Description
Mennonite Action is a movement of Mennonites, fellow Christians, and friends following in the example of Jesus, who called us to live as active peacemakers, standing firmly with the oppressed. We take prayerful, public action against the occupation of Palestine and for a world where all God's children are free from authoritarian violence. We were founded after Israel’s bombardment and genocidal siege in Gaza, following the attacks on October 7, 2023.
We embrace a vision of Christianity grounded in the liberatory gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why opposition to Christian Nationalism and Christian Zionism is core to our mission. Deeply intertwined with far-right authoritarianism, antisemitism, and white supremacy, these ideologies obstruct opportunities for a true peace for Jews and Palestinians.
As Mennonites, we have a history of challenging theocracy, nationalism, and state violence. We commit to resisting oppression wherever it occurs, from the United States to Palestine. Standing on the shoulders of our Anabaptist forebears who boldly spoke truth to power, we seek to likewise step into our own responsibility and our calling. We may feel small compared to the formidable power of empire, but we understand that our essential task is to add our voice to a much larger global chorus. We believe that we have meaningful contributions to bring to this larger movement, and we are determined to use our resources and capacities in the service of peace, justice, and liberation.
We have 4 staff members and dozens of volunteer leaders. We are a highly collaborative organization where staff and volunteer opinions and perspectives are welcomed and expected. Staff and volunteer leaders give input on major decisions in our organization. Effective leaders in our organization are great listeners who work to build alignment and broad ownership over organizational priorities.
An Executive Director is responsible for facilitating the making of clear decisions, and building alignment around organizational direction. The ideal candidate brings a leadership style that values openness, supports staff autonomy, and provides steady decision-making that helps staff and volunteers teams do effective work.
The Mennonite Action Executive Director will provide operational and programmatic leadership, guiding the organization's vision and strategic direction. They will supervise staff and volunteer leadership committees, lead fundraising strategy and organizational budgeting, and manage relationships with partners and stakeholders. The Executive Director reports to the Steering Committee (and has a designated staff supervisor).
Responsibilities Include:
Fundraising
- Oversee all fundraising for the organization.
- Hold key individual relationships with donors and grant-giving institution.
- Identification and cultivation of major donor prospects, and proactive prospect research and cultivation
- Identify and pursue opportunities for grant funding by researching and understanding relevant funding sources, developing proposals, and managing grant application processes
- Manage fundraising systems and processes (Action Network, Spreadsheets, etc)
- Oversee the maintenance and expansion of the Mennonite Action monthly donor program
Operations
- Develop and execute Mennonite Action budget in partnership with Mennonite Action Steering Committee.
- Work with the Treasurer and Operations committee to ensure that all compliance needs are met.
- Work with all staff to ensure all organizational spending is being tracked
- Main point of contact to MA’s Fiscal Sponsor, Nonviolence International
- Responsible for tracking employee benefits, time off, and other HR related tasks.
Lead Staff Management
- One-to-one management of all Mennonite Action staff
- Lead weekly all-staff meetings
- Staff liaison in supporting Personnel Committee
- Lead in hiring, firing, and progressive discipline measures alongside the Personnel Committee.
Program
- Coordinate with staff to manage and support Mennonite Action’s national volunteer committees.
- Lead on organizational programming and vision, alongside staff and national leadership committee.
- Collaborate with staff and volunteers to create political education resources, including written and video materials, that explain current events in order to build the shared political analysis of the Mennonite Action base
- Guide staff and volunteer leaders to make strategic organizational decisions in response to unfolding current events
- Ensure the continued articulation of the central mission of the organization through action, created content and earned media
Partnerships
- Develop comprehensive coalitional and partner strategies in alignment with organizational goals.
- Leverage relationships with key allies, including elected officials, Mennonite Institutional leaders, and progressive advocacy organizations to broaden Mennonite Action’s impact.
- Represent Mennonite Action in key tables, coalitions, and meetings with outside organizations.
- Lead on legislative and lobby focussed campaigns
- Be primary ‘first-touch’ person for other organizational leaders trying to get in contact with Mennonite Action.
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time, remote position beginning at $80,000 - $90,000. Mennonite Action offers employer-paid 100% healthcare coverage, life insurance, dental, and a Simple IRA retirement plan. Generous vacation policy with minimum 4 weeks off per year.
Mennonite Action is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you're driven, passionate, and have a track record of figuring things out, we care far more about that than your years of experience or titles held - please apply!
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Requirements
Qualifications and Skills
- Minimum 3 years of experience in leading fundraising programs, faith-based advocacy, political campaigns or relevant non-profit institutional work.
- Minimum 2 years of management and director supervision experience
- Experience representing organizations in coalitions and external partnerships
- Experience planning and managing six figure organizational budgets.
- Basic understanding of nonprofit compliance requirements
- Ability to support and collaborate on fast paced organizing programs teams
- Experience managing and tracking work projects to completion
- Collaborative leadership style, excited to work with a team of highly skilled staff and volunteer leaders.
- Passionate about staff and volunteer leadership development
- Excels at building relationships with people from a variety of skills and backgrounds
- Strong communicator: capable public speaker and excellent written communication skills.
- Bold, courageous, not afraid to take risks in order to meet the political moment and achieve organizational goals.
- Alignment with Mennonite Action’s mission of taking bold, public nonviolent action against the occupation of Palestine and for a world where all God's children are free from authoritarian violence.
- Clear power analysis on evolving political conditions. Focused on leveraging our organization’s resources, base, skills, and spiritual power to make effective political change.
- Committed and prepared to navigate conflict in a productive, thoughtful, and honest way.
- Familiarity with Mennonite communities (preferred)
