Executive Director will honor Compass to Care’s founder's legacy while expanding its national impact, strengthening organizational capacity, and ensuring long‑term sustainability for the families it serves.

Salary & Benefits

Salary: $115,000 – $125,000. Annual bonus plan set by the Board of Directors based on revenue targets incentivizing annual growth.

Contact & Additional Information

For more information, see our website or the Compass to Care website.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Compass to Care is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities and families we serve. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our organization and enhance our ability to fulfill our mission. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. Compass to Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer.