Executive Director

Variety – the Children’s Charity of Wisconsin works to enrich the lives of children with physical or developmental special needs and their families. We believe every child, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to participate in their community and experience the joys of being a kid. Through professional stewardship, thoughtful partnerships, and practical support, Variety seeks to create a lasting positive impact for children, families, and communities across Wisconsin.

Variety of Wisconsin is seeking a mission-driven, relationship-centered Executive Director to lead the organization through its next chapter. The Executive Director is Variety’s senior staff leader and serves as the principal partner to the Board of Directors in carrying out the organization’s mission, strategic direction, and Board-approved policies.

The Executive Director reports directly to and is accountable to the Board of Directors. The Board appoints the Executive Director and determines the position’s salary and benefits. The Executive Director is responsible for translating Board direction into effective operations; advancing program impact; leading fundraising and community relationships; building a strong staff and volunteer culture; and ensuring sound financial, operational, and organizational stewardship.

This is an opportunity for a capable nonprofit leader to make a direct difference in the lives of children and families while strengthening an established Wisconsin charity with a proud history of community service.

Essential responsibilities include the following:

The Executive Director will develop a deep understanding of Variety’s mission, the children and families it serves, its programs, and the community needs to which it responds. In partnership with the Board, the Executive Director will help translate mission and strategy into measurable priorities, align programs and the annual budget with those priorities, evaluate program effectiveness, and recommend adjustments as community needs and organizational resources evolve.

The Executive Director will ensure that Variety’s programs and family services are accessible, respectful, inclusive, responsive, and administered with a consistent focus on mission impact.

The Executive Director will serve as Variety’s senior fundraising leader and an energetic ambassador for the mission. The Executive Director will develop and execute a diversified revenue strategy that may include individual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate sponsor ships, special events, community partnerships, and other appropriate sources of support.

Individual donor development will be a central priority. The Executive Director will build and steward a strong individual-donor pipeline, identify and cultivate new donor relationships, and work with the Board to address the current need for stronger individual giving.

The Executive Director will cultivate and steward relationships with donors, sponsors, funders, volunteers, and partners; equip Board members to participate effectively in resource development; maintain strong gift-management and reporting practices; and evaluate fundraising activity for effectiveness and mission alignment. The Executive Director will lead staff and volunteers in the planning and execution of Variety’s fundraising events and campaigns.

The Executive Director will build a productive, transparent working relationship with the Board of Directors and its committees. The Executive Director will provide timely, accurate, and useful information so that the Board can make informed decisions; identify significant opportunities…