Executive Director, Columbus Chapter

Job Title: Executive Director, Columbus Chapter

Department: Chapter Impact

Location: Columbus, OH

Reports to: Vice President, Chapter Impact & Outposts

Direct Reports: Yes

Classification: Exempt

Anticipated Pay Range At Commencement of Employment: $106,000 - $146,000

Blue Star Families is the largest nonprofit dedicated to making military life better for families. Each year, we support over 1.5 million military- and veteran-connected family members through a national network of 300,000+ members and local chapters in communities across the country.

Our mission is simple and bold:
We make military life awesome for families. We listen, share, partner, and act to deliver evidence-based, data-driven solutions that work for real people. We’re a lifestyle organization, a friend and neighbor, and a trusted partner. Our approach is collaborative, human-centered, and designed with the whole family in mind.

A Blue Star Family is one with an immediate family member — a spouse, parent, or child — actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Guard and Reserves. These families face unique challenges: frequent relocations, deployments, career disruption, and isolation. We respond with research-informed programs that create connection, build resilience, and foster a true sense of belonging.

We serve with urgency but build trust over time — because change happens at the speed of trust. Whether we’re driving spouse employment, supporting caregivers, or helping communities welcome military families, we strive for upstream solutions.

• Bold thinkers. Fast movers. Smart collaborators.
• People who want to build, lead, and drive measurable change — and who care deeply about making an impact that matters.

• Solve complex challenges with data, heart, and humility
• Build cross-sector partnerships that get things done
• Help military families feel at home wherever they live

If you're ready to work in a high-performance, mission-driven environment — and to make life better for those who serve — Blue Star Families is where you belong.

The Executive Director (ED) is the senior-most leader of the Chapter, responsible for local strategy, sustainable revenue, community impact, and team performance. The ED leads a metropolitan region (Columbus) and supports satellite program delivery in adjacent locations (Dayton, OH). Reporting directly to the VP of Chapter Impact & Outposts, the ED oversees staff, volunteers, budget, fundraising, program execution, community engagement, and the Chapter’s long-term sustainability.

This role requires a high-capacity, externally focused executive who excels at strategic partnerships, six-figure fundraising, board leadership, and cross-functional coordination. The ED ensures BSF’s mission is delivered with excellence, inclusion, belonging, accountability, and measurable outcomes that align with the organization’s strategic goals and national KPIs.

This is a high-visibility, high-trust, executive-level role—ideal for a leader who thrives in complex ecosystems, navigates multiple stakeholders, and drives meaningful change.

As a fully remote organization, we rely on scheduled in-person gatherings to foster alignment, collaboration, and organizational culture. This role requires the ability to travel out of town overnight several times per year for staff offsites, planning retreats, and company-wide events. Participation is required as a core part of the role.

Residency Requirement: Must reside within the Chapter’s primary metropolitan area (minimum three consecutive years).

• Develop and execute a Chapter Sustainability Plan tied to annual revenue, long-term growth, and metropolitan-market opportunity.
• Secure major gifts from corporations, philanthropies, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals (HNWI).
• Partner with the Development Team and National team on joint fundraising strategy and pipeline development.
• Expand diversified revenue streams: corporate sponsor ships, foundations, workplace giving, government opportunities, and community campaigns.
• Own annual fundraising goals; oversee stewardship that increases renewal rates and…