Chief Executive Officer

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is an equal opportunity employer committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion.

The YMCA is one of the area’s leading nonprofits committed to strengthening communities through Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has been a mainstay in the community for nearly 95 years. Founded in 1926, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests.

The board believes its new CEO should be an experienced leader who has the background, qualities and commitment to excellence in the following areas deemed critical to the growth of this YMCA. The new CEO must inspire and mobilize staff, volunteers, members and community partners to strengthen communities for all, bringing together people from different perspectives - to ensure all have access to opportunities to learn, grow and thrive.

Position Description and Board Expectations:

Develop and Implement a Strategic Plan: Work effectively with volunteers, community leaders, and key staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the communities served by the Y and includes defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. The strategic plan must be the anchor to executing our vision, balancing sustainability and relevancy, to achieve impact through our programs, facilities and partnerships. Cause-driven leadership and a commitment to being an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization will be cornerstones of our next plan.

Stabilize Operating Performance and Ensure Recovery and Revitalization Into the Future: Use high-level financial analysis to forecast financial trends, growth and stability, while consistently leading organization to balance or surplus operations by growing earned revenue and contributions and controlling costs. Empower and guide staff leaders to lead their departments to successful financial operation. Quickly address financial issues that may arise, forecast future needs and manage and direct the Y’s operations and activities to ensure recovery and revitalization post-pandemic.

Position the Y as a Vital Partner for Community Change: Serve as an ambassador for the mission, purpose, and vision for the YMCA within the community. Possess the ability to develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, while always upholding the highest standards and values of the Y. Ensure our Y is seen as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose and each other. Strengthen partnerships that will enable us to enhance existing and expand new service to underserved communities, responding to areas of opportunity. Intentionally promote inclusion in all aspects, ensure and sustain diverse representation in our leadership, and lead social change in our communities.

Steward Fundraising Efforts and Building Projects: Develop and implement a fundraising plan that will establish the YMCA as a leading nonprofit organization within the community through the engagement of members, volunteers, staff, and donors. This includes growth in our annual campaign and support of mission programs and initiatives. Provide leadership to successful capital fundraising and facility optimization. Ensure current property portfolio is maximized and lead the efforts in identifying new communities.

Salary Range: $150,000-$180,000

Benefits: 100% paid family coverage for medical, dental and vision. 100% premium paid for Long Term Disability and life insurance ($10,000 policy). Also included will be a YMCA provided laptop, YMCA provided cell phone and service, and an auto allowance of $250 per month. The Y currently participates in the Y Retirement Fund at 4% YMCA contribution rate (once eligibility requirements are met). 403(b) retirement savings plan is also offered through the Y Retirement Fund. Vacation/PTO is accrued monthly based on years of service with an additional three sick days provided annually.

Minimum Criteria for Candidates:

1. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.

2. Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills and personal values consistent with the YMCA mission.

3. Minimum of five to seven years prior experience in a senior management role with a YMCA or related experience at a comparable organization with direct supervision of multiple levels of staff and employees.

4. Fiscally sound business management approach and a proven track record of managing a budget of at least $3,000,000.

5. Experience and competence in the top priorities and key deliverables that have been identified for the position.

6. Experience working with people of diverse cultural backgrounds, affecting the overall diversity and makeup of the staff and the Board to reflect the community which the organization serves.

Preferred Criteria for Candidates:

1. YMCA Organizational Leader Certification. (Note: Candidates not already in possession of this certification have up to three years to obtain via Y-USA)

2. Experience managing multiple sites/locations.

3. Experience with strategic planning and fundraising, including annual campaign and planned giving.

4. Experience in capital development and facility expansion, including the opening of a new facility.

5. A track record for building and leveraging community partnerships and alliances in order to expand services that address community needs.

6. Ability to work with and strengthen Board and volunteer leadership structure.

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Association Facts:

YMCA Features Include: The Greater Joliet Area YMCA Association is comprised of three branches. Pre-covid, the YMCA had 23,271 members (7588 units) and as of posting the YMCA has 15,335 members (5185 units).

• The C.W. Avery Family YMCA branch opened in 2006 and is located in Plainfield. It is an 80,000 SQF building on 10 acres and features a newly renovated wellness center, family aquatics center and indoor waterpark, eight-lane lap pool, steam room, sauna, gymnasium, indoor track, supervised playroom, multi-purpose rooms, various group exercise studios, outdoor fields, and an outdoor track. The branch has strategic partnerships with AMITA Health St. Joseph Medical Center and the Plainfield School District – providing out-of-school time programming for all District 202 elementary schools.

