Executive Director - LOPA Foundation

Description

Job Title:  Executive Director

Department:  Foundation 

Reports to:  Chief Legal Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Executive Director (“ED”) serves as the fundraising officer for the LOPA Foundation. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer of LOPA, the Executive Director leads strategic initiatives, drives donor engagement, oversees foundation operations, and advances the foundation’s mission: to support organ and tissue donation, educate the community, and provide compassionate support to donor families across Louisiana. 

The ED should be a visionary leader with a proven track record in nonprofit administration, donor relations, major gifts, and board management, along with a deep passion for organ donation awareness and family support programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develops and leads the strategic vision for the division in alignment with LOPA’s long-term goals and national leadership role. Drives enterprise-wide initiatives, policy advancement, and transformation efforts that position the organization for sustainable growth and mission impact.
• Executive Operational Leadership: Oversees system-level operations across multiple departments or domains. Ensures compliance with regulatory standards, sound fiscal management, and execution of high-quality services. Leads enterprise performance monitoring, risk mitigation, and innovation in systems, policies, and workflows.
• Talent & Culture Development: Champions organization-wide leadership development, workforce planning, and inclusive culture-building. Partners with fellow executives and HR to cultivate a resilient, diverse, and high-performing workforce aligned with LOPA’s values.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serves as a primary representative of the organization in national, state, and partner forums. Strengthens collaboration across clinical partners, regulatory bodies, and community stakeholders. Communicates complex priorities with clarity, diplomacy, and influence.

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Partner with Board leadership to establish long-term philanthropic strategies and recruit diverse, mission-aligned board members.
• Prepare board meeting agendas, financial statements, and governance materials.
• Deliver regular board reporting on fundraising performance, financial health, and strategic growth.

Fund Development & Donor Relations

• Design and execute a multi-channel development strategy across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, and grants.
• Lead major fundraising campaigns, donor appeals, and signature events (e.g., galas, memorial walks/runs).
• Manage an active donor portfolio, tracking engagement, giving potential, and cultivation steps across the full donor lifecycle.
• Build compelling sponsorship packages and proposals linking philanthropic support directly to LOPA’s mission and impact.
• Implement meaningful donor recognition and stewardship programs to deepen long-term donor retention.

Relationship & Resource Development

• Serve as the primary ambassador for the Foundation, elevating public awareness of donation through media relations and speaking engagements.
• Partner with LOPA leadership, Family Services, and Marketing to align foundation initiatives with agency clinical and education priorities.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, donor family networks, civic leaders, and corporate supporters to expand foundation reach.

Financial Management & Operations

• Direct the foundation’s annual budget, financial reporting, and compliance with 501(c)(3) legal and accounting standards.
• Oversee development operations, including CRM/donor database management, gift processing, and tax acknowledgments.
• Establish data-driven fundraising KPIs and provide regular pipeline and revenue reports to LOPA executive leadership.
• Lead staff, contractors, and volunteers to foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture.

Requirements

Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Public Relations, Communications, or a related field. 
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in non-profit management, foundation administration, or fundraising development. 
• Demonstrated success in major gift solicitation, donor stewardship, grant writing, and event management.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and influence skills with demonstrated executive presence
• Strong fiscal acumen: Proficiency in non-profit budget management, financial oversight, and 501(c)(3) compliance. 
• Proficient in enterprise systems, data tools, and executive communication platforms
• Committed to ethical leadership, continuous improvement, and inclusive culture-building.

Preferred: 

• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation. 
• Experience in healthcare, public health, organ/tissue donation, or healthcare-adjacent non-profit foundations. 
• Deep connections within Louisiana’s philanthropic, civic, and business communities. 

Work Environment & Expectations

• Full-time, salaried position (Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM), with flexibility as needed
• May require after-hours availability and occasional travel
• Office and clinical environments; occasional exposure to clinical materials.

ADA & EEO Compliance

LOPA provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources.

LOPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.