Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT OPTIMIST YOUTH HOMES & FAMILY SERVICES
Founded in 1906, Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services is one of Los Angeles’ oldest and most trusted foster care–focused nonprofit organizations. For more than a century, Optimist has stood beside vulnerable youth and families, guided by compassion, equity, and a commitment to building stability, belonging, and brighter futures.

With a budget of $18M, Optimist serves over 1,800 youth and families each year across Los Angeles County, with program sites in Highland Park, Woodland Hills, the Antelope Valley, and the San Fernando Valley. Through a continuum of care that focuses on both prevention and healing, Optimist helps families stay together and empowers youth to thrive.

Optimist supports children and families through every stage of the foster care journey. By providing wraparound services, counseling, and parenting support, the organization helps families address challenges and prevent foster care placements. For youth already in care, Optimist offers housing, adoption services, and transition programs that build stability, independence, and brighter futures.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the chief strategist, culture leader, and external ambassador for Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services. Reporting to the Board of Directors and leading a dedicated Executive Leadership Team, the CEO will guide Optimist through a period of organizational evolution, building on its legacy while positioning the agency for a sustainable and impactful future. The CEO brings a strong strategic and systems-thinking lens, consistently connecting day-to-day decisions to long-term organizational vision, impact, and financial health.

The CEO is a business-minded nonprofit leader, pairing a deep commitment to youth and families with strong financial, operational, and asset-management acumen. As a visible and accessible presence, the CEO builds trust with our staff, Board, funders, public partners, and community stakeholders. The CEO leads with a strong equity and trauma-informed lens, fosters an inclusive and high-performance culture, and communicates with clarity, integrity, and accountability.

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive strategic plan to guide Optimist’s growth, sustainability, and mission delivery.
• Align programs, operations, and staff culture around a shared organizational vision.
• Assess and adapt services to meet the evolving needs of youth and families in foster care and community-based programs.
• Position Optimist as a thought leader and collaborator in the child welfare and behavioral health landscape.

• Oversee all programs, services, and operations to ensure quality, impact, and regulatory compliance.
• Foster a trauma-informed, inclusive, and values-based culture that empowers staff and promotes professional growth.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team through transparent communication and mutual trust.
• Implement best practices in continuous quality improvement (CQI) and operational efficiency.
• Provide strategic oversight of Optimist’s $18M budget, ensuring fiscal accountability and sustainable operations.
• Manage and leverage the organization’s significant real estate holdings for maximum mission alignment and financial return.
• Diversify revenue streams beyond government contracts, developing creative business and social enterprise models.
• Oversee accurate financial reporting and compliance with funding requirements.
• Drive a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes institutional giving, major donors, corporate partnerships, and special events.
• Cultivate new and existing relationships with foundations, corporations, and government funders.
• Build a major donor pipeline and strengthen relationships with individual supporters.
• Partner with the Board to expand unrestricted revenue and philanthropic visibility.

• Serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for Optimist, elevating its visibility in Los Angeles and beyond.
• Strengthen…