CEO - Special Olympics

Overview

Special Olympics Alabama (SOAL) is a dynamic, mission-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering children and adults with intellectual disabilities, of all ages and abilities, through year-round sports training and competition, complementary non-sports programming, and community engagement, at no cost to the athlete. SOAL serves as the Alabama affiliate of the global Special Olympics movement, which serves 4.7 million athletes in 207 countries and jurisdictions.

SOAL aims to build physical fitness, courage, confidence, and skills that help participants on and off the playing field. The Special Olympics movement champions inclusion and respect, welcoming athletes of all abilities. Founded in 1970, SOAL offers a broad range of Olympic-type sports, including Special Olympics Unified Sports. Through local competitions, state championships, volunteer programs, and community partnerships, SOAL engages more than 11,000 registered athletes and thousands of volunteers across Alabama.

Volunteers serve in roles from coaching and event leadership to advocacy and fundraising. SOAL’s next CEO will be critical to expanding reach, quality, operations, and sustainability, with experienced, strong, and visionary leadership essential to advancing SOAL’s mission and an inclusive future for Alabamans.

POSITION OVERVIEW The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Special Olympics Alabama (SOAL) serves as the organization’s chief executive, lead fundraiser, and public ambassador. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the CEO oversees all operational, administrative, financial, and programmatic aspects of the organization while advancing quality, scale, and long-term sustainability. In collaboration with the Board, the CEO sets strategic direction, supports governance, and ensures SOAL’s mission is conducted with integrity, accountability, and measurable statewide impact.

This role requires an experienced, resilient, and values-driven leader who will thoughtfully assess, rebuild, and realign core systems, structures, and practices to provide clarity, discipline, and momentum. The CEO will be SOAL’s primary relationship builder and most visible representative, leading all fundraising and resource development efforts and cultivating relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, government entities, and community partners across Alabama.

Operating within a lean staffing model, the CEO provides day-to-day leadership of operations, fiscal management, compliance, and infrastructure, while building capacity, systems, culture, and partnerships to support future growth. The CEO also ensures the quality and expansion of SOAL’s sports and non-sports programming statewide, serving as a trusted advocate for athletes, families, volunteers, schools, and community leaders. This role is suited for a relational, mission-driven executive with a proactive, solutions-focused approach, motivated to shape the next chapter of Special Olympics Alabama.

• CORE RESPONSIBILITIES – Strategic Leadership & Board Partnership:
  Lead and manage the CEO–Board relationship with an elevated level of sophistication, drawing on nonprofit governance and board-building experience to ensure an engaged, effective, and accountable Board.
• Serve as the primary partner to the Board of Directors, working with the Board to set, advance, and execute SOAL’s strategic vision, priorities, and long-term growth plan.
• Support ongoing strengthening of the Board by facilitating strategic governance practices, supporting recruitment, onboarding, and development of directors, and helping the Board operate strategically rather than operationally.
• Provide clear, timely, and transparent communication to the Board regarding organizational performance, programs, financial health, risks, and key initiatives.
• Identify emerging opportunities and challenges and recommend thoughtful, data-informed strategies to enhance impact, sustainability, and statewide reach.

• Fundraising & Resource Development:
  Lead all fundraising and resource development efforts, including individual giving, corporate partnerships, grants, and signature events.
• Build, steward, and…