Charlotte Archives - Nonprofit Development

Executive Director – International House
The Opportunity

This is a remarkable opportunity for a collaborative and relational leader to join a much-revered Charlotte, NC organization working toward the vision of a community where immigrants and international culture thrive. The International House is steeped in generations of deeply engaged and committed community-minded volunteers and donors who work alongside a team of passionate, dedicated and highly talented staff.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) provides consistent oversight of International House operations including programs, fundraising, financial management, communication, and community relations. This leader will bring a strong understanding of and passion for immigration issues. Significant nonprofit management and fundraising experience and a deep commitment to internal and external community-building are essential for the next ED.

The organization operates with a Board of Directors of 10 to 15, a staff of 20, and an operating budget of $1.8 MM. Executive leadership includes six senior level staff. This highly committed team has a combined tenure of more than 50 years with International House. The agency currently utilizes a fractional operating officer as well as a fractional finance services provider. The new ED will have the opportunity to define and build an executive team of complementary leaders.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities and evidence of accomplishment in the following areas:

Strategic and Relational Leadership: The ED will bring a keen understanding of the changing landscape of immigration services and will have evidence of successful innovation in programming. They will be a thoughtful and strategic leader – setting priorities collaboratively, delegating responsibilities, ensuring accountability, and effectively allocating resources to ensure strong outcomes. The ED will have demonstrated experience running a financially sound organization, including managing a budget similar to that of International House. They will have a strong understanding of the current funding environment for immigration organizations and regulatory necessities. The ED will also have proven experience navigating the financial complexities of an organization that operates with government funding as well as foundation support and private donations.

Leading by positive example and in strong collaboration with organizational leaders, the ED will encourage learning, growth, and empowerment of all team members. They will be a leader of leaders – highly approachable and skilled at listening to and learning from others with a deep belief in fostering a transparent, stable, and productive organizational culture. This leader will also have the professional maturity to be vulnerable. Deeply invested in staff voice, the ED will recognize the commitment and expertise of IH staff and will foster an atmosphere of appreciation, collaboration, consensus-building, and partnership across the organization. They will motivate staff to persevere supporting the immigrant community even during times of transition or uncertainty. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to properly balance collaboration and decisiveness, understanding where input is needed and then leading effectively toward execution.

Passion for the Values, Mission, and Vision: The ED will possess a deep drive and passion for ensuring International House remains at the forefront of community service, continually developing new opportunities to serve the mission. This leader will have a strong grasp of the immigration services landscape and be consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the organization to potential changes. The ED will embody the values and mission of International House including a strong spirit of hospitality with the staff team, volunteers, and members of the community. The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who is sincere and can be trusted without reservation.

Communication and Inclusion Skills:

The ED will lead an inclusive and engaged workforce and have experience working with diverse populations and bringing an inclusive lens to each aspect of their work. They will possess the ability to lead toward mission navigating ambiguous situations. The successful candidate will have the ability to develop rapport with people of varying experiences, backgrounds, and philosophies, and to understand the nuanced differences among each community International House serves. The leader will have a high level of emotional intelligence with a demonstrated ability to quickly build trust and credibility with staff, volunteers, and the community.

Community Connection: The ED will be an authentic ambassador and community builder working to rekindle past relationships, nurture existing connections and cultivate new partnerships with leaders in the public and private sectors. An effective storyteller, they will exude an authentic, confident, and humble spirit while sharing our mission. Similarly, they will be experienced at building effective coalitions with other organizations and a wide range of stakeholders.

Capacity Building and Philanthropic Focus: The ED will have demonstrated effectiveness working with board leadership and building a culture of philanthropy in the board and larger organization. This leader will drive a strong and sustainable growth plan aligning the board and staff team and programs. The ED will have the skills to articulate the vision of the organization to its supporting community, attracting new and diverse partnerships. This leader will have familiarity with a wide range of fundraising channels, including individual giving, governmental funding, and foundation support. The ED will cultivate and grow relationships to strategically increase the International House’s funding and donor base. They will have an inspirational approach to building collaboration and buy-in and generating support for the organization, continually innovating to help expand brand and reach. As the lead external voice of the organization, the ED will be recognized as a respected leader in the community.

