Executive Director

About Send Me St. Louis and Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis

Send Me St. Louis (SMSL) and Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis (LFSL) are dynamic, sister organizations, both committed to supporting area churches, nonprofits, and ministries as they engage and serve the St. Louis region. As the training arm of LFSL, SMSL focuses its efforts on building the capacity of St. Louis area churches and faith-based nonprofits around the areas of effective community engagement and volunteer management, with the hope that the church (corporately and individually) will engage their unique role in the community.

LFSL has made grants totaling over $150 million in its 42 years of existence and desires to see the Church brought into the lives of hurting people and people included in the healing life of the Church.

The Executive Director of SMSL provides administrative leadership and strategic direction for SMSL in partnership with LFSL. The position is employed full-time through an employee lease agreement between LFSL and SMSL.

The primary focus of this role is to support congregations—particularly Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) congregations—and to assist other nonprofit and Christian faith-based organizations in effective community engagement and volunteer management. This includes facilitating group trainings, providing individualized coaching, convening leaders, curating/developing resources, and building connections among like-minded organizations.

A secondary focus of the role is to support emerging ideas and collaborative efforts related to community engagement, with particular attention to LCMS initiatives, through convening, facilitation, and resource connection.

The ideal candidate is a highly relational and collaborative leader who demonstrates humility, strong listening skills, and the ability to build trust across diverse ministry settings.

• Build effective, trust-based relationships with pastors, congregations, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and ministries engaged in effective community engagement and volunteer management.

• Develop, coordinate, host, and deliver group trainings that equip congregations and organizations to engage in asset-based community engagement and effective volunteer management throughout the St. Louis region.
• In coordination with LFSL, consider trainings that would benefit both SMSL and LFSL networks.
• Provide consultation, resources, and connections—upon request—to congregations and organizations related to community engagement and volunteer management.

• Design and sustain consistent, trusted spaces—both small and large—for ministry leaders to connect as part of SMSL annual calendar of offerings.
• Discern when and how to convene leaders for focused conversations, collaboration, and shared learning.

• In coordination with the President/CEO, lead strategic visioning, alignment, and periodic realignment for SMSL.
• Develop and monitor the annual SMSL budget in partnership with the President/CEO.
• Provide direct supervision to the Communications Strategist and Events Manager, including annual performance reviews in consultation with the President/CEO.

• Demonstrates sound judgment and Christian character.
• Familiarity with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod preferred.
• Strong and compelling written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledgeable and experienced in developing positive coaching relationships.
• Able to work with congregational leadership from a range of Christian faith backgrounds.

• 5+ years in a relationship building, training, or ministry leadership role.
• Experience supervising and managing staff preferred.
• Bachelors or masters degree in theology (including MDiv), Christian Outreach, community development, Deaconess, management, social work, or related field required.

A complete Job Description can be found by clicking HERE.

To apply, please submit your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). by Friday, July 3, 2026. Your cover letter should address the following:

Questions should be directed to