Executive Director

The Friendship Center

Executive Director Position Description

The Friendship Center (TFC) supports Chicago’s northwest side neighborhoods like Albany Park, Lincoln Square, North Park, Ravenswood, and West Ridge by providing budget relief in the form of free, healthful groceries. We are a welcoming, fresh food, full-choice pantry providing hot meals, home delivery and pet food distributions. Our food-rescue program is one of the largest in the city of Chicago. We serve over 4,500 neighbors facing hunger each month.

TFC provides short- and long-term assistance to people at risk of being food insecure by offering shopping at our pantry four days per week, assisting with SNAP and Medicaid applications, and/or making referrals to our 35 community nonprofit and healthcare partners. With our network of partners, we can connect folks with job training, counseling, legal advice, and low- or no-cost healthcare to allow them to stabilize their lives by overcoming other challenges they may be facing.

TFC has supported neighbors facing hunger since 1969. We are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving all people equally regardless of religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, or gender orientation.

We are a proud partner of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and part of the larger Feeding America network of hunger relief organizations.

Our Mission and Values

TFC fosters hope and dignity in Chicago’s northwest side communities through access to food and vital resources.

People facing hunger are at the center of all we do.

These values describe how we treat each other, whether client, volunteer, staff, or board member.

• We welcome everyone without judgment, demonstrating empathy for and respect to all.
• We are transparent and consistent and hope to earn the trust of others.
• We work smartly and consciously to be good stewards of all we are given, whether food, funds, or time and effort, and we are grateful when we can share with others.
• We collaborate, innovate and are curious; we learn from past experiences.

Our History

TFC’s roots go back to 1969, when a group of North Park Covenant Church members started a small food pantry on a couple of closet shelves. We operated out of the church for many years, until the program grew large enough to move out on its own.

In the 1990s, we obtained nonprofit status as the North Park Friendship Center, primarily serving the Albany Park and North Park neighborhoods. We opened a second location in 2013, which enabled us to expand our service area to Lincoln Square, Ravenswood and West Ridge, increase our hours of operation, and host a monthly pet food pantry, which later became a permanent program.

In 2018, the Lincoln Square Friendship Center moved to its current home at 2711 W. Lawrence Ave., with more square footage than any other facility in our history. This location also has a commercial kitchen, which allowed us to begin our weekly hot meal program. In 2020, we consolidated operations into this one location and the extra space allowed us to rapidly expand our capacity during the pandemic.

In 2022, The Friendship Center reached a significant milestone when we received a three-year grant from Endeavor Health (formerly NorthShore University HealthSystem). This funding enabled us to optimize our space, enhancing the shopping experience at the pantry for neighbors and providing them with a more dignified environment. Additionally, the grant allowed us to hire more team members, which has increased our capacity to provide access to food and essential resources. As a result, in 2024, we assisted more than twice the number of individuals compared to 2021.

Our Future/The Opportunity

Neighbors facing hunger are at the heart of The Friendship Center’s vision as the organization enters an exciting new chapter. With a strong balance sheet and well-structured operations and programs, the organization has a solid foundation for its incoming Executive Director to build upon. We expect the next phase of transformation will include the development of a sustainable growth plan that is responsive to the evolving needs of people facing hunger, expanding the organization’s fundraising and donor base, deepening partnerships, and engaging the local community to build an even larger coalition of support. Our ultimate goal is to create a more robust and sustainable organization that effectively addresses hunger for the people we serve.

Position Summary

The Executive Director serves as the leader of The Friendship Center and reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Working closely with TFC staff and the Board, the Executive Director leads the organization and champions our mission. The Executive Director will oversee all aspects of the organization’s operations, including fundraising, strategy, community engagement, program development and oversight, financial management and team leadership of both employees and volunteers. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in nonprofit or similar leadership, excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to making a positive impact on the community. Other key skills include high-level strategic thinking and planning, active fundraising experience and success generating new revenue streams, demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate with staff and the Board, and ability to establish relationships with individuals and organizations of influence, including funders, partner agencies, community leaders and volunteers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Vision and Strategy: In partnership with the board, develop and implement strategies that align with the organization’s mission and goals and develop long-term strategic plans to ensure growth and sustainability. Set and monitor goals and objectives to achieve strategic priorities.
• Fundraising: Build a strong annual revenue base to support the organization’s programs and growth. Oversee and participate in fundraising efforts, including grant writing, donor cultivation, and fundraising events.
• Board Collaboration: Cultivate a strong and collaborative relationship with the board. Act as an advisor to the board and maintain open communications to foster teamwork.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, hire, and manage a strong team. Foster a positive work environment for both staff and volunteers and promote teamwork and collaboration, encouraging team members to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.
• Program Management: Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the organization’s programs and services to meet the needs of our neighbors and community.
• Advocacy: Represent the organization in the community and advocate for its mission and programs.
• Partnerships: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, community leaders, and other nonprofit organizations.
• Communications: Oversee the development and implementation of marketing and communications strategies to enhance the organization’s public image and outreach.
• Budgeting: Develop and manage the organization’s budget. Ensure financial stability and sustainability.
• Board Meetings: Prepare for and participate in board meetings as an ex-officio member of the board. Provide regular reports to the board on organizational performance, financial position and staffing.
• Compliance: Ensure that the organization adheres to all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Policy Development: Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure efficient operations.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes and expertise.

They will be:

• Deeply passionate about The Friendship Center’s mission and able to use that passion to educate the public and promote connections to the organization
• A strategic thinker and visionary leader with proven experience in setting long-term goals and collaboratively developing the strategies needed to achieve them
• A strong fundraiser with a background in cultivating and managing donors across diverse revenue streams; proven expertise in proposal and grant writing, engaging major donors, and effectively mobilizing resources and community support to achieve ambitious fundraising goals
• An exceptional communicator and dynamic primary spokesperson for the organization, skilled at tailoring messages to different audiences and building community awareness
• Able to demonstrate previous success in developing and maintaining relationships to grow the organization’s resources and reach
• Collaborative and respectful, demonstrating the desire to serve a diverse community and consider multiple perspectives, seeking input to build stronger solutions
• A mentor, managing people and engaging with volunteers through partnership and collaboration and inspiring them to bring their best to the organization
• A problem solver, capable of high-level decision making and finding creative solutions in changing environments
• Flexible and able to manage conflicting priorities, able to think on their feet
• Excited to lead the team and committed to a strong, positive organizational culture
• Comfortable working with a board and have prior experience with supporting an active board
• High energy with a strong work ethic and integrity; self-directed

A bachelor’s degree is required as is experience leading and managing a team. At least seven years of leadership experience, ideally in a non-profit setting or related environment. Connection to the neighborhoods served by the organization would be ideal, but not required.

Equal employment has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at TFC. Employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, creed, color, marital status, sex/pregnancy, religion, national origin, class origin, nationality, age, physical or mental disability, military status, gender identity, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS, citizenship status, arrest record, source of income, parental status, housing status, or any other protected categories under applicable federal, state, and local law.

TFC is committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Every employee has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunity and prohibits discriminatory practices, including bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment. Therefore, TFC expects that all workplace relationships to be business-like and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment.