Executive Director

Stonewall Columbus; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

Job summary

Stonewall Columbus is seeking an experienced Executive Director to lead the organization’s next chapter in Central Ohio. You will provide strategic leadership, advance IDEA and community-centered programs, and diversify revenue streams through major gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, and government funding.

The role requires building a strong, inclusive culture, guiding staff, and partnering with the Board to ensure financial sustainability, accountability, and impactful advocacy for

Qualifications

• Ability to translate vision into focused priorities and measurable goals.
• Proven track record in strategic leadership for a nonprofit.
• Strong fundraising capabilities across individuals, foundations, and partners.
• Experience managing budgets, reporting, compliance and HR processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear organizational leadership aligning mission, programs, and priorities.
• Partner with Board and staff to translate strategic vision into actionable plans with accountability.
• Assess capacity and set priorities balancing growth with staff well-being and sustainability.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse staff; foster a trauma-informed culture.
• Oversee finances, operations, risk management, and internal controls.
• Develop annual operating budget and provide timely financial reporting.
• Evaluate programs using data and community input to maximize impact.
• Strengthen revenue through diversified fundraising, partnerships and government support.
• Center IDEA in culture, programming, fundraising, and resource allocation.
• Serve as spokesperson and advocate, representing Stonewall Columbus publicly.
• Collaborate with Board to promote governance and fiduciary responsibilities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Organizational leadership

Fundraising & donor relations

Financial stewardship

Equity, inclusion & DEI leadership

Governance & board partnership

Job description

Founded in 1981 as Stonewall Union, Stonewall Columbus is Central Ohio’s leading LGBTQ+ community organization. For more than four decades, Stonewall has strengthened visibility, inclusion, and connection through advocacy, education, wellness initiatives, cultural programming, and community building.

The Opportunity

Stonewall Columbus seeks an experienced, strategic, and community-centered Executive Director (ED) to guide the organization through its next chapter. Building on more than four decades of advocacy, service, and community leadership, the ED will help clarify Stonewall’s year-round role, strengthen its organizational foundation, and deepen its impact across Central Ohio.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide clear and steady organizational leadership, ensuring that Stonewall’s mission, programs, operations, and priorities remain responsive to the changing needs of Central Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community.
• Partner with the Board, staff, and community to clarify Stonewall’s year-round role and translate its strategic vision into focused priorities, implementation plans, measurable goals, and clear accountability.
• Assess organizational capacity and establish realistic priorities that balance innovation and growth with staff well-being, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.
• Recruit, develop, support, and retain a talented and diverse staff; establish clear roles and performance expectations; and cultivate a trauma-informed workplace grounded in trust, transparency, inclusion, and accountability.
• Oversee Stonewall’s finances, administration, human resources, programs, facilities, technology, risk management, and organizational systems, ensuring effective operations and responsible stewardship.
• Develop the annual operating budget for Board approval; provide timely and understandable financial reporting; maintain appropriate internal controls; and ensure compliance with grants, contracts, policies, laws, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate programs and community impact using community input, participant information, and outcome data. Determine where Stonewall should provide services directly and where partnerships or referrals can produce greater impact.
• Strengthen and diversify revenue through individual and major-gift fundraising, institutional giving, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, government support, earned revenue, and other mission-aligned strategies.
• Center inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability (IDEA) throughout Stonewall’s culture, programs, partnerships, fundraising, communications, and allocation of resources.
• Serve as Stonewall’s principal spokesperson, ambassador, fundraiser, and advocate, representing the organization with community members, donors, businesses, the media, public officials, funders, and institutional partners.
• Partner with the Board of Trustees to promote effective governance, clarify the boundaries between governance and management, support informed decision-making, and engage trustees in their fiduciary, strategic, fundraising, and ambassadorial responsibilities.

Candidate Profile

While no candidate will bring every qualification, the successful candidate will demonstrate many of the following experiences, competencies, and leadership qualities:

Strategic Leadership

The Executive Director will bring the ability to clarify organizational direction and translate vision into focused, achievable plans. They will anticipate changing community needs, establish measurable goals, align resources with priorities, and balance ambition with organizational capacity and long-term sustainability.

An experienced and empowering manager, the Executive Director will build trust, communicate transparently, and establish clear expectations and accountability. They will develop staff, encourage collaboration, and cultivate an inclusive and trauma-informed culture that supports both employee well-being and strong performance.

Operational and Financial Stewardship

The successful candidate will have the management acumen to lead a multifaceted nonprofit encompassing programs, annual Pride festival and march, fundraising, advocacy, facilities, partnerships, and community engagement. They will bring experience with budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, human resources, technology, risk management, and organizational systems, using data to inform decisions and evaluate impact.

Equity-Centered Community Leadership

The Executive Director will understand LGBTQ+ issues, history, and the diverse, intersectional experiences within the community. Leading with cultural humility, integrity, and a commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability, they will build trust across identities, backgrounds, generations, and lived experiences. They will expand access and belonging and ensure that historically marginalized communities are meaningfully represented and engaged. Meaningful professional or lived experience with LGBTQ+ communities is essential.

Fundraising and Revenue Development

The Executive Director will be a compelling champion for Stonewall’s mission with demonstrated success cultivating individual and major donors, corporate partners, foundations, government funders, and other supporters. They will confidently make direct asks, strengthen donor stewardship, broaden Stonewall’s philanthropic community, and work with staff and the Board to build a diversified and sustainable revenue strategy.

Governance and Board Partnership

The Executive Director will value the Board of Trustees as a strategic and governing partner. They will communicate openly, provide accurate and timely information, maintain appropriate boundaries between governance and management, and help trustees fulfill their fiduciary, strategic, fundraising, and ambassadorial responsibilities.

External Relations, Advocacy, and Partnerships

A visible, credible, and resilient community leader, the Executive Director will communicate effectively with community members, donors, corporations, nonprofit partners, elected officials, public agencies, and the media. With emotional intelligence and political acumen, they will listen across differences, navigate complex issues, strengthen collaboration, and position Stonewall as a trusted community resource and influential voice.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $140,000, accompanied by a generous benefits package. Details will be provided to candidates selected to advance in the search process.

Stonewall Columbus is a community-centered organization committed to visibility, inclusion, connection, and accountability. It strives to create a workplace where LGBTQ+ people—particularly those most affected by systems of inequity—are respected, supported, and able to thrive.

Stonewall Columbus, Inc. is proud to be an Affirmitive Action/Fair Chance/Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer who supports diversity in the workplace. Applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, pregnancy, disability, marital status, previous contact with the criminal justice system, or other characteristics protected by law.