Chief Executive Officer

Crisis Assistance Ministry seeks a mission-anchored, people-centered, growth-oriented, and community-minded leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s most trusted institutions at a time when its work has never been more necessary.

Following Carol Hardison’s retirement in 2027 after more than 26 years of leadership, the next CEO will inherit a stable organization, experienced team, strong culture, deep community relationships, and significant credibility. This is not a turnaround assignment, nor is it a caretaker role. The opportunity is to earn trust, understand what makes the organization effective, and guide its continued evolution with fresh perspective, sound judgement, and a clear vision for measurable growth and greater impact.

Mission: To provide assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move toward self-sufficiency.

Vision: Our ultimate vision is a community where everyone has the resources and stability to thrive without our services.

Reporting Structure: The CEO reports to a 25-member Board of Directors and leads a five-member executive leadership team: the Chief People and Culture Officer, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Housing Stability Officer, and Chief Technology and Financial Operations Officer.

Impact and Scale: Crisis Assistance Ministry employs approximately 60 people and operates with an $18.4 million FY2026 budget. In 2025, the organization served nearly 44,000 people, distributed 1.7 million clothing and household items, and provided more than $8 million in emergency housing assistance.

Location and Working Environment: The role is based in Charlotte and requires a visible, consistent presence with staff, customers, donors, public officials, and community partners. This is not a remote leadership position.

Compensation and Benefits: Crisis Assistance Ministry offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary range is $215,000-$225,000.

Honor the foundation. Lead the next chapter. Crisis Assistance Ministry is healthy, and it cannot stand still. The cost of living continues to rise, increasing the demand for services. The organization has the staff and operational ability to serve more people, but available aid funding has not kept pace with demand. The next CEO must expand and diversify resources while working with staff, customers, and community partners to increase housing stability for low-income residents of Mecklenburg County.

• Lead an inclusive planning process that defines the organization’s five-year direction, establishes measurable priorities, and creates accountability. Balance immediate crisis response with prevention, financial empowerment, and systems-level work while remaining grounded in the organization’s core mission.
• Use customer experience, program outcomes, community data, and staff expertise to determine what should be preserved, improved, piloted, expanded, or stopped.
• Set and achieve ambitious, measurable growth goals for public and private funding so direct customer assistance can keep pace with the community’s growing needs while protecting staff well-being, operational effectiveness, and customer dignity.

• Partner closely with the Chief Advancement Officer while personally leading high-level relationships, visibility, storytelling, and asks that cannot be delegated. Cultivate durable relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, faith communities, and public funders.
• Drive significant growth in major gifts,…