Executive Director

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Founded in 1979, Friends for Youth (FFY) is a nationally recognized, community-rooted nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth through mentorship and meaningful relationships. With a vision to ensure every young person who needs a mentor has access to one, FFY has served over 4,500 youth from low-income BIPOC families across the San Francisco Peninsula, from South San Francisco to San Jose.

Grounded in values of equity, integrity, collaboration, and innovation, FFY delivers three core programs:

• 1-to-1 Mentoring
  , which pairs youth with caring adult mentors
• Group Mentoring
  , a school-based initiative supporting students from 5th to 12th grade
• Whole Health for Youth (WHY), a collaborative effort to improve youth mental health through coordinated, wraparound services

With over 90% of our matches successfully fulfilling their mentorship agreement – well above the national average – FFY has earned a reputation as a leader in the field. Our evidence-based approach, combined with deep community partnerships and a commitment to continuous improvement, ensures that youth receive the support they need to thrive.

Friends for Youth is seeking an experienced leader with a deep passion for youth mentorship to serve as our next Executive Director. This is a unique opportunity to guide a mission-driven organization with deep community ties and a proven impact model into its next chapter of impact and growth. The Executive Director will lead FFY at a pivotal moment, providing strategic vision, strengthening partnerships, expanding fundraising capacity, and fostering a cohesive, inclusive team culture.

They will work closely with the Board of Directors and FFY’s dedicated staff to advance the organization’s mission and aspirations.

Strong candidates will bring significant leadership experience in the nonprofit or youth services sector, exceptional communication and ambassadorial skills, a strong track record in fundraising, strategic and business acumen, and a commitment to developing diverse, high-performing teams.

This position is hybrid, requiring a minimum of three days of on-site work per week in Palo Alto, California. The base compensation range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000 plus eligibility for a discretionary, incentive-based bonus of up to 10% of base salary. FFY offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance; paid vacation/sick time; paid holidays;

leaves of absence; disability, life insurance and supplemental life insurance options; retirement plans, and more.

FFY was established in 1979 to empower young people and inspire community connection through mentorship and community relationships. Our vision is simple: to provide every young person who needs a mentor with a mentor. We support children who would otherwise go unserved, with an emphasis on positive youth development, social-emotional health and wellness, prevention services, and critical skills for future self-sufficiency.

With a mission to empower underserved youth through mentorship and community relationships, FFY has helped over 4,500 youth reach their full potential. We serve very low and low-income Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families from South San Francisco to San Jose. Nationally recognized, yet deeply local, we partner closely with local schools and nonprofits, with a concentrated focus in high need areas such as South San Francisco, North Fair Oaks, Redwood City, East Palo Alto and Sunnyvale.

10% of our kids identify as LGBTQIA+, and 5% come from unconventional family structures. Over the years, FFY has become a trusted leader in the mentoring space, known for fostering meaningful, long-lasting relationships between youth and their mentors and service providers.

Our work is guided by a set of core values that shape our approach and deepen our impact:

• Equity and social justice
• Individual and organizational integrity
• Community-centered collaboration
• Respectful, supportive relationships
• Innovation and agility
• Responsive, high-quality service

Today, FFY operates with a dedicated, full-time team of nine, supported by a committed and…