Chief Executive Officer - Braver Angels

Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen the democratic republic. Dedicated to political depolarization in the United States, the organization focuses on how politically diverse individuals view and interact with one another to encourage greater trust and understanding, rather than seeking to change their specific stances on key issues. By catalyzing grassroots change, Braver Angels seeks to influence the institutions that shape our national civic life.

To learn more about Braver Angels, visit https://braverangels.org/.

The CEO Opportunity

Braver Angels seeks a dynamic and visionary leader passionate about bridging political divides and strengthening American democracy. As the organization’s senior staff member, the CEO will drive Braver Angels’ mission and strategy in collaboration with its Board of Directors.

The CEO will serve as the senior paid staff member focused on shaping the vision, mission, and strategy of Braver Angels, as approved by the Braver Angels Board of Directors, and marshaling resources to implement the mission. The CEO will be responsible for strengthening the capacity of Braver Angels to lead the civic renewal movement, including building greater visibility and engaging key partners, funders, and stakeholders. This leader will guide the development of financial and non-financial resources to ensure the organization’s sustainability and growth.

Serving in a collaborative and supportive leadership capacity, the CEO will advance Braver Angels by creating and integrating systems that support informed decision-making, foster organizational growth, and maximize impact. They will oversee the continued shaping of organizational culture, aligning with Braver Angels’ long-standing values while balancing structure with flexibility. Additionally, the CEO will proactively promote Braver Angels and lead major fundraising and financial development activities.

The CEO of Braver Angels has the opportunity to lead and empower a widely recognized, movement-oriented nonprofit focused on solving one of the most pressing challenges in American civic life: toxic political polarization. As Braver Angels strives to expand its reach, the CEO will have a pivotal role in building momentum, further strengthening systems that support the field, elevating partnerships, and deepening the organization’s impact.

Organizational Culture

Braver Angels fosters a highly collaborative and high-input environment where staff, volunteers, and community members align around shared values of respect, humility, and honesty. The next CEO will join a team deeply committed to the mission.

Braver Angels embraces a strong grassroots philosophy, giving staff and volunteers equal status and the freedom to champion new initiatives aligned with its mission. This decentralized structure fosters deep personal commitment among participants. Volunteers play a central role in daily operations and strategic direction, including positions on the national support team. By empowering volunteers to design and lead initiatives, Braver Angels continually reflects the diverse communities it serves.

Braver Angels emphasizes consensus-building and deliberative decision-making, inviting open dialogue before major decisions. This inclusive approach encourages broad participation. It also requires thoughtful alignment to maintain cohesion as the organization grows.

Braver Angels sees itself as a critical force in a larger civic renewal movement, with alliances across the country. Staff and volunteers actively extend the organization’s message into local communities, recognizing that true depolarization must happen at every level—from small-group conversations to national systems.

As Braver Angels seeks to grow and extend its impact, the organization is deliberately navigating the delicate balance between maintaining its grassroots, volunteer-driven spirit and introducing strategic structures that enable consistent, scalable impact.

Responsibilities

Set and execute the organizational vision and strategy.

• Collaborate with the Board, the COO, and other senior leaders to define Braver Angels’ long-term vision and key strategic priorities.
• Ensure alignment between the organization’s vision, mission, and day-to-day operations.
• Further the execution of the strategic plan, identifying and driving opportunities for growth and impact.
• Work closely with the COO to align operational strategies and initiatives with the organization’s mission and strategic goals.
• Make efforts to expand and strengthen the Board, including identifying candidates, thereby helping to ensure the Board is equipped to provide effective governance and oversight.

Ensure financial sustainability and drive fundraising efforts.

• Oversee the development and implementation of a sustainable financial strategy to support Braver Angels’ long-term mission.
• Monitor financial performance, collaborating with the Board and leadership to ensure fiscal health and the effective allocation of resources.
• Cultivate and maintain beneficial relationships with funders, including individual donors, foundations, and partners.

Enhance external engagement and advocacy.

• Promote Braver Angels’ mission and impact through media, public engagements, and partnerships.
• Ensure consistent communication of Braver Angels’ work, values, and outcomes to key stakeholders and the public.

Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships.

• Develop and implement a strategic approach to partnerships, aligned with Braver Angels’ mission.
• Identify and engage with key stakeholders to build influential partnerships that contribute to Braver Angels’ leadership role in driving systemic change.
• Position Braver Angels as a continued and growing leader in the movement focused on bridging divides and combating toxic political polarization to strengthen American democracy.

Oversee the development of data-informed systems.

• Guide the development of internal systems that will inform decision-making, helping the organization direct energy and resources toward areas of maximum impact.
• Co-lead with the COO the integration of data for evaluation and improvement.

Foster a collaborative organizational culture.

• In conjunction with the Board, ensure Braver Angels’ decisions reflect the Braver Angels Way.
• Provide inspired and collaborative leadership that empowers team members at all levels with renewed energy and focus on Braver Angels’ important work.
• Balance Braver Angels’ culture of freedom and empowerment with the need for strategic structure to scale operations effectively.

Qualifications

Required

• A deep commitment to the mission of Braver Angels and its values
• Adept at engaging meaningfully across political divides, with a deep empathy and understanding for diverse perspectives
• Ability to set aside personal preferences and beliefs to act in alignment with the Braver Angels Way to further the mission
• Understanding of the requirements for maintaining credibility in all political spheres
• 10 to 15 years of leadership experience in organizations requiring the advancement of a visible national and community presence, ideally within nonprofits or social movements focused on social change or civic engagement
• Experience in leading and engaging a large, diverse volunteer base
• Experience leading or engaging with grassroots-driven organizations or decentralized structures
• Comfort leading in a non-hierarchical environment, valuing collaboration regardless of title or role
• Strong financial management skills, including budget oversight
• Substantial track record of effectively attracting financial and human resources
• Ability to build and nurture strong, mission-aligned relationships with funders and major donors
• Proven experience in leading organizations through dynamic transitions, with a focus on strategic change management to enable growth and scaling
• Capacity to build commitment to a vision and mission, ensuring effective implementation across diverse constituencies
• Collaborative leader with an inclusive personal style who is able to build effective teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proactive self-starter with demonstrated ability to work effectively with governing board

Preferred

• Experience driving the development of a sustainable and strategic fundraising infrastructure
• Positive track record of working successfully in politically diverse and multicultural environments
• Basic understanding of human resources regulation
• Strong skills in advocacy and media relations
• Familiarity with Braver Angels’ existing programs

Compensation and Travel

The salary range for this role is $200,000–$250,000, commensurate with experience and the scope of leadership required for a national nonprofit CEO.

Braver Angels is a fully remote organization, and the CEO may be based anywhere in the United States. Travel is expected to Braver Angels events, partners, and gatherings as deemed necessary to effectively lead a national organization.