Executive Director

Friends for Survival, Inc. is a non-profit organization and was founded in 1983 by Marilyn Koenig and Chris Moon. Marilyn and Chris met at a grief support group meeting in Sacramento, California and had each experienced the suicide death of a teenage son. Their connection was immediate and their feeling of compassion for each other spurred them on to consider helping others who were also grieving a suicide death. Driven by the belief that an organization dedicated to supporting suicide loss survivors could address this need by providing postvention support and resources, Marilyn and Chris brought their vision to life.

Since its founding, Friends for Survival has stayed true to its original mission. Today, we have a team of 36 (part-time staff, volunteers, and contractors). In 2022, our "warm" line was called by 475 people. Also in 2022, we sent out information packets to 845 new families, distributed 68,821 monthly newsletters and provided peer group support to 1,383 individuals in 144 meetings. 

Learn more at https://friendsforsurvival.org/

WHERE WE ARE TODAY

Friends for Survival seeks a dynamic and experienced executive to continue the legacy of our founder, who is stepping down after 40 years. The ideal candidate will partner with the Board of Directors to develop and execute a vision for the next chapter of Friends for Survival, building on our founder's achievements and leading us to expand on our original vision to provide a more postvention resources to suicide loss survivors.

Job description (Areas of Focus):

Impact and Staff Management

• Oversee a programmatic portfolio that is designed with a deep understanding of the communities we serve and that aligns with our mission and our long range plans.
• Ensure effective systems for program evaluation and regularly evaluate the program portfolio, ever mindful of the need to adapt to the needs of our communities.
• Bring a spirit of innovation to the program work with an eye toward piloting new ideas that could be incorporated into or will maximize existing work.

Networking

• Build collaborative relationships with adjacent organizations that deal with grief, loss, mental health, and trauma.
• Establish relationships with community leaders to advocate for our agency so that we may better serve suicide loss survivors.
• Connecting with local and regional government representatives.

Fundraising

• Serve as the fundraiser in chief of the organization, setting fundraising strategy and responsible for working with staff, board, and volunteers to identify prospects and close gifts.
• With an understanding that fundraising is relational, develop strategies that ensure that donors are nurtured from their first gift.

Program Development

• Develop goals, strategies, and tactics in the form of annual plans as a key roadmap that introduces an accountability component to the strategy we develop.

Hours: 30 hours per week (flexible schedule/hybrid)

Job location: Sacramento, California

Salary • $55,000 -- $65,000 Annual Compensation

Qualifications

• Demonstrate sensitivity to suicide’s impact on individuals and families.
• Compassionate
• 10 years professional experience in the non-profit world
• Fundraising Experience
• People Management Experience
• Ability to network with professional, government and non-profit sectors.
• Detail oriented
• Excellent communication
• Excellent follow up skills

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Deep belief in and passion for our organization’s purpose
• Demonstrate experience in leading an organization in providing hands-on crisis support.
• Keen understanding of the ability to listen, meet people where they are and engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders.
• Leads and manages with intention.
• Culturally responsive and emotionally intelligent
• Digitally savvy with enthusiasm about its possibilities
• Leads and manages with a growth mindset, open to learning and adapting.
• Courageous and compassionate truth-teller