Executive Director

International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) seeks a globally-minded, dynamic Executive Director who shares our belief in the power of volunteers to make a significant contribution to resolving the world’s most pressing problems. This is an exciting opportunity for an energetic and strategic leader to work with IAVE’s leaders, members and partners around the world to advance the role of volunteering.

The Organization

IAVE exists to promote, support and celebrate volunteering in all of the many ways it happens throughout the world. With members in 70+ countries, we are the connective tissue within a global network of leaders, NGOs, businesses and volunteer centers working to achieve a global culture of volunteering that is vital to creating a fair, peaceful, sustainable and compassionate world. In order to achieve our mission, IAVE convenes leaders in volunteering, engages in advocacy, conducts and disseminates research, and develops and mobilizes networks. 

IAVE was founded in 1970 to build international understanding through volunteering. The Universal Declaration on Volunteering, first issued in 1990 during the World Volunteer Conference in Paris and revised in 2001, serves as the framework for IAVE’s advocacy efforts. Today, volunteers continue to set our strategic direction and guide the organization’s work. Led by a 10-person international Board of Directors from 8 countries, we advance our work through a leadership network that includes representatives from every major region and leaders in volunteering in over 70 countries. We are committed to principles of diversity, inclusion, partnership, impact, peace and human development.

We focus on four core pillars:

• Convening: We bring together leaders across the field to discuss, debate, and deepen our shared understanding of volunteering and its potential as a global force for good. We host the biennial World Volunteer Conference and World Youth Volunteer Conference, as well as regional conferences.
• Advocacy: We work closely with the UN, international NGOs and global companies to call attention to the importance of volunteering as a way to solve problems and improve the quality of life for all.
• Knowledge Development: We conduct research and report on current trends and challenges in the volunteering space.
• Network Development: We bring key constituencies together to share and learn from one another through various network include the Global Corporate Volunteer Council (GCVC), and a network of national leadership organizations for volunteering.

IAVE’s focus areas are:

• National leadership structures for volunteering;
• Businesses committed to engaging their employees as volunteers or strengthening volunteering;
• Global volunteer involving organizations (international organizations that engage volunteers to achieve their goals) and
• Our members.

Operations and Structure

IAVE’s annual budget is approximately $700K, funded through program revenue, grants, contribution and gifts. IAVE is supported by a small professional staff working from various locations in the US and globally. The Executive Director position is based in our Washington, DC office. There is some flexibility with geographic location, although we have a preference for a US-based candidate as IAVE is a registered 501(c)(3). The successful candidate MUST have the ability to travel freely between the United States and the rest of the world. For more information on IAVE, please visit our website at www.iave.org.

The Position

The Executive Director leads the staff and works closely with the Board to execute the current strategic plan. With an eye towards the future, the Executive Director will develop IAVE’s next strategic plan, envisioning how the organization can serve its individual, organizational, and corporate members, building the network and re-imagining volunteerism and its role in society. The Executive Director will heavily focus on funding to build a sustainable revenue model. In addition to overseeing IAVE’s programmatic work, the Executive Director also leads the staff and manages all aspects of internal operations.  

Leadership Outlook and Near-Term Priorities

Our near-term priorities for the next 12-18 months include:

• Building relationships within the IAVE network (e.g. Board, staff, and key stakeholders in our leadership networks) and externally with partners and funders.
• Focusing on fundraising and diversifying funding streams across geographies.
• Investing in internal organizational strategy and infrastructure (processes, systems) to advance IAVE’s work.
• Working in tandem with the Board to ensure organizational stability through leadership transitions; in approximately August 2020, a new World President will be elected and take office in October of that year.
• Developing IAVE’s strategic plan (the current plan goes until 2020) and creating a roadmap in partnership with the Board to achieve IAVE’s strategic vision.
• Leveraging IAVE’s 50^th anniversary and the 2020 World Conference in Abu Dhabi to announce the organization’s strategic priorities and plans for the future.

Key Responsibilities

The Executive Director is instrumental in building networks around the globe and advancing IAVE’s global agenda to promote, strengthen and celebrate volunteering worldwide. Primary responsibilities include:

• Partnering with the Board to ensure IAVE achieves its strategic goals; developing a new strategic plan and operationalizing it.
• Spearheading IAVE’s fund development strategy; identifying and cultivating strategic relationships and partners to support the organization’s programming and fundraising goals.
• Leading a global organization with enthusiasm for building teams and volunteer relationships through virtual platforms and technology. 
• Liaising with partners to further volunteering and its role in tackling complex societal issues.
• Managing IAVE’s day-to-day operations, including budget and finances.
• Ensuring IAVE’s convenings, research, advocacy and network development activities are of the highest quality and reflect IAVE’s values.
• Managing a decentralized and autonomous staff and overseeing hiring, training and supervising team members across multiple geographies and time zones.
•  Representing IAVE publicly, serving as a spokesperson and thought leader.

Experience and Attributes

Ideal candidates for this position will bring a passion for IAVE’s mission and the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to volunteering and an understanding of its role in the world.
• Demonstrated global perspective and the ability to work effectively across a decentralized, diverse, and international group of stakeholders.
• Prior success in cultivating and securing funding and/or programmatic partnerships.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with demonstrated ability to guide an organization from planning into successful implementation.
• Ability to balance strategic and tactical responsibilities, delegating or playing a hands-on role depending on what a particular situation requires.
• Experience building and engaging a diverse Board of Directors.
• At least 7 years of experience in an organization (for-profit, nonprofit, social enterprise) with a strong volunteer component (e.g. volunteer membership, corporate social responsibility).
• Positive and proactive approach, with the ability to take initiative and self-direct without compromising collaboration or stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent verbal and written communications.
• Familiarity with new technologies and experience leading a virtual team.
• Fluency (verbal and written) in English required; fluency in a language other than English a plus.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States and able to travel internationally on a regular basis.

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

Application Process

To apply, e-mail resume, cover letter and salary requirements to: IAVE@marcumllp.com. Only complete applications will be considered. For other inquiries, contact Ginna Goodenow-Schirf at Ginna.Goodenow@marcumllp.com.

IAVE provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy or recent childbirth or related medical condition, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, the use of a guide or support animal because of blindness, deafness or physical handicap of any individual, citizenship, veteran or military status, genetic information, marital status, familial status, domestic or sexual violence victim status, possession of a GED instead of a high school diploma, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local laws.

About Raffa – Marcum’s Nonprofit and Social Sector Group

On behalf of IAVE, Raffa – Marcum’s Nonprofit and Social Sector Group is working with the Board of Directors to advance the search. Founded in 1984 and recently merged with Marcum, Raffa is, and always has been, a mission-driven professional services firm seeking to do more for nonprofits and socially conscious companies like International Association for Volunteer Effort.