Executive Director

Houston Furniture Bank; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston Furniture Bank in Houston, Texas seeks an Executive Director to provide strategic leadership and oversee fundraising, finances, operations, and community engagement. The role requires a proven track record in major gifts, partnerships, and nonprofit governance.

The ED will report to the Board, drive program growth, ensure financial sustainability, and serve as the organization’s chief advocate and spokesperson, advancing impact for families in need.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience leading fundraising and grant development.
• Strong financial management and budgeting experience.
• Proven leadership and team development capability.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to build partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
• Passion for serving vulnerable populations and improving community impact.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership to advance mission and growth.
• Oversee strategic planning, fundraising, finances, operations, and community engagement.
• Lead major gift cultivation, corporate partnerships, and grant strategies.
• Ensure governance alignment with the Board and effective reporting.
• Manage operations including logistics, distribution, and program quality.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing staff and volunteers.
• Serve as primary spokesperson and advocate for the organization.

Skills

Fundraising

Strategic leadership

Financial management

Budgeting

Leadership

Communication

Public speaking

Partnership building

Operational excellence

Problem solving

Integrity

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree in nonprofit/BA or MBA

Job description

Executive Director Job Description

Houston Furniture Bank

Houston, Texas

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive officer of the Houston Furniture Bank and provides visionary leadership to advance its mission of improving lives by providing essential furniture to families and individuals in need. The ED is responsible for overall organizational management, including strategic planning, fundraising, financial oversight, operations, and community engagement. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED ensures the organization’s long-term sustainability, operational excellence, and measurable community impact.

An Executive Director (ED) of a nonprofit with a $2 million annual revenue level is expected to be a senior-level fundraiser and chief partnership officer, spending roughly 40% to 50% of their time on business development, cultivation, and stewardship. At this budget level, the ED is expected to move beyond daily operations to drive strategic growth, typically leading major gift cultivation, corporate partnerships, and high-level grant strategies, often with the support of a development team.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a multi-year strategic plan aligned with the organization’s mission and growth objectives.
• Identify opportunities to expand programs, increase service capacity, and enhance organizational impact.
• Lead innovation in furniture reuse, recycling, and distribution models.

·All organizational stakeholders see the executive director as the most visible and clear embodiment of organizational values and commitment to the organization.

• Articulate the nonprofit’s vision,mission, theory of change, statement of need, unique value proposition, and overall strategy and direction of the organization.
• Build alignment across the organization.
• The ED needs to be the Chief of Enthusiasm and Optimism

Board Relations and Governance

• The Board owns and governs the nonprofit (The Furniture Bank).The ED works in partnership with the Board and for the Board with the ED being responsible for the day-to-day operations, administration, planning, and information dissemination.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to ensure strong governance and strategic alignment, policy compliance and committee assistance.
• Provide timely and accurate reporting on organizational performance, finances, and program outcomes.
• Support board development, recruitment, and engagement.
• The ED is the liaison between the Board and the Staff to introduce programs that bring change and growth and ensures strategic plan implementation.
• Ensure the Board is provided with notices of public events, large grant/donor opportunities, local, state and federal business opportunities.
• Relaying staff and volunteers' ideas and other concerns that require the board's attention and involvement.
• Provide an annual report by end of 1st quarter of the following year

Fundraising and Development

• The executive director creates a culture of fundraising.The ED is responsible for bringing in the most dollars from individual donors and corporations spending half of their weekly work hours doing so.

·The executive director is responsible for creating the conditions for fundraising success (vision, materials, pitch, call-time, training, technology, etc.).

• Lead all fundraising initiatives, including individual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government funding.
• Identify, pursue and secure diverse non-governmental funding sources for Corporate Sponsorships to ensure financial sustainability and support strategic initiatives.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with donors and community partners.
• Oversee fundraising campaigns, special events, software system utilization oversight, document creation and storage, record keeping and donor stewardship strategies.

Financial Management

·An executive director must demonstrate competence in reading, creating, and understanding financial documents, including budgets, cash flow, income statements, balance statements, and statements of functional expenses.

·The ED must be familiar with the basics of 990 tax returns, audits, compliance and ensure sound fiscal management, including financial reporting.

• Develop and manage the annual budget in collaboration with the Board and finance staff.
• Monitor financial performance and implement strategies to ensure sustainability and growth.

Operations and Program Oversight

• The ED is not expected to work “in the weeds” on program matters but should be creating the big picture with the Board, while also ensuring the quality and effectiveness of each program and activity.
• Stakeholders (the Board and major donors/funding sources) expect the executive director to set the organization’s strategy and achieve outcomes. This includes tackling big-picture strategy to solve big picture issues such as “No Kids Sleep on the Floor” program and the Mattress Recycling Program.Large leaps in progress is expected to achieve the end goals.
• Oversee all operational functions, including furniture collection, warehousing, recycling, and distribution programs.
• Ensure efficient logistics, inventory management, and service delivery systems.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to evaluate program effectiveness and impact.
• Work with existing and potential new partner agencies to increase reach and leverage to the impacted community through the partner voucher program.

Human Resources and Leadership

• Recruit, select, develop, and retain a high-performing team of staff and volunteers.
• Create clear staff roles and job descriptions to maximize efficiency
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven organizational culture.
• Oversee staff performance management, training, and professional development.
• Deploying staff most effectively.

Community Relations and Advocacy

• Serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the organization building alliances and strategic partnerships.
• Partnership building to include nonprofit agencies, industry associations, corporations, government entities, community leaders and the media.
• Advocate for issues related to housing stability, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability.

Marketing and Communications

• Oversee branding, marketing, and public relations strategies.
• Ensure consistent messaging across all platforms to enhance visibility and community engagement.
• Promote the organization’s impact through storytelling, media outreach, and digital communications.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and nonprofit best practices.
• Oversee risk management, including warehouse safety, volunteer protocols, and liability mitigation.
• Maintain appropriate internal controls and insurance coverage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of senior leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, including major gifts and grant development.
• Strong financial management and budgeting experience.
• Experience overseeing operations, logistics, or distribution programs is highly desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Passion for serving vulnerable populations and advancing community impact.
• The ED should be an industry thought leader and be on top of the trends and developments in our nonprofit industry sector.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and execution
• Leadership and team development
• Financial acumen
• Relationship building and influence
• Operational excellence
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Integrity and accountability