• The Galowich Family YMCA branch opened in 1978 and is located in Joliet. It is a 28,500 SQF building on 15 acres and features a six-lane lap pool, gymnasium, fitness studio, wellness center, supervised playroom and ten-acre outdoor space, which includes two soccer fields and two softball fields, and a half-mile paved walking path. The branch is a community leader in youth development – providing year-round out-of-school time programming.

• The Morris Community YMCA branch opened in 2015 and is located in Morris. It is a 9,000 SQF temporary YMCA facility located in the former city hall building in downtown Morris. The branch is a strategic partnership with Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers and there are plans to collaborate on a new full service facility, expanding existing co-branded programming offered. This branch also operates youth basketball programs in Morris and Coal City.

In August 2018, the YMCA launched a capital campaign to build a full-facility YMCA in Grundy County. To date, leadership has secured a 13.5-acre land site which was donated, secured a lead gift and healthcare partnership with Morris Hospital to operate the facility jointly, and have raised $12.4M on a goal of $18M ($8.5M in pledges have been collected).

The Greater Joliet Area includes Will, Grundy and parts of Kendall Counties. Will County has a population of nearly 700,000 while Grundy (51,000) and Kendall (129,000) are smaller.

The Y has a three-year strategic plan (2020-2023) approved in 2019 but the pandemic forced a revision which was approved by the board in August, 2020. The Mission Strong Strategic Plan was created to help the YMCA develop a thoughtful, sustainable, and strategic approach to growing its mission in Joliet and throughout Will and Grundy Counties.

Priorities for the plan include:

1. Sustaining the YMCA (Partnerships), 2. Growing the YMCA (Expanding missiondriven programs), 3. Stewarding the YMCA Wisely (Eliminate underperforming programs), 4. Investing in Youth Development (Character Development + STEM), 5. Raising Funds to Support the YMCA Mission, 6. Morris YMCA Capital Campaign, 7. Securing New Partnership at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, and 8. Sustaining and Improving the YMCA Culture.

Staff & Board: The Y describes itself as having a strong, supportive culture and staff team. Positions were eliminated and the organization was downsized during 2020. There are 3 direct reports to the CEO – SVP/COO, CFO, and Executive Administrative Assistant. The Y employs 37 FT and 349 seasonal/PT employees.

The board is comprised of 32 members (including 2 Emeritus members). There are 50 policy volunteers serving (excluding the corporate board) and 660 program volunteers.

Financial Profile:

As of year-end 2020, the YMCA has an endowment fund balance of $7.4M and $6.1M in bond debt. The Y has applied for forgiveness of an additional $1.4M in PPP debt. Prior to the pandemic, the Y had a pattern of generating a small operating surplus most years, however depreciation is not typically funded. The operating revenue for the association was $11.5M in 2019, $8M in 2020 ($6.5M if PPP is not forgiven), and is budgeted for $8.7M in 2021. The Y is in recovery and experiencing a slow return to membership and programs. Cash reserves and federal Cares Act funding sources were leveraged in 2020. The Employee Retention Tax Credit is being explored to provide additional stabilization for 2021. The minimum wage increase in Illinois will continue to impact the Y, however, strategies are in place to address the incremental increases through 2025.

Fundraising and Contributed Support: The YMCA raised $495,000 in its 2020 Mission Strong Fund annual campaign goal and has budgeted $355,000 as a goal for 2021. $790,000 was awarded in financial assistance in 2020 and $955,000 is budgeted for 2021.

Advantages to Area: The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is located 45 miles from downtown Chicago and easy access to major interstates. Greater Joliet is comprised of a diverse and rich array of micro-communities with high-quality schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, and an active and philanthropic business community. Joliet is Illinois’ fastest-growing city and one of the fastest growing in the Chicago metro area. It offers a thriving downtown rich in history, family-oriented atmosphere, and plenty to do.

Other Sites for Information:

YMCA of the USA: www.ymca.net

Greater Joliet Area YMCA: www.jolietymca.org

City of Joliet: www.joliet.gov

Village of Plainfield: www.plainfield-il.org

City of Morris: www.morrisil.org

Joliet Chamber: www.jolietchamber.com

Plainfield Chamber: www.plainfieldchamber.com

Grundy Chamber: www.grundychamber.com

Will County: www.willcountyillinois.com

Grundy County: www.grundyco.org

Target Dates for the Search Process

Resumes accepted through: Sunday, May 2

Preliminary interviews scheduled: Wednesday, June 2

Final interviews: Monday, June 21 and Tuesday, June 22

CEO selection made: Following final interviews

New CEO on board (anticipated): August 1, 2021