What are the Qualities of an Effective Executive Director?

Name: Kris Kingdon
Job Title: Executive Director, Carmichael Chamber of Commerce 
Where: Carmichael, CA  
Employer: Carmichael Chamber of Commerce 
Years of Experience: 2.5 years
Education: High School Grad; Community College Courses, including Business Admin and IT
Salary: See PayScale's Research Center for the Average Salary for an Executive Director.

Executive Director Career

Not all organizations have the same idea of what to expect an executive director to achieve. Executive director positions aren’t all created equal, but one thing is for certain: the essential qualities of an effective executive director stay the same. In this interview with Kris Kingdon, she explains the ups and downs of being an executive director, how she got there, and a detailed breakdown of her job duties.

Executive Director Job Description

Kris: As the only paid staffer in the organization my duties cover:

• Gatekeeper of a nonprofit membership based organization
• All accounts payable, receivable and collections
• Reconcile end of month accounting/treasurer reports 
• Produce and present monthly membership reports for monthly board of directors meeting 
• Update board on issues directly affecting the chamber
• Execute all legal contracts and documents 
• Verify tax preparation is completed 
• Customer service for members and walk-ins 
• Recruit new members & volunteers 
• Keep all databases current 
• Verify all members take advantage of their membership
  
• Write monthly newsletter, print, assemble 400 copies and prepare for USPS bulk mail procedures 
• Plan, execute monthly membership meetings 
  
• Produce monthly board of director meeting, agendas and support materials
• Listen to members' concerns and suggestions and act appropriately 
• Serve and assist the president and other board members
  
• Encourage board members to participate at a volunteer level (commitment to serve) 
• Liaison to all committees and co-chair main committee 
• Be able to multitask daily and always have a "plan B"

What were your steps toward an executive director career?

Kris: For 12+ years I helped my husband create his three businesses from scratch out of our home. When my youngest was on a full-time school schedule, and the economy wasn't very construction friendly, I used the opportunity to get out and volunteer. I chose to volunteer at our local chamber because it revolved around what I knew best - small businesses. That lead to an admin assistant position. That lead to an opportunity to apply for the executive director position. I got the position, but resigned after several months after realizing their priorities were not in line with my philosophy to serve the membership. I then applied at a neighboring chamber and was hired as an office manager, and then promoted to executive director within three months. I love helping people with their businesses. I truly believe a chamber membership is an investment that, if used to it's fullest, can give you business networking and advertising at rates incomparable to most other organizations. If the chamber is doing its job, and you are taking advantage of your membership benefits, you will see a return on your investment. A chamber membership is also an accolade that separates you from another non-chamber business; it states that your business has a stake in the community and you are here to stay.

What do you like about being an executive director?

Kris:  I meet business members in the community on a daily basis. They always have an interesting experience to tell me about and for me to learn from. Most recently, we sponsored, along with the Carmichael Recreation & Park District, the celebration of our community's 100th birthday. After nine months of planning, we put on a day-long free event, including free admission, free parking and free children’s activities (inflatables, rock walls, clowns, theater). We had free live entertainment, over 120 vendor booths and crafters and a classic car show, all prepaid by the member sponsorships. The event was attended by approximately 5000 people, including our opening ceremonies with guests of honor Congressman Dan Lungren, assembly members Roger Niello and Alyson Huber, Supervisor Susan Peters, and Chief Deputy Landry and board members from the Carmichael Rec & Park District, Water District and Cemetery District, emceed by our Honorary Mayor. We buried a time capsule complete with unique items, past and present. We ended the celebration with a grand finale fireworks show! This was a team effort of many chamber and park volunteers, and of course our generous sponsors. My face still hurts from smiling!

What are some of the challenges you face as an executive director?

Kris: As the only staff member, I am responsible for all administrative duties and executive duties. The key is multitasking. I have come to realize it is a 24/7 job. There isn't a day that goes by that someone needs something and it is my job to help them. You have to be able to get along with all board members regardless of your/their personal philosophies. Board members come with their own personalities and agendas and hopefully the chamber's best interest at heart. Board members come and go, but the executive director is there for the long haul.

