Executive Director - Create Campaign, Inc.

Gilder Search Group; Wichita, Northern (KS, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package including generous F&

Job summary

Create Campaign in Wichita, Kansas seeks an Executive Director to lead fundraising, team growth, and program impact. The leader will secure funding, build a high-performing team, and safeguard assets while expanding impact across diverse entrepreneurs.

The role focuses on expanding programs, partnerships, governance, and sustainable growth in a growth-stage nonprofit serving urban entrepreneurs in the Midwest.

Qualifications

• Experience as a primary fundraiser or leading major gift strategies.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and retain high-performing teams.
• Background in program development, curriculum and/or training initiatives.
• Strong operational and financial management experience.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan to generate the budget annually.
• Lead donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship across foundations, corporations and individuals.
• Partner with a Board to expand funding networks and opportunities.
• Oversee design and delivery of culturally relevant programs and resources.
• Ensure sound financial management and governance practices.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Create Campaign seeks a dynamic and results-driven Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and impact. This leader will bring a strong focus on fundraising, team development, and program impact, ensuring the organization continues to scale sustainably.

The Executive Director will be responsible for securing funding necessary to execute on the Create Campaign Mission, building and leading a high-performing team, safeguarding organizational assets and expanding programs that empower diverse entrepreneurs.

About the Organization

Create Campaign is a growth-stage nonprofit dedicated to activating urban entrepreneurs in the Midwest to launch, innovate and grow. Create Campaign provides access and capital – access to entrepreneurship education, opportunity and business capital. The result: diverse entrepreneurs are equipped with the tools, resources, and education needed to build and sustain successful businesses that generate increased economic mobility. We serve individuals who are often overlooked and underinvested in, delivering culturally relevant programming designed for real-world business needs.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Revenue Leadership

• Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan to generate the budget annually
• Lead donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship across foundations, corporations and individuals
• Partner with an engaged Board of Directors to expand funding networks and opportunities
• Build a diversified revenue mix (grants, corporate support, individual giving, sponsorships)
• Serve as the primary driver and closer of major funding opportunities

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, coach and develop staff, fostering a culture of accountability, growth and mission alignment
• Implement clear performance expectations and operational processes
• Identify and address skill gaps through training and capacity-building

Programs & Entrepreneur Impact

• Oversee the design and delivery of culturally relevant programs, tools and resources
• Ensure programming meets the evolving needs of underrepresented entrepreneurs
• Strengthen program quality, evaluation and scalability
• Support the development of replicable training models and curriculum

Operations & Stewardship

• Ensure sound financial management and protection of organizational assets (financial, physical and intellectual)
• Oversee daily operations, compliance and internal systems across financial, physical facilities and programming
• Partner with the Board to uphold strong governance and compliance practices

Partnerships & Community Leadership

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships that advance funding, programming and visibility
• Serve as a key ambassador and advocate for the organization
• Strengthen relationships across the entrepreneurial and economic development ecosystem

Qualifications

• College degree required
• Experience serving as a primary fundraiser or leading major gift strategies
• Proven ability to lead, develop and retain high-performing teams
• Must demonstrate experience in building entrepreneurship, small business development or economic mobility initiatives with diverse populations
• Background in program development, curriculum and/or training initiatives
• Strong operational and financial management experience
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and strategic thinking skills
• Must have reliable transportation
• Must be willing to work flexible hours
• Must live within the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area

Preferred / Valued Experience

• Lived experience as an entrepreneur
• Experience working closely with underrepresented communities
• Experience scaling programs or organizations in a growth-stage environment

Competencies

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices, and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timelymanner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations ofthe organization and to create new opportunities.
• Focus on Client Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external clients to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information, and activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Physical Requirements

• Predominantly operates in an office environment. Some periods of time may be spent operating standard office equipment
• Lift twenty pounds
• Sitting for extended periods
• Repetitive motion
• Close visual acuity to perform an activity such using and viewing information on a laptop or desktop PC
• Walking short distances

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive pay, commensurate with experience
• Benefits package including generous flex and paid time off allocations
  

Why Join Create Campaign?

• Lead a mission-driven organization with strong community credibility
• Shape the future of entrepreneurship for underserved communities
• Build and scale programs that create lasting economic impact