ABFE | Asheville, NC

Executive Director, YMI Cultural Center

Ask Yourself?

Are you passionate about advancing the Black community of Asheville, NC to ensure a stronger region for years to come? Are you a relationship-centered leader? The kind of leader who believes people are an organization’s most important asset and who knows how to build, nurture, and inspire a community internally and externally?

Are you a collaborator, nurturer and organizer who has experience growing a nonprofit organization through revenue diversification and program building?

Why?

As one of the oldest, most unique Black culture centers in the United States, YMI Cultural Center (YMICC) was built on the legacy of its founders, Mr. Issac Dickson, and Dr. Edward Stephens. Each and every person at the YMICC makes a difference to the complex, ongoing work of advancing the Black community in Buncombe County. YMICC will continue to stand in and lead the way for Black rights and social justice continuing to accelerate to the next milestones for Black people.

With a new strategic plan in place and The “128 Years and Counting” $6.4M capital campaign finishing up to restore its historic downtown Asheville building, YMICC seeks a leader to guide the organization into the future.

What will you do as YMI Cultural Center’s next Executive Director?

Leadership

Support the organization’s mission and vision
Provide leadership and direction to staff to ensure the effective operation and delivery of programs
Maintain transparency with board and staff acting as a liaison between the two
Ensure the implementation of programs, services and activities that meet the requirements of all grants and funding
Be actively involved in all community conversations about Black history and culture

Resource Management

Ensure the annual budget is funded and the organization has adequate cash flow
Monitor the annual budget in collaboration with the Board Finance Committee
Develop robust and diverse funding strategies; participate in cultivation and solicitation visits with development staff and board members
Create and maintain strategic alliances and collaborative partnerships with organizations, community leaders and local officials

Strategic Planning & Board Development

Oversee the implementation of the board’s strategic plan
Identify opportunities for growth and improvement
Ensure the Board of Directors are trained on organizational policies and programs
Actively engage with the entire board and with each individual board member to maximize board member contributions to YMICC’s success
Maintain a consistent emphasis on the importance of equity and inclusion

Why YMI Cultural Center?

YMICC’s mission is to empower the Black community to celebrate its rich cultural heritage through programs that preserve and promote African American arts and traditions with a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. YMICC’s vision is uniting diverse collectives to elevate the richness of Black culture while fostering authentic appreciation of Black heritage.

Initially branded as “The Young Men’s Institute,” the more commonly known YMI Cultural Center is one of the oldest, most unique, and beautiful Black cultural centers in the United States. YMICC is a local landmark within the City of Asheville, North Carolina and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The founders, Mr. Isaac Dickson, the first person of color appointed to the Asheville City School Board, and Dr. Edward Stephens, principal of Asheville’s first public school for African American students, envisioned an organization similar to a YMCA to support Asheville’s African American community. Currently YMICC provides services to the local Asheville community as well as Buncombe County at large. The organization is currently governed by a 13 person Board of Directors and day-to-day operations conducted by 4 paid staff members.

Want to know more? Visit YMI Cultural Center’s website at About Us — YMI Cultural Center .

Key lived experiences, attributes, and skillsets sought in the Executive Director

High level of passion for the YMICC mission and the communities it serves.
Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited four-year college.
Six or more years experience leading a nonprofit organization as the Executive Director/CEO.
Dynamic, visionary, high-level strategic thinking, and planning. Ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers, and donors.
Track record of fundraising and donor relations.
Experience collaborating with grassroots organizations, community members, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Strong writing skills and ability to speak confidently in public forums.
High level of initiative, effort, and commitment toward completing assignments efficiently.
Organized and detail-oriented, ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines and work independently and as part of a team.
Experience casting a vision, building a strategy, and leading the successful execution of a plan.
Inspiring communicator who can motivate staff, the board, donors, partner agencies, government allies, and volunteers.
Relationship builder with a natural curiosity and interest in those who view the world through a lens different than their own.
Knowledge of human resource functions with direct experience in structuring, hiring, onboarding and continually building a team.

Think you are the next YMICC Executive Director?

To apply, click on the link to the YMICC position profile at www.ArmstrongMcGuire.com/jobs. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, and salary requirements. Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.

Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and begins in the $115K range and includes a stipend for medical benefits. PTO includes 80 hours vacation and 40 hours sick time plus 11 paid holidays.

YMICC Collective Liberation Statement
Collective liberation means recognizing that all of our struggles are intimately connected, and that we must work together to create the kind of world we know is possible. We believe that every person is worthy of dignity and respect, and that within systems of oppression everyone suffers. This is not just a value, but an action. When we work together across the barriers kept in place to divide us, we strengthen our community. When combined, our diverse identities and experiences give us the tools to dismantle systems of economic, political, and social oppression, and to create a world in which all people are truly free.

Position Overview

YMI Cultural Center seeks their next Executive Director to help grow the organization by implementing a new strategic plan and wrapping up their “128 Years and Counting” $6.4M capital campaign to restore its historic downtown Asheville building.

How To Apply