President & Chief Executive Officer

Position Overview

The President & CEO serves as MIFA's chief executive, strategist, and public leader. This role calls for a vision-setting, relational, and strategic leader who can steward a strong, mission-driven organization into its next chapter.

In this capacity, the CEO will set direction, elevate expectations, catalyze growth, and lead change: helping the organization to think bigger, operate more efficiently, and remain deeply relevant in a rapidly changing environment.

The CEO partners closely with the board of directors to translate MIFA's mission and values into clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and sustained community trust.

This position directly supervises an experienced and highly capable senior leadership team.

MIFA is seeking a leader who can:

• Honor and build upon a strong foundation while inspiring the organization to evolve
• Lead from the front - serving as a visible, trusted voice for MIFA in Memphis and the Mid-South
• Navigate complexity and change with steadiness, clarity, and courage
• Inspire a high performing leadership team to continue to innovate and grow together
• Balance vision with execution, and compassion with accountability

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

• With input from the staff and board, set and articulate a compelling vision for MIFA’s next chapter, grounded in its founding purpose and responsive to current community needs.
• Translate broad strategic direction into focused priorities, operational clarity, and measurable impact.
• Lead the organization with intention - supporting staff through growth, adaptation, and new ways of working.
• Foster a culture of trust, shared leadership, learning, and accountability across the organization.
• Ensure MIFA runs with operational excellence, strong systems, and sound business practices.
• Lead, support, and challenge a seasoned executive team, leveraging their expertise while encouraging new thinking.
• Create alignment across departments and functions, ensuring collaboration rather than silos.
• Set clear expectations, decision-making norms, and performance standards for the leadership team.
• Balance respect for institutional knowledge with the need for innovation and evolution.

Board Partnership & Governance

• Serve as the primary partner to the board of directors, building a transparent, trusting, and high-functioning board–CEO relationship.
• Keep the board well-informed on organizational performance, risks, opportunities, and progress toward goals.
• Support the board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities, including strategy, oversight, and long-term sustainability.
• Work with existing board members to recruit new members reflective of the diversity and talent needed for success.
• Partner with the board chair to establish and achieve clear annual and multi-year expectations.
• Champion the vision and impact of MIFA in a way that galvanizes support from the donor community.
• Serve as the key leader in fundraising and resource development, in close partnership with the Chief Development Officer and board.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, corporate & government partners, and civic leaders.
• Ensure long-term financial health through oversight of budgets, reserves, and financial planning in partnership with the CFO.
• Position MIFA as a compelling investment for funders who care deeply about community impact.

Community Leadership & Visibility

• Act as MIFA’s chief ambassador, representing the organization with credibility, enthusiasm, and conviction.
• Strengthen MIFA’s visibility and leadership among Memphis nonprofits, civic institutions, governmental bodies, and community partners.
• Build and sustain relationships that advance collaboration, service, and shared impact across the city.
• Lead through service, trust-building, and community connection.

Leadership & Presence

• A steady, confident leadership presence that builds trust across staff, board, volunteers, and community.
• The ability to listen deeply, make thoughtful decisions, and communicate clearly.

Strategic & Operational Acumen

• Experience leading complex organizations or systems, ideally within the nonprofit, public, or…