Description
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.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
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 engaged twelve-member board. The annual operating budget is over $1 million.
OUR PROGRAMS
We first established our 1-to-1 Mentoring Services program to provide direct, community-based support to low-income youth in San Mateo County and Northern Santa Clara County. We prioritize protecting vulnerable youth populations and fostering high-quality mentoring relationships that stand the test of time. To date, we’ve made over 2,500 matches, with more than 92% of participants completing the full one-year program (compared to 67–77% in similar programs), and we maintain a 100% volunteer safety rating.
In 2016, in response to a substantial need brought to us by Sequoia High School, we launched a school-based group mentoring program to address rising dropout rates among low-income 9th graders of color in our local communities. Since then, we’ve expanded the program to 23 additional schools and community sites, now serving students from 5th through 12th grade. Students facing academic challenges, behavioral and mental health issues, poverty, and social isolation are identified by the school and supported through group mentoring sessions held on campus.
FFY serves as the backbone agency for the Whole Health for Youth (WHY) Collaborative, a dynamic network of local organizations working together to improve the mental health and wellness of youth and their families. Founded in 2018, WHY was created to coordinate prevention and early intervention services, share data, eliminate duplicative efforts, and streamline access to mental health resources—making it easier for families to navigate the system and get the support they need. Through this collaborative approach, we’re bridging critical gaps in mental health care and delivery across our communities.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The next Executive Director will join a diverse, mission-driven team at an important inflection point for the organization and in the communities we serve. Working closely with the Board of Directors and FFY’s dedicated staff, the Executive Director can expect to engage with the following opportunities:
Provide strategic vision and leadership. FFY is poised to build on our momentum as we evolve to meet the moment. The next Executive Director will provide strategic direction and leadership to enable us to achieve our vision. They will have an established track record of leading similar sized teams with compassion, cooperation, and confidence that inspires others to move forward together. They will collaborate with the Board, staff, and other key stakeholders to create a unifying, actionable plan for sustained impact.
Be an exceptional ambassador and relationship builder. The Executive Director will serve as the primary spokesperson for FFY, demonstrating exceptional emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and cultural competency. They will be highly collaborative and will strategically and intentionally cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders throughout the San Francisco Peninsula, the broader San Francisco Bay Area, and beyond, strategically building partnerships that align with the organization’s mission and goals. The Executive Director will develop and implement a plan to strategically elevate the visibility and influence of our work and ensure that our mission, vision, and goals are effectively communicated.
Strengthen fund development capacity. The Executive Director will cultivate a culture of philanthropy and fundraising, listening deeply and speaking persuasively to a wide range of funders, partners, and stakeholders. They will lead resource development efforts and will be an experienced fundraiser with a track record of donor stewardship and strategic fundraising, with the ability to cultivate new relationships and deepen existing ones. The Executive Director will focus on diversifying FFY’s revenue streams and will ensure that we have robust fund development capacity and systems in place to sustain the organization.
Foster a cohesive, engaged, and impactful team. The team at FFY is deeply committed to the community of people we serve. The Executive Director will lead a team of nine and manage four direct reports: Director of Operations & Peoples, Director of Partnerships & Programs, Senior Development Coordinator, and Hybrid Program Coordinator. The Executive Director will report to the FFY Board of Directors, currently comprised of a diverse group of community leaders from the Bay Area and beyond.
The Executive Director will be an effective leader and cultivator of talent, leading our team to achieve our goals. They will foster a positive and inclusive internal culture that values collaboration, transparency, equity, and empathy. They will inspire trust and confidence in the team by actively listening to and understanding their needs, aspirations, and challenges, and work with leadership to strengthen policies and processes in alignment with FFY’s values. They will be a deft mentor and coach, skilled at developing leaders, fostering growth opportunities, and ensuring that staff members are empowered to fulfill our mission.
Partner effectively with the Board of Directors to advance Friends for Youth’s mission. The Executive Director will develop and maintain a strong relationship with the Board, characterized by respect, trust, transparency, and clear communication. They will work closely with Board members on fundraising and long-term planning to ensure effective oversight and sound governance practices.