What are some of the best aspects of being an executive director?

Kris: Challenging myself to take the job. Pulling off an event that people said couldn't be done! Meeting and working with some of the most amazing people in my community. Making mistakes and learning along the way. The satisfaction that I have done my best and seen our chamber grow and rise to a new level of integrity.

Do you have any advice for those interested in a career as an executive director?

Kris: Be flexible - your volunteers are your key. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Learn to be resourceful, work with what you have. Don't reinvent the wheel, find another organization that is successful and tweak it to your organization's needs. Thank everyone for everything they have ever done for you and the chamber, whether via phone or a personal card. Keep plenty of thank you cards on your desk. Ask advice from people who have experience in various situations. Use everyday as a learning opportunity. When introducing a business person, always mention their business name in the introduction. Be an advocate for the chamber/organization in board meetings. Go with your gut; if it isn't right, do some thing about it. Follow your instinct. Let your president shine; if she/he shines, the chamber shines. Ninety percent of your work is behind the scenes. Get used to it.

Interested in Learning More?

• Expert Tips from the Executive Director of United Way
• Research Salaries from our Executive Director Wage Survey
• Human Resources tools for Executive Director compensation: HR Articles from Compensation Today
• Check out PayScale’s Free Human Resources PowerPoint Lectures and Webinars

Nonprofit Careers in Demand - Program Manager

Name: Pamela Banks-Johnson
Job Title: Program Specialist, Assistant Director
Where: Piscataway, NJ
Employer: Not Disclosed
Years of Experience: 15+
Education: Keller Graduate School of Management, MPA - Concentration in Nonprofit Management
Salary: See PayScale's Research Center for median Nonprofit Salaries, including the Salary for a Nonprofit Program Manager.

Nonprofit Careers in Demand - Program Manager

Working in a nonprofit organization is not only a job, but a labor of love. In this inspiring Salary Story with Program Manager Pamela Banks-Johnson, you will learn all about the workings of a nonprofit organization as well as program manager duties, the challenges of nonprofit management, and what to expect from nonprofit salaries. Pamela is the definition of a quality program specialist. If you’re interested in the nuances of a nonprofit career or looking for a sample job description for a nonprofit program manager, then enjoy. You will find Pamela’s insights informative and invaluable.

Program Manager Job Description

As a program specialist I was responsible for program planning and development of five core programs dealing with asthma and lung health. One was “Camp Superkids,”a week-long residential camp for children ages seven to 13 who have been diagnosed with asthma. The duties included fundraising, grant writing, and recruitment of campers. Marketing duties included advertising and media coverage, creating recruitment brochures, and other needed documents. Then there were logistical duties (securing campsites, transportation, etc.), preparing and maintaining a program budget, and working with camp committee to develop appropriate programs. Since it was a medical based program I recruited medical volunteers (doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists), collected medical documentation, secured medical supplies, etc. I also purchased various items for the camp and campers through the use of bids, and finally, administered and interpreted surveys of campers and their parent/guardian.

Open Airways for Schools/Open Airways for the Community - a six week program also for children ages nine to 11, diagnosed with asthma. The program was administered in a variety of settings, including schools, faith-based institutions, community centers, and health clinics. This educational program was taught by facilitators, with or without a medical background. I was responsible for facilitator recruitment, training, and technical support, media coverage, preparing and maintaining a budget, analyzing program results, ensuring the facilitators received their stipends, and any necessary follow up.

Breathe Well, Live Well - an educational asthma program for adults with asthma. Duties were similar to those of Open Airways, except all facilitators were required to have expertise in the area of asthma.

Asthma Olympics - a one day track and field type event for children with asthma ages five to 12. I was responsible for securing a site, volunteer recruitment, program planning and execution, securing funding and supplies, advertising and media coverage, and recruiting children to participate.

