Fractional Executive Director, St. Louis

Contract/Temporary

: January 1, 2026 - May 30, 2027

Location

: St Louis Remote with travel as needed to Kansas City

Cover letter Requested

POSITION PURPOSE

Pawsperity opened its doors in January 2016 as the nation’s only nonprofit dog grooming school, based in Kansas City, Missouri. Our mission is to empower families to achieve self-reliance through job training, life skills education, and practical solutions that break the cycle of generational poverty. Since 2016, Pawsperity has graduated more than 230 students; 92% secure employment within six months of graduation, and our grooming graduates earn a median salary of $49,000 per year, compared to an average pre-program income of roughly $12,000 per year. Some of our graduates are earning $100,000 or more a year.

Pawsperity is expanding this proven model to St. Louis, Missouri. The Fractional Executive Director, St. Louis will lead the launch of Pawsperity’s second location, overseeing a $10 million capital campaign, the acquisition of a facility or property, the formation of a Steering Committee, and the cultivation of key St. Louis relationships.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising and Development

• Plan and coordinate monthly fundraising events and dinners for potential donors.
• Help to create and manage a volunteer advisory council
• Manage the General Revenue Budget of $965,000.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Kansas City leadership throughout the launch phase, providing regular progress updates and escalating risks or roadblocks as needed.
• Coordinate with the fundraising firm, grant writers, graphic designer, and marketing specialist to execute a local fundraising strategy for St. Louis, including individual donors, corporate partners, and grants.
• Cultivate relationships with St. Louis-area foundations, workforce development boards, and government funding sources, and coordinate donor meetings for yourself and the Pawsperity CEO.

Community Relations & Partnerships

• Serve as Pawsperity’s primary spokesperson and public face in the St. Louis community.
• Work closely with Pawsperity referral agencies and wrap around support.
• Represent Pawsperity at community events, networking functions, and media opportunities to build local awareness and support.
• Keep the Board of Directors and Kansas City leadership informed through regular reports and presentations on launch progress, operations, and strategic decisions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in sales, marketing, event planning, or fundraising.
• Proven experience launching or scaling a new program, site, or organization, including navigating licensing, regulatory, and start-up operational requirements.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and community partnership development.
• Experience building and developing volunteer teams in a start-up or high-growth environment.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to represent the organization to donors, media, and community stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple work streams simultaneously in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel between St. Louis and Kansas City as needed.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and standard nonprofit management and database software.
• A deep commitment to helping families exit poverty, with a belief that vocational training and life-skills education are pathways to self-sufficiency.

Pay: $75.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25.0 – 30.0 per week

Work Location: Remote