WORK LOCATION, COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Work Location: This role is a hybrid position, requiring a minimum of three days of on-site work in Palo Alto, California per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). It entails some local and regional travel to conferences, speaking engagements, and other relevant activities to advance our mission, with occasional national travel.
Compensation and Benefits: The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $120,000 - $150,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience, with eligibility for a discretionary, incentive-based bonus of up to 10% of base salary. Friends for Youth provides comprehensive benefits, including health insurance (medical, dental, vision) paid vacation/sick time; paid holidays; leaves of absence; disability, life insurance and supplemental life insurance options; retirement plans, and more.
TO APPLY
More information about Friends for Youth may be found at: https://www.friendsforyouth.org/
This search is being led by Ellen LaPointe and Ebony Breaux-Liang of NPAG. We invite applications with a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications via the portal on NPAG’s website. Should you have questions, candidate nominations, or if you need assistance or accommodations in the application process, please contact Ebony Breaux-Liang at ebony@npag.com.
Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. We do not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here, and we will consider the combination of formal education, training, and lived experience of each applicant. We are committed to supporting the career development of our employees and reflecting the diverse community around us. We strongly encourage people of color, women, and folks who are LGBTQ+ identifying, neurodivergent, and differently abled folks to apply.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Friends for Youth’s next Executive Director will be an experienced and innovative leader with deep knowledge and a passion for empowering underserved youth through mentorship and community relationships. They will possess leadership skills that align with the organization’s values.
While no candidate will embody all the qualifications set forth below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal competencies, attributes, and experience:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- An inspiring, dedicated, and compassionate leader – At least five to seven years of senior leadership experience and a record of leadership in a non-profit organization, ideally with a background in mentorship, youth development, or mental health.
- Demonstrated commitment to FFY’s mission – Unwavering focus on the well-being of FFY’s community members, with the ability to build partnerships, secure resources, and advocate for policies that address the needs of the community.
- A highly relational, exceptional communicator and ambassador – Demonstrated success, internally and externally, as a collaborator who can employ exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills to earn trust with a range of audiences. A dynamic and persuasive public speaker.
- A skilled and innovative fundraiser with a strong fund development track record – Demonstrated ability to build long term fund development plans and cultivate strong, sustained donor relationships.
- A builder of partnerships and collaborations – Skilled in cultivating relationships and strategic partnerships with school districts, county agencies, community-based organizations and other collaborators to advance shared goals.
- A strategic and disciplined financial leader – Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit finances, building sustainable revenue models, and leveraging business strategy and philanthropic best practices to drive impact. Skilled in managing multi-scenario budgets, crisis planning, and data-driven forecasting.
- An effective partner to the Board – Experience partnering with a Board of Directors to ensure transparency and accountability in organizational governance, fiscal oversight, compliance, and planning for current and future leadership needs. Skilled in building strong governance structures, facilitating board committees, and supporting fiduciary responsibilities.
- An equity and social justice champion – Demonstrated leadership in equity-centered organizations, with the ability to steward culturally responsive programs that serve immigrant communities and youth of color.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Deep community roots or contextual understanding – Ties to San Mateo, Santa Clara, or similar communities, with experience in mentoring, youth development, or mental health.
- Change management expertise – Successful track record leading organizations through periods of transition, restructuring, or strategic growth.
- Resilient and adaptable – Ability to maintain composure and clarity in high-pressure situations, demonstrating flexibility and perseverance.
- Relationship-oriented and growth-minded – Experience building authentic, trust-based relationships with staff, board members, funders, and youth, while embracing feedback, reflection, and continuous learning as essential to personal and organizational development.
- Cultural competence – Demonstrated understanding of and respect for diverse cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences with the ability to recognize the impact of one’s own cultural lens in interactions with others.
- Strategic critical thinker – Proven ability to analyze complex issues, anticipate future challenges, and make informed decisions aligned with FFY’s mission and long-term goals.
- Emotionally Intelligent – Experience fostering a positive, inclusive, and supportive organizational environment by recognizing and managing personal and interpersonal emotions.