Better Breathers Clubs - an ongoing support group for adults diagnosed with COPD and other lung health issues. I increased the number of support groups in the state of New Jersey by 50 percent. I was responsible for providing technical support, written materials, recruitment and training of new facilitators, and visiting each of the clubs at least annually. I instituted quarterly support sessions for the facilitators and was in the midst of developing the organization's first COPD Sharing Session.

I was also a member of several county and statewide asthma and lung cancer coalitions. I was responsible for representing the organization and reporting on developments of the organization. I have experience advocating on the state and federal levels, discussing the needs of asthma and lung health patients. Furthermore, I was responsible for representing the organization at health fairs and community gatherings and was often called upon by Horizon Blue Cross to provide trainings to school nurses across the state.

What were your steps toward working in nonprofit management?

I have always been interested in helping those in need. I recognized that many individuals were unable to navigate the social services network, making them unable to secure the help they most desperately needed. I obtained my degree in criminal justice, with a goal of becoming an attorney. Unfortunately, life forced me into another direction. I began my professional career as a social worker for a child protective service agency where I was responsible for providing services to families and children victimized by abuse, neglect, and other problems that caused family dysfunction and stress. Eventually I became a supervisor in the organization. I left the field after 9/11; after working in various homeless shelters, I obtained my Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in nonprofit management.

What do you like most about your nonprofit career?

I love being able to help! At Camp Superkids I got to work with a volunteer committee that was active and excited to work at the camp for free. With the help of the committee, I was able to recruit over 80 children to attend camp located in a rural area of New Jersey. Many of the campers were from urban areas and had never experienced wildlife up close or swam in a lake (half of the children were from New York City). Under normal circumstances at home some of the children were not allowed to run and play like their peers for fear of having an asthma episode. At camp, the children were able to run, jump, swim, sit in front of a campfire, and see wildlife like frogs, fish, deer, and an occasional bear in the woods! They met new friends and went on a ridge walk or a hike up a steep mountain. Because of the possibility of an asthma episode, respiratory therapists, nurses, and physicians were at the camp at all times. The nurses and therapists also accompanied the children on the ridge walk to assist if needed. I am happy to report that the only medical issues at camp that week were banged up knees, a bruised toe (from jumping off the bunk bed), insect bites, and an occasional stomach ache. None of the children experienced an asthma episode while in camp. Letting the children experience camp was one of the highlights of my job.

What are some of the challenges in nonprofit management?

The biggest challenge for any nonprofit organization is funding. Although the need for asthma and lung health education and programs is desperate, the funding is small. Nonprofits rely on the generous contributions of corporations, governmental agencies, foundations, and individuals. Because of the downturn of the economy, funding streams have dried up. This leaves organizations unable to provide programming or salaries for their employees, which, compared to for-profit companies, is very small. One of my individual challenges was getting programs into the schools. School nurses knew the benefit of having an asthma education program for their students, but time constraints caused by the emphasis of improving standardized tests scores made it almost impossible to institute a program such as Open Airways for Schools. Neither the nurses nor the organization was able, in many cases, to convince the school officials that the benefits outweighed the disadvantages, i.e. loss of school days, increased visits to the nurse, and disruption of the classroom when a child had an asthma episode. Another challenge is time. There are so many in need of services and so little hours in the day to provide them. Time management is a must! The ability to prioritize is a must! The use of empathy and not sympathy is a must!

Do you have any advice for those interested in nonprofit careers?

I would advise anyone interested in working in nonprofit to realize that the salary is small, the work is demanding, but the rewards are great. You must have a heart for nonprofit work. I would advise that you seek wisely the type of nonprofit you wish to work for, as they are all different. I have had the opportunity to work in fields where it would have been beneficial for me to have a Master of Social Work degree. I have worked in fields where it would have been beneficial for me to have a degree in public policy or public health. However, if you sincerely desire to help, you can overcome these obstacles. You need to have thick skin, because often you will be rejected or unappreciated or feel abused. Know that your work is not in vain, even if you don't see immediate results; often you will not. What is rewarding is having someone you have assisted see you in a store or call you on the phone, out of the blue, and tell you how much you helped them years ago. You may not even remember who they are or what you did. I don't know of any advice I could have had when I began because this field really started me, not the other way around. It was not my chosen field, but it turned out to be the field I truly love!

