About Us:
Help keep families together—and lead the next chapter of Belknap House
Belknap House is the only family-centered shelter in Belknap County. We provide children and parents experiencing homelessness with safe shelter, individualized support, educational opportunities, and connections to the community resources they need to build lasting stability.
Our work now spans two properties serving families at different points in their journey: our 24/7 emergency family shelter and Belknap House II, which provides transitional housing and continued support as families move toward permanent housing and greater independence.
We are seeking an Executive Director who can protect what makes Belknap House trusted while helping the organization grow stronger, more sustainable, and more connected to the community it serves.
The opportunity
The Executive Director is the chief executive and public-facing leader of Belknap House. Working in close partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners, this person will lead organizational strategy, fundraising, financial stewardship, people and culture, external relationships, and long-term sustainability.
This is a hands-on leadership role in a community-based nonprofit. On any given day, the Executive Director may meet with a prospective donor, review a grant proposal, work through a budget decision, support a staff leader, speak with a community partner, or help the Board translate a strategic goal into action.
The Executive Director is accountable for the overall strength and performance of the organization while supporting the Shelter Program Manager and shelter team in delivering safe, consistent, and respectful services to families.
What you will leadFundraising and financial sustainability
- Create and lead an annual development strategy spanning individual giving, grants, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, fundraising events, and community campaigns.
- Strengthen relationships with current donors while thoughtfully expanding Belknap House’s donor and sponsor base.
- Identify grant opportunities aligned with the organization’s mission and priorities.
- Oversee the full grant lifecycle, including prospect research, application development, data collection, reporting, compliance, and deadline management.
- Build a reliable fundraising pipeline and provide the Board with clear, regular updates on progress, opportunities, risks, and results.
- Represent Belknap House at donor meetings, community events, and fundraising activities.
Organizational strategy and Board partnership
- Work with the Board of Directors to establish priorities, measurable goals, and a clear path for Belknap House’s future.
- Translate the strategic plan into annual operating goals and hold the organization accountable for progress.
- Prepare timely and transparent updates for the Board on fundraising, finances, programs, staffing, partnerships, and organizational risks.
- Support the Board in fulfilling its governance and fundraising responsibilities.
Financial and operational stewardship
- Develop and manage the annual budget in partnership with the Board Treasurer and appropriate financial support.
- Monitor revenue, expenses, cash flow, and financial performance throughout the year.
- Maintain strong internal controls, organizational policies, records, contracts, insurance, and regulatory compliance.
- Ensure that organizational resources are used responsibly and in direct support of Belknap House’s mission.
- Identify practical opportunities to improve processes, systems, and organizational efficiency.
Staff leadership and organizational culture
- Lead, support, and develop a team of approximately nine employees, along with the volunteers who make Belknap House’s work possible.
- Supervise and collaborate with key staff leaders, including the Shelter Program Manager.
- Create a culture grounded in dignity, accountability, communication, trust, and respect for both families and staff.
- Ensure staff members have clear expectations, appropriate training, useful feedback, and the support needed to do demanding work well.
- Promote trauma-informed, family-centered, and equitable practices throughout the organization.
- Maintain appropriate succession, staffing, and emergency-continuity plans for a 24/7 organization.
Community leadership and advocacy
- Serve as a visible and credible representative of Belknap House throughout Belknap County and the Lakes Region.
- Build productive relationships with nonprofit organizations, municipal and state agencies, schools, employers, housing partners, healthcare organizations, foundations, businesses, and community leaders.
- Strengthen referral pathways and partnerships that help families access housing, employment, education, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and other essential resources.
- Lead public relations, community outreach, and organizational communications.
- Stay informed about changes in housing, homelessness, human services, nonprofit regulation, and community needs that may affect Belknap House or the families it serves.
What you bring
We recognize that strong nonprofit leaders arrive through many different career paths. We are looking for someone who offers most of the following:
- At least three years of nonprofit, human-services, or mission-driven management experience, with responsibility for staff, budgets, programs, fundraising, or organizational strategy.
- Demonstrated success leading or materially contributing to multi-channel fundraising at a scale comparable to Belknap House’s approximately $400,000 annual fundraising goal.
- Experience cultivating donors, developing partnerships, writing or overseeing grants, and turning relationships into sustainable support.
- Strong financial judgment and experience managing budgets, monitoring performance, and communicating financial information clearly.
- Experience leading and developing employees in a collaborative, accountable work environment.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- The ability to work effectively with families, employees, volunteers, donors, Board members, and community partners from many different backgrounds.
- Sound judgment, discretion, follow-through, and the ability to manage competing priorities without losing sight of the people behind the work.
- A genuine commitment to treating families experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect.
A degree in social work, nonprofit management, public administration, business, or a related field is welcome but not required. Equivalent professional, community, and lived experience will be considered.
Experience with family homelessness, housing, social services, trauma-informed care, or the New Hampshire nonprofit and philanthropic community is helpful but not required.
Compensation and benefits
- Annual salary of $70,000–$90,000, based on experience and qualifications
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- Flexible scheduling
- Hybrid flexibility when consistent with organizational and community needs
- Opportunity for a performance-based incentive tied to Board-approved annual goals
Work structure
Belknap House is a place-based, community-facing organization. The Executive Director must be regularly present in Laconia and available to build relationships throughout Belknap County and the Lakes Region. Some administrative work may be completed remotely, depending on organizational needs.
The position may require occasional evening or weekend participation in fundraising events, community meetings, or time-sensitive organizational matters.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Do you have a degree in social work or equivalent job experience?
- On an annual basis, how much revenue have you raised for your organization through grant writing or fundraising?
Experience:
- non-profit management: 3 years (Required)
- grant writing and fundraising raising at least $400K/year: 2 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Laconia, NH 03246: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Laconia, NH 03246
