Executive Director

Summary

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW 

Heritage of Pride (HOP), operating as NYC Pride, is the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization responsible for planning and executing New York City's official, week-long LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration. NYC Pride events, including The March, PrideFest, and Youth Pride, among others, help to advance HOP’s mission of inspiring, educating, commemorating, and celebrating New York City’s diverse LGBTQIA+ communities. HOP took over responsibility for NYC Pride celebrations from the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee in 1984. That all-volunteer group organized the very first NYC Pride March in 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 — widely recognized as among the most pivotal moments in LGBTQIA+ history. 

Until 2002, HOP also operated as an entirely volunteer-led organization, with dozens of community members volunteering their time and talent to organize and produce NYC Pride events. In the years since, HOP has built up a small professional team – including both fulltime/year-round and seasonal staff – though volunteers and a spirit of community engagement remain at the heart of the organization. Even as HOP continues to grow its paid staff, NYC Pride Members – a group of 50+ dedicated volunteers – continue to be a critical component of HOP’s success, providing the vital volunteer support which makes the organization’s annual Pride celebration possible. 

HOP’s Executive Board is elected by and from this group of Members. The Executive Board includes two co-Chairs and the heads of Development, Media & Communications, and Community Relations, among other positions; all nominated and elected by Members. As HOP continues its transition from a hands-on, working Board to a more traditional governing Board model, it is envisioned that some of these roles and responsibilities may transition from Board/volunteer to staff positions (with continued collaboration with Board committees and Members, of course). Since its inception, HOP has grown from a grassroots collective into a prominent, nationally recognized nonprofit that coordinates some of the world’s largest and most influential Pride celebrations. The annual NYC Pride March attracts millions of participants and spectators each June, both locally and globally. 

HOP currently employs a team of 13 people, including 7 full-time, year-round employees and 6 seasonal staff members who work from early in the year through the end of June. Its current, 13-person Executive Board (the number of elected positions on this Board varies slightly from year to year) represents a cross-section of NYC’s LGBTQIA+, nonprofit, business, and philanthropic communities, as well as hundreds of hours of volunteer invested prior to being elected. HOP has a current revenue/expense budget of ~$3.2 MM and has forecast a balanced budget for 2025, reversing several years of deficits as it recovered from COVID and its aftermath.

OPPORTUNITY 

The new Executive Director of HOP will have the opportunity to lead an historic NYC institution and to bring new vision, energy, and possibilities to a vital LGBTQIA+ organization currently in period of rebuilding and reimagining. Following some challenging years during the height of COVID and its aftermath, HOP is now debt-free and focusing on a bright future and an expanded role, with even greater impact for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. In this time of renewal and transformation, a new Executive Director will have a platform to create and implement a bold, unifying vision and to inspire staff, Board, and volunteer groups to work collaboratively to achieve it.

THE POSITION 

The Executive Director will be the strategic and operational leader of HOP responsible for coordinating and overseeing all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, staff development and management, event coordination, external affairs and community engagement, finance and administrative management, and Board/Member relations. The E.D. will serve as the unifying force of the organization, guiding staff, Board, and volunteersto achieve HOP’s mission and long-term objectives. This E.D. should be both strategic and operational, with the ability to balance hands-on leadership with fostering a vision for long-term growth. A key accountability for the new E.D. will be to work collaboratively with the Executive Board and Members to help steward the organization’s continued transition from a Board/volunteer-led governance model to a more traditional E.D./staff-led nonprofit. Building and stewarding relationships and facilitating the engagement of the Executive Board, Members, staff, and volunteers will be critical to success. This work will require vision, patience, and diplomacy on the part of the new E.D.

LOCATION 

New York City, NY. The Executive Director must reside in the greater NYC area or be willing to relocate to the area. (HOP is not offering relocation assistance.) 

REPORTING 

Reports to Executive Board with direct supervision from the Co-Chairs. Responsible for leading and supporting a team of 13 full-time and seasonal staff. Works collaboratively/cooperatively with HOP Membership.

Qualifications

Desired Skills and Experience (Must Have):

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience that includes senior management and executive leadership roles (preferably in mission-driven nonprofit organizations);
• Proven ability to create and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy – including individual giving, major donors, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, and major events – with a focus on revenue generation and diversification of funds;
• Strategic planning and visioning skills, including the ability to engage diverse groups of stakeholders in creating a shared vision for the future;
• Project and/or event management experience, including oversight of revenue, cost controls, logistics, and mission alignment of major events;
• Excellent team building and management skills and proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop staff and volunteers;
• Exceptional communication skills – capable of compelling storytelling and of uniting teams and communities around a common vision;
• Financial oversight and budget management experience in an organization of comparable size and complexity and with similar funding sources;
• Strong understanding of nonprofit operations, financial management, and governance models/best practices;
• Seasoned, intersectional understanding of LGBTQIA+ and allied social, political, and equality issues and history of involvement – personally or professionally – in these movements;
• NOTE: This role requires flexibility, including frequent evening and weekend work, particularly around Pride season. Occasional travel and holiday work may be required.

