Resilience - Executive Director

Executive Director

MISSION:
To end rape culture and empower sexual assault survivors through advocacy, education, and healing. VISION: A world without sexual violence.

Resilience, the only stand-alone rape crisis center in the state of Illinois, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that has been on the front lines of supporting survivors of sexual violence for more than five decades. Formerly known as Rape Victim Advocates (RVA), the organization rebranded as Resilience in 2018 to reflect a broader vision of healing, empowerment, and systemic change. Resilience provides services at no cost to survivors seeking treatment for sexual violence at participating hospitals.

Its advocacy efforts extend beyond individual services: the experience and knowledge gained through direct service informs and strengthens Resilience's work to advance institutional and systemic change. Resilience is dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through nonjudgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group counseling, and medical and legal advocacy throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The organization also provides public education and institutional advocacy to improve the treatment of survivors and advance positive change in policies, systems, and public attitudes toward sexual violence.

Resilience has an operating budget of $3M, 72% through public dollars distributed through the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), a network of community-based sexual assault crisis centers working together to end sexual violence. Governed by a 13-member Board of Directors comprised of civic and business leaders including survivors of gender-based violence. Resilience recognizes and embraces the extraordinary diversity of Chicago and is committed to ensuring that services, employment, volunteer opportunities, leadership, and community engagement are accessible and welcoming to all people.

THE OPPORTUNITY Resilience enters its next chapter with a strong mission, committed staff and Board members, significant community need, and meaningful opportunities for growth. The next Executive Director will build on these strengths while addressing areas that require greater stability, alignment, and infrastructure. Reducing reliance on government funding and building a more diversified and sustainable revenue model is a Board priority.

Resilience is also exploring new earned and contributed revenue opportunities, including a potential learning management system. The next Executive Director will create the conditions for sustainable growth by growing the base of philanthropic support, clarifying priorities, building capacity, and aligning the Board and staff around a shared direction.

STRENGTHENING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND BUILDING A CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY Financial stewardship and revenue diversification will be among the Executive Director's most important responsibilities. The leader will work closely with the Board and staff to strengthen financial sustainability, ensure disciplined fiscal management, and develop a diversified revenue strategy that supports both current operations and future growth. A significant opportunity is to build a stronger culture of philanthropy and substantially expand Resilience's private donor base.

Individual giving currently represents approximately 5% of revenue. The Executive Director will bring strategic focus and personal engagement to fundraising while strengthening the systems, relationships, and Board participation necessary for long-term philanthropic success.

STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH Resilience has multiple open positions, growing demand for services, and ideas for expanding its programs and revenue. These opportunities are exciting, but they also underscore the importance of strengthening the foundation for future growth. The next Executive Director will assess staffing, structure, systems, processes, and management practices and determine what is needed to support sustainable growth.

This includes establishing clear priorities, ensuring accountability, strengthening communication and decision-making, and making thoughtful investments in people and infrastructure. An important part of this work will be strengthening the relationship between the Board and staff. While Resilience has committed Board members and passionate staff, greater alignment, clarity of roles, communication, and trust will be important to the agency's next chapter.

STRENGTHENING RESILIENCE'S BRAND AND PARTNERSHIPS The transition from Rape Victim Advocates to Resilience created an opportunity to broaden awareness of the agency's identity, mission, and vision. The Executive Director will help articulate the meaning and breadth of the Resilience brand and position the agency as a leading voice in the field of sexual and gender-based violence. The leader will strengthen strategic alliances with sister organizations, build coalitions for legislative advocacy, deepen…