The Outside Foundation - Executive Director

Rooted in Hilton Head Island and the broader Lowcountry, The Outside Foundation (TOF) is a small, community-rooted nonprofit dedicated to connecting young people to the outdoors while protecting and restoring the Lowcountry’s coastal and marsh ecosystems. Through hands-on programs such as Kids in Kayaks, oyster shell recycling, and community stewardship initiatives, TOF blends environmental education with real-world conservation impact.
 

The Outside Foundation operates with a lean staff, an active volunteer base, trusted contractors, and a supportive Board of Directors. The organization is focused on strengthening fundraising, deepening community relationships, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

1. Organizational Leadership, Governance & Board Partnership

- Serve as the primary leader and public representative of The Outside Foundation.
- Partner with the Board Chair and Board to establish annual priorities aligned with organizational capacity and to optimize Board composition and contribution.

- Support effective nonprofit governance, including bylaws, policies, and committee structures.
- Prepare Board materials, support agenda development, and ensure follow-through on Board decisions.
- Provide clear, consistent reporting on finances, fundraising, programs, and risks.
- Support, educate and inspire Board members from onboarding through engagement, with clear expectations, particularly related to fundraising, events, and community visibility.

2. Fundraising, Grant Writing & Relationship Development

- Lead and execute a realistic, diversified fundraising strategy appropriate for a small organization, with clear revenue goals and accountability for results.

- Serve as the organization’s lead grant strategist and primary grant writer, accountable for researching opportunities, developing compelling proposals, submitting applications, and ensuring timely reporting and stewardship of all grant-funded programs.

- Establish and manage an annual grant calendar with measurable targets and deadlines to drive consistent funding growth.

- Partner with the Director of Development to execute individual giving, events, sponsorships, campaigns, in-kind support, and donor communications strategies aligned with revenue goals.

- Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward key donors, institutional funders, and community partners.

- Share responsibility for donor CRM oversight, data integrity, forecasting, and fundraising reporting with the Director of Development.

- Oversee fundraising contractors and consultants as budget allows, ensuring clear deliverables and return on investment.

3. Program Oversight, Volunteers & Community Impact

- Support and supervise part-time Program Managers.
- Ensure programs are safe, mission-aligned, and delivered within capacity.
- Oversee volunteer recruitment, onboarding, training, engagement (including calendar) and recognition.
- Maintain partnerships with schools, nonprofits, agencies, and community stakeholders.
- Champion TOF’s impact story for all stakeholders - donors, volunteers, partners, funders and the broader community.

4. Operations, Marketing & Financial Stewardship

- Oversee budget, cash flow, and financial health with the Board and Treasurer/CFO.
- Ensure systems for finance, donor records, and compliance are maintained.
- Oversee external marketing and social media contractors for brand alignment and promotion, and website, newsletter and materials management.

- Collaborate with Outside Brands team to optimize messaging alignment and resource sharing.
- Engage with local and state government entities for programs, permits, funding, and visibility.
- Ensure policies, insurance, and basic risk management practices are maintained.

5. Team Leadership & Organizational Culture

- Manage and support the Director of Development and Program Managers.
- Set clear priorities within limited staff capacity.
- Foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture.

- Support professional development within available resources.

Required:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience.
- Experience working with Boards and nonprofit governance.
- Grant writing and grant management/reporting experience.
- Strong relationship-building, communications, storytelling, and presentation skills.
 

Preferred:
- Familiarity with Lowcountry nonprofits, Outside, or environmental organizations.

- Experience driving and managing organization revenue growth from $600K to $1M.
- Experience managing small, diversified teams including employees, contractors, and volunteers.

- Knowledge of campaigns, endowments, planned giving, and legacy giving.