Executive Director

YVote is seeking an experienced and civically engaged leader to serve as our next Executive Director. In this role, you will provide strategic vision and oversight to advance YVote’s mission of equipping young people to become informed, engaged voters and civic leaders. This is an incredible opportunity for a mission-driven leader to meaningfully shape the future of youth civic engagement.

About Our Organization

YVote is a New York City-based nonprofit that equips young people (ages 14-24) with the skills and knowledge needed to individually and collectively create positive change in their communities—at and beyond the ballot box. YVote was co-founded in 2017 by young people and like-minded adults to address what they saw as one of the biggest barriers to youth involvement in electoral politics and civic spaces—a lack of knowledge and commitment as to “why vote?” and a need to put the “Y” (youth) into voting. YVote’s youth leaders are galvanized into action by the low levels of youth political participation and civic knowledge in New York. Through their own curiosity and commitment to developing civic skills, they are creating a youth civic movement to counter disengagement through civic programs and coalition work. 

To this end, YVote provides peer-led civic programs and leadership opportunities to NYC teens. We host programs during the summer and school year, all of which take place during out-of-school time and are offered free to participants, often with stipends. Our primary programs—Democracy Camp, Changemakers Institute, and Next Gen Civic Fellowship—are motivational on-ramps for youth to engage with social issues and build a community of civic-minded peers. Additional leadership opportunities—such as working on our Youth Civic Hub team, writing for our blog, hosting our podcast, being part of our social media Creator Corps, or becoming a peer facilitator—further develop participants’ civic identities, agency, and efficacy in a supportive, youth-led space. 

Our Current State:

After 7 years leading this work, YVote’s Co-Founder & Executive Director moved into a new position at another civics-focused organization. YVote currently has an Interim Executive Director, but they will be stepping down at the end of the calendar year. So, we are now looking for the organization’s next Executive Director who will lead this critical work and carry YVote into its next phase! 

To give candidates a clear picture of the organization they’d be leading, here are a few important facts:

• Fiscal Sponsorship: YVote is fiscally sponsored by the Social Good Fund, utilizing their 501c3 status and back office/HR support. 
• Budget: We currently have a $825,000 operating budget (CY24) and are looking for this new leader to help maintain that budget in CY 2025. 
• Board: YVote has a volunteer Advisory Board of fourteen (14) Advisors, poised for new Board recruitment. 
• Staff: Three (3) full-time staff members, two of whom were founding YVoters. They include a Program Director, a Civic Engagement Manager, and a Director of Development & Communications. YVote also contracts one (1) part-time fractional COO. And has 5-15 part-time youth facilitators (ages 16-24) who support program implementation, depending on the time of year. 
• Program Participants: In a given year, YVote provides programs for and works with roughly 200-350 high school age youth. 
• Brand: YVote recently underwent a brand reconciliation, combining its two brands—YVote and Next Generation Politics—into one and resulting in a new website. 

Core Responsibilities

Vision & Program Strategy

• Further develop and implement a strategic plan to grow YVote’s pro-democracy youth civic engagement programs and initiatives, with a particular focus on cultivating even more strategic partnerships that will infuse new resources, ideas and avenues for program expansion
• Solidify key metrics and performance indicators to measure the organization’s development and impact on youth civic engagement, building upon the significant work done in this area the past two+ years. 
• Build relationships with key stakeholders to inform and support the organization’s strategic vision and goals 

Organizational & Programmatic Operations

• Coordinate all aspects of day to day and long-term organizational operations, including program delivery, fundraising, budgeting, and administration
• Implement key operational structures and processes, including team communications, staff developmental reviews, team check ins, and organizational systems 
• Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing team while fostering a highly collaborative culture
• Curate an inclusive, affirming, and youth-centered work environment for staff of all identities and cultures to thrive in
• Work closely with the Advisory Board on strategic, financial, and governance matters

Advocacy & Partnerships

• Continue to build and strengthen partnerships with schools, community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to expand YVote’s reach and impact
• Serve as the chief spokesperson and advocate for YVote, raising public awareness of youth civic participation
• Identify and capitalize on spaces in which to center and amplify youth voice, creating more space for their contributions, perspectives, and lived experiences 

Fundraising

• Execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, capitalizing on long-time supporters while also engaging new donors and partners invested in youth civic engagement 
• Ensure long-term financial sustainability through diversified revenue streams including grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donors, fee-for-service work, etc.
• Develop and capitalize upon potential program-related revenue streams, supporting program growth and expansion 

Qualifications:

• 6+ years of non-profit leadership experience, preferably in youth development, civic engagement, or related fields
• Proven track record in strategic planning, program management, fundraising, and team leadership
• Experience partnering with other organizations to both meet the mission and help the organization grow and scale impact
• Exceptional communication, public speaking, and relationship-building skills
• Strong commitment to amplifying youth voices and increasing civic participation among young people
• Knowledge of issues impacting New York City youth and the wide range of the city’s communities
• Background as a social entrepreneur or leader of a team, initiative, organization, or department 

If you do not meet all of the exact qualifications listed above, but still feel strongly about your fit for this role and your passion for our work, we encourage you to apply. 

Salary and Benefits: 

This is a full-time, exempt, position with a salary in the range of $120,000 – $140,000 annually and a benefits package including: a four-day workweek for all staff—part of YVote’s commitment to honoring the holistic development of staff and youth alike; Tech & Home Office, Internet/Cell, and Coworking Space Stipends; health insurance, paid holidays, vacation days, and personal and sick days. This position will be hybrid, based in New York City. 

Anticipated Start Date: December 2024 (with flexibility)

Application Deadline: Preferred deadline is Sept 30. We will continue to accept applications and conduct initial interviews on a rolling basis as we are committed to finding the right person for this role and recognize that may take time. 

To Apply: Please send the following to [email protected] with the subject header <Executive Director>

• Resume (PDF format preferred)
• Cover letter telling us about your background and interest in the role 
• In your cover letter, please reference 1-2 pieces of YVote’s work that resonate with you based on what you learned about us from our website 

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Vote is an equal opportunity employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff reflective of the young people we serve. We especially encourage applications from people of color, LGBTQ+ candidates, and candidates from historically marginalized communities. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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