Executive Director

Description

About Cradles to Crayons

Cradles to Crayons (C2C), founded in 2002, provides children living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at school, and at play. We supply clothing, shoes, diapers, school supplies, and more, free of charge. Our vision is that one day all children will have the essentials they need to thrive.

Two in five kids in the United States are currently facing Clothing Insecurity, going without basic essentials like pants, shoes, diapers, and school supplies during their critical development years. Three of the top ten reasons kids miss school are rooted in Clothing Insecurity—just one example of the significant short- and long-term social and economic costs when these needs go unmet.

Cradles to Crayons keeps Clothing Insecurity at the core of our mission and is the only large-scale nonprofit organization to focus on this resource gap. Since its founding, Cradles to Crayons has distributed more than three million customized packages of essentials to children in Massachusetts, Greater Philadelphia, Chicagoland, and nationally through Giving Factory Direct—a first-in-kind online product donation platform launched in 2021.

Cradles to Crayons takes a three-pronged approach to mitigating Clothing Insecurity:

• In-person Engagement — Tens of thousands of children and adults volunteer at our Giving Factory warehouses to sort and package high volumes of new and like-new donations for our Service Partners to distribute to the children they serve.
• Online Product Donations — Giving Factory Direct matches product donors directly to children who need the items they have to donate. GFD is currently available in a growing number of communities as we expand nationally.
• Advocacy and Awareness — Cradles to Crayons raises Clothing Insecurity as a national issue through awareness campaigns, data/evaluation, and legislative outreach.

Cradles to Crayons’ strong financial health and ongoing effectiveness have earned it a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator every year since 2009. C2C has a budget of $18.5M for FY26 and a total staff of approximately 100. C2C Philadelphia has a budget of $3M for FY26 and a staff of 22.

Position Overview

C2C is seeking an accomplished, innovative, and mission-driven leader to serve as Executive Director of Philadelphia, guiding one of the organization’s core markets in providing essential resources for children and families in need. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and serving on C2C’s national Senior Leadership Team, the Executive Director will oversee all aspects of the Philadelphia operation—strengthening organizational capacity, building and leading a high-performing team and inclusive culture, and advancing C2C’s strategic priorities across Greater Philadelphia.

This leader will cultivate a strong community of support, steward relationships with the Philadelphia Market Advisory Board, corporate and foundation partners, and individual donors, and serve as a compelling ambassador for C2C’s mission and brand.

The Executive Director is based at the Philadelphia Giving Factory and is expected to be onsite four days per week. All Cradles to Crayons staff participate in monthly in-person volunteer shifts to stay closely connected to our mission.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Model and lead a positive “One Cradles” culture, underpinned by Cradles’ Cultural Values and Norms.
• Lead the Philadelphia market, overseeing management of all functions, including development, programs, teams, operations, facilities management, purchasing, and budgeting.
• Sit on the national Senior Leadership Team, contributing insight and expertise to organizational strategy, initiatives, and goals.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, expense management, and cash flow for a market budget of over $3 million.
• In collaboration with the COO, set programmatic direction for the site, evaluate opportunities for innovative new programs, and ensure the effectiveness and satisfaction of current programs, including the learning and operational imperatives of The Giving Corps.
• Build and steward relationships with key community stakeholders and supporters; leverage organizational assets and cultivate high-impact partnerships.
• Support C2C-wide initiatives through staff participation, financial support, and collaboration with other markets on shared policies and tools that strengthen the entire organization.

Fundraising and External Relations

• Grow and sustain the annual budget through individual donors, corporations, family philanthropy, foundations, galas, and event sponsorships.
• In collaboration with the VP of National Philanthropy and national leadership, strengthen relationships with existing supporters and proactively identify and secure new funding opportunities.
• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson in the community, including for media engagements and events.
• Maintain and grow a robust Family Leadership Circle.

Operations & Program Management

• Provide inspirational leadership, management, and professional development for the market Leadership Team and all staff while promoting a culture of respect, inclusion, and collective accountability.
• Collaborate with the COO and other market leaders to strengthen the overall distribution strategy by ensuring fidelity to the program model, achieving key metrics, and aligning with national standards.
• Participate in the selection and development of scalable systems that support operational efficiency and provide real-time information for effective decision-making.
• Ensure accurate and consistent data collection and evaluation across programs; leverage metrics to guide decisions related to quality control, program development, partnerships, and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee local procurement through designated Operations staff.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Volunteer Management

• Oversee the strategic management and engagement of local volunteers in impact-based tasks related to the C2C mission.
• Proactively develop the Giving Corps program as a key strategy and resource for growth; dramatically increase the number of volunteer leaders.

Required Experience / Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Passion for C2C’s mission and alignment with C2C values.
• Demonstrated experience as a strategic leader, liaison, and collaborator with internal and external stakeholders.
• 10+ years of leadership and strategic planning experience in complex, entrepreneurial, mission-driven organizations during periods of change and expansion.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing fundraising strategies, including corporate sponsorships, foundations, individual donors, and government agencies; proven track record of closing 5- and 6-figure gifts.
• Experience working with and leveraging a strong, high-profile, civic-minded Board.
• Experience building, managing, and leading high-performing teams.
• Strong financial management skills; experience creating annual operating plans and budgets that support strategic objectives.
• Experience cultivating relationships within nonprofit, public service, and social justice communities.
• Experience overseeing programs that rely heavily on volunteers, including recruitment, training, and stewardship.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency with Salesforce or other CRMs is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

The estimated base salary for this position is $175,000–$185,000 annually. The compensation offered may vary based on geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level.

This is a benefits-eligible position. Cradles to Crayons offers a generous benefits package, including:

• Health benefits (medical, dental, vision) and a Health Reimbursement Arrangement.
• Monthly cell phone and internet stipend.
• Employer-sponsored short- and long-term disability and basic life insurance.
• Retirement plan matching.
• Annual professional development stipend.

Diversity Is Our Strength

Diversity and inclusiveness are core values at Cradles to Crayons. We strive to be a team where everyone feels welcome and supported. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Working Conditions

This is an office/work-from-home hybrid environment with regular visits to C2C Giving Factories. There are no hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions.

Accommodation

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made that pose serious health or safety risks or impose undue hardship on the organization.

Apply here