About the Organization

Established in 1981, International House is a nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrants and international culture thrive in the Charlotte region. International House enriches the lives of foreign born and foreign rooted community members through cross-cultural connections that foster understanding and fuel inspiration. Their programs help immigrants settle and succeed in this region while supporting local residents and businesses to connect with people and cultures from around the world.

The programs of International House include:
- Youth Education – a partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to support approximately 300 K-5 English Language Learners at four localTitle 1schools including an afterschoolliteracytutoring program and a six-week summer literacy camp.
- Adult Education – classes for English Language Learners at various ability levels, including a Citizenship Preparation Program teaching the vocabulary of the citizenship application and essential civics knowledge.
- Ginter Immigration Law Clinic supports immigrants on a pathway to citizenship through legal representation.
- Citizen Diplomacy – supports and facilitates international exchanges geared toward sharing best practices, values and culture while strengthening our international security through soft diplomacy.
- The Hub – helps newcomers from around the world find resources, community support and a sense of home in Charlotte.
- Cultural Clubs – provide opportunities for members to share their culture, connect with like-minded individuals, and find their sense of belonging.
- Cultural Sensitivity Training – offers information and skills to better support those who are from different cultures and have limited English proficiency.
The knowledgeable staff team is highly passionate about their work. They are skilled adapters who prioritize providing a safe and nurturing third space for the immigrant community. The team prioritizes hospitality, meeting people where they are and providing special touches to ensure each client who visits their bustling office feels special and valued.

International House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a budget of $1.8MM and is funded through philanthropic gifts, local, state, and federal government grants as well as an annual signature fundraising event.

Want to know more? Visit the International House website at www.ihclt.org.

Think you are the next International House Executive Director?
To apply, scroll to the bottom of this page.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.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled with preference given to applications submitted by June 19th.
- Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and the range is $95,000 to $105,000. Benefits include medical and dental (eligible after 60 days) and 401 K availability (eligible after 90 days), Employee Assistance Program, accrued paid time off and 11 paid holidays. Staff work a hybrid schedule and the Executive Director is expected to work onsite a minimum of three to four days each week. Occasional evening and weekend work hours are required for community events.
International House seeks a diverse pool of candidates and is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age.
May 23, 2025
President – Sullenberger Aviation Museum
About the Opportunity

Sullenberger Aviation Museum (SAM), the premier aviation museum of the Southeast and a Smithsonian affiliate, is seeking an entrepreneurial, visionary, and community-centered leader to serve as its next President. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a museum at a pivotal inflection point in its history—one where audience growth, strategic partnerships, innovation, and community relevance converge. SAM has completed a transformational capital campaign and reopened its reimagined campus to the public, laying a powerful foundation for its next chapter of impact.

As President, you will lead a vibrant and mission-driven organization with a talented team, a bold vision, and a deep commitment to education, career exploration, inclusive community engagement and elevating the next generation of innovators. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President will oversee strategy, operations, staff leadership, fundraising, marketing, and external relations while fostering a strong, joyful and innovative internal culture. The successful candidate will not only be a compelling leader and fundraiser ready to expand SAM’s reach and influence regionally and nationally, but someone dedicated to expanding opportunity and impact in a field that has historically lacked diverse and equitable representation across race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

About the Sullenberger Aviation Museum

The Sullenberger Aviation Museum, founded in 1992 as the Carolinas Aviation Museum, reopened in June 2024 with a state-of-the-art, $34 million facility adjacent to Charlotte Douglas International Airport leased for $1/year for 49 years, a testament to the strong public-private partnership that anchors SAM’s model. Home to more than 40 commercial, civil, and military aircraft, the museum features one of the nation’s premier aviation collections – including the famed “Miracle on the Hudson” Airbus A320 piloted by its namesake, Captain C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger. More than just a collection of historic aircraft, the museum offers immersive, hands-on experiences designed to engage visitors of all ages and abilities.