Supplemental Skills and Experience (Nice to Have): 

• Significant experience organizing and managing volunteers and volunteer leadership groups;
• Previous experience in a membership-based or volunteer-led organization or environment;
• Existing connections/relationships with LGBTQIA+ serving organization and leaders in New York City;
• Depth of knowledge of nonprofit governance practices and models;
• Knowledge, training, and/or practical experience in change management. 

Desired Personal Qualities and Characteristics: 

• Demonstrated passion for, and proven connections to the work of, advancing rights and protections for all LGBTQIA+ people;
• Cultural competency and humility, including an intersectional lens and understanding of marginalized individuals, communities, and populations;
• Strong interpersonal skills and high levels of self-awareness and professional maturity;
• Charismatic and dynamic personal style – able to make authentic connections and inspire action;
• Ability to lead with empathy, diplomacy, and patience, as well as to manage conflict among various groups and stakeholders, in an even-handed and professional manner;
• Collaborative, transparent, and consensus-driven, but can be decisive when necessary;
• Nimbleness and flexibility to pivot, shift gears, and/or re-prioritize seamlessly without losing patience or focus;
• High level of comfort holding peers accountable to individual, departmental, and organizational goals;
• Thick skin, active listener, sense of humor.

Duties

 [NOTE: It is understood that no single candidate will have equal expertise across all these areas of responsibility. Successful candidates will demonstrate a compelling combination of many of them, and the self-awareness and professional maturity to leverage existing or new resources in the area(s) where they lack personal depth.]

1. Organizational Leadership & Strategy 

• Work collaboratively with staff, Executive Board, and other stakeholders to establish a clear, strategic vision and long-term objectives;
• Set clear expectations and ensure that objectives are communicated effectively, including delegating tasks and responsibilities among staff while maintaining high accountability;
• Ensure that all actions, policies, and program efforts align with HOP’s mission;
• Provide leadership to establishing a re-imagined fundraising/revenue generation strategy which will increase engagement from individuals and community partners;
• Explore opportunities for year-round programming and an expanded community advocacy role for HOP. 

2. Fundraising 

• Lead fundraising efforts with a clear vision for diversifying revenue streams; in particular, reducing HOP’s historic reliance on corporate sponsorships in light of recent challenges;
• Collaborate with the Director of Development (currently an elected, Board/Volunteer role) to strengthen fundraising capacity and results and to ensure all revenue goals are met or exceeded;
• Engage directly with current and potential donors, sponsors, and community leaders to ensure financial stability and growth;
• Proactively seek to engage new foundations and other institutional funders to help secure long-term, sustainable support;
• Set clear metrics for success and report regularly to the Board and stakeholders on progress

3. Staff Development and Management 

• Assess, review, and recommend any necessary changes to current organizational structure and staffing models, assuring alignment with HOP’s strategic, operational, and financial goals;
• Clarify and strengthen understanding of roles, responsibilities, and structures among staff, and also support healthy working relationships with Executive Board and Members, setting appropriate boundaries where necessary;
• Uplift the work of staff, offering support, mentorship, and encouragement;
• Foster an environment that promotes professional growth and success while maintaining accountability and clarity in roles;
• Cultivate a workplace that is collaborative, inclusive, and high performing, with clear communication and mutual respect. 

4. Event Production Support 

• Understand and support the execution of large-scale events – with a personal focus on fundraising, strategic oversight, and community engagement – ensuring that events reflect HOP’s core values of inclusivity, diversity, and celebration;
• • Work with and support the volunteers, seasonalstaff, and full-time team responsible for NYC Pride events in June (and throughout the year) to ensure they are successful and financially profitable;
• • Strategize and present opportunities to improve performance, broaden appeal, and increase community engagement in NYC Pride events. 

5. External Affairs and Community Engagement 

• Build, expand, and maintain direct relationships with community leaders, stakeholders, and influencers;
• Serve as a dynamic and visible leader within the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond, helping to shape public perception of HOP;
• Foster community relationships through outreach, advocacy, and collaboration with other LGBTQIA+ organizations, leaders, and stakeholders; • Identify opportunities and partnering possibilities to deepen HOP’s community advocacy work and impact;
• Leverage relationships with key stakeholders to elevate HOP’s visibility and reputation. 

6. Finance & Administrative Management 

• Provide transparent fiscal stewardship of HOP, ensuring appropriate resource utilization and the ability to operate in a positive financial position;
• Work with the Finance Committee to develop, approve, and manage annual revenue and expense budgets;
• Collaborate closely with the Treasurer to ensure HOP stays within budget, ensuring financial integrity and sustainability;
• Manage the organization’s resources within budgeted guidelines and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. 

7. Board Relations 

• Support the operations and administration of the Board of Directors, including meeting logistics and preparation of necessary reports, documentation of Board-approved organizational policies, etc.;
• Support the development of a volunteer leadership pipeline by identifying and recommending candidates who represent the full diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community in NYC, and leading and/or participating in leadership development trainings as appropriate/necessary;
• Attend Board meetings and participate in ongoing Executive Board and other committee calls as required or requested