Can you recall any interesting moments from your nonprofit career?

I had the opportunity to advocate on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. That was both interesting and amazing. Walking the aisles of Congress, meeting with senators and members of the House, talking to them about asthma, and the need for generic inhalers and more funding for programs was interesting and rewarding. I met with both New Jersey senators and several members of the House, all of which had a family member or close friend with asthma. I met Congressman Patrick Kennedy (who has asthma) and informed him of the change in the formulation of inhalers. His face lit up as he learned why he suspected there was a difference in his own inhaler.

How does your salary compare to nonprofit salaries? The PayScale Salary Calculator is a quick and easy way to compare positions. But when you want powerful salary data and comparisons customized for your exact position, be sure to build a complete profile by taking PayScale's full Salary Survey.

For more information:

• Sample Job Description - Nonprofit Program Manager or Administrator
• Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers
• List of Program Manager Jobs in the Private sector
• What to Expect from Nonprofit Jobs - New York Times
• Research Nonprofit Salaries by Years of Experience

Non-Profit Careers - Social Worker

Name: Josh Cutler
Job Title: Branch Director/Social Worker
Where: Bellevue, Washington
Employer: Alpha Supported Living Services (Non-profit Organization)
Years of Experience: 4.5
Other Relevant Experience: Direct Support Staff, Program Coordinator, Business Manager, etc.
Education: B.A. in Human Services
Annual Salary: Use PayScale’s Research Center to find Non-Profit Director Salaries and the Salary of an Assisted Living Director.

There are two factors that guide most career decisions: salary and personal satisfaction. At the end of the day, you have to bring home a paycheck big enough to pay the bills and put food on the table. But most people also want a work environment that satisfies them on a personal level. For some people, that kind of job satisfaction comes from collaborating with like-minded coworkers, or creating a quality product.

For Josh Cutler, a non-profit director at Alpha Supported Living Services in Seattle, job satisfaction means going home knowing his work has helped improve someone else's quality of life. Starting out within an entry-level caregiver job and working his way up the non-profit career ladder, Josh also provides a perfect example of the non-profit career opportunities available to those with a strong work ethic and a passion for social work.

Nonprofit Salaries: Nonprofit Executive Director

Name: Ann E. Tucker
Job Title: Nonprofit Executive Director
Where: Galesburg, IL
Employer: United Way of Knox County, Inc.
Years of Experience: 15 as a paralegal
Education: Illinois Central College - Associates Degree,  Western Illinois University - going back to get my Bachelor's Degree
Nonprofit Salaries : $45,000 to $75,000*
* Salaries of nonprofit Executive Directors vary widely by location and by years of experience. View these salary charts for details: Salaries of Nonprofit Executive Directors by city and nonprofit salaries for Executive Directors by years of experience.

A career in the nonprofit industry can certainly have its perks. Ann Tucker is a nonprofit executive director for United Way, and says there’s not much she doesn’t love about her job. Plus, Ann gets the daily satisfaction of knowing she’s helping others. Nonprofit Executive Director salaries by years of experience usually fall around $45,000 for those with less than one year of experience, but salaries can reach over $75,000 once you have 20 years of experience under your belt.  Salaries can also depend upon location, so be sure to check out salaries of Nonprofit Executive Directors by city.

Nonprofit Executive Director Job Description:
Organize and hold an annual campaign; recruit and train volunteers; organize special events; supervise one full time employee and two part-time employees; networking; attend seminars; promote public awareness of our organization and our partner agencies; agency relations.

PayScale: How did you get started as an Executive Director for a nonprofit?
I had been a paralegal for 15 years.  Due to downsizing in my firm, and burnout on my part, I was forced to find new employment.  I interviewed for an administrative assistant position with United Way.  Three weeks after I started my job, the executive director submitted her [resignation].  I was offered the job after serving as interim director for six months.