With a mission to inspire, educate, and elevate the next generation of innovators, the museum is dedicated to expanding equitable access to career exploration in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Honeywell Makerspace sparks creativity and problem-solving through interactive activities like 3D printing, engineering challenges and snap circuits. Furthering this mission, the museum’s Flight Forward program connects students and aspiring professionals with aviation-focused programs, internships and apprenticeships while partnering with educational institutions, nonprofits and industry leaders to open doors to STEM careers.

SAM has been featured nationally on programs including “CBS This Morning,” “Good Morning America,” and “NBC Nightly News” and profiled by outlets like CNN and People. The museum continues to maintain a high profile across media as a result of its prominent collection and modern programming, and its galleries regularly host large-scale corporate and community events, which has quickly cemented the museum as a key pillar of Charlotte civic and philanthropic engagement.

SAM is led by a Board of Directors of 12 and a staff of 25 with an operational budget of $3.6m. 82% in program service revenue and 18% from contributed revenue.

To learn more visit: sullenbergeraviation.org

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Visionary Leadership
- Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing culture that aligns with SAM’s mission and values.
- Translate bold ideas into actionable plans that drive growth, sustainability, and long-term relevance.
- Build strong, transparent relationships with the Board and stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and shared accountability.
- Intentionally sustain and grow the social capital gained during the capital campaign to achieve sustainability, financial resiliency, and community connectivity.
Fundraising & Resource Development
- Demonstrate success in securing major gifts, leading annual and capital campaigns, and cultivating philanthropic partnerships.
- Actively steward and solicit major donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
- Partner with the Board and Advancement team to ensure long-term financial health and fundraising success.
External Relations & Community Presence
- Serve as SAM’s chief ambassador, representing the museum with energy, authenticity, and a strong public presence.
- Cultivate meaningful relationships with donors, community leaders, elected officials, and strategic partners.
- Strengthen SAM’s visibility and reputation through dynamic marketing, media, and community engagement efforts.
Audience Development & Impact
- Expand and diversify SAM’s audience and membership through activating the campus through innovative, engaging programs, and experiences for a broad audience.
- Champion STEM education and workforce development initiatives that connect young people to aviation and aerospace careers.
- Ensure equity, accessibility, and inclusion are embedded throughout all programs and strategic priorities.
Operations & Financial Management
- Oversee financial strategy, ensuring responsible budgeting, reporting, and resource allocation.
- Strengthen internal systems and infrastructure, including HR, technology, and compliance processes.
- Manage museum facilities and large-scale collections, while planning for future expansion and long-term sustainability.
Ideal Candidate Profile

Visionary Leadership with a Growth Mindset
- Proven ability to lead a growing organization, with a focus on audience development, revenue development and strategic growth.
- Ability to translate vision into action and inspire teams to achieve bold goals.
Mission-Driven & Community-Focused
- Passion for the power of museums, education, and aviation to inspire and uplift communities.
- Deep commitment to inclusion, innovation, and authentic community partnership.
Experienced Fundraiser & Relationship Builder
- Demonstrated success raising significant contributed revenue and cultivating major donors.
- Skilled at building social capital and leveraging relationships to expand reach and impact.
- Experience in Charlotte community or strong local connections, preferred.
Excellent Communicator & Ambassador
- Confident, magnetic presence; able to serve as the face and voice of SAM.
- Experienced in media relations, public speaking, and community engagement.
Strong Executive & Operational Leader
- Solid nonprofit or museum management experience; familiarity with cultural institutions is a plus.
- Financial acumen, strategic planning expertise, and collaborative leadership style.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and comfort leading in a dynamic, startup-like environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain a strong, inclusive team culture.
Background
- Familiarity with museums, aviation, STEM education, or workforce development.
- Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.
Application Process

To apply, scroll to the bottom of this page. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and professional references. 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.

The salary being offered for this position is in the $145-155K range. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, short term disability insurance; Simple IRA with a 3% employer match; 15 days of PTO, 11 paid holidays; and additional paid leave for bereavement and jury duty.

Sullenberger Aviation Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply.
April 20, 2025

Executive Director – International House

The Opportunity

President – Sullenberger Aviation Museum