ACCESS College Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer
Role Specifics Position: President and Chief Executive Officer Company: ACCESS College Foundation Location: Norfolk, VA Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors Website:www.accesscollege.org
About ACCESS College Foundation In 1988, two Norfolk businessmen, both well known for their civic and philanthropic activities, established the ACCESS College Foundation (formerly known as the Tidewater Scholarship Foundation) to administer one program, ACCESS.
Frank Batten, Sr. and Joshua P. Darden, Jr. – names well known to education in Virginia – long considered education the key to success and gave generously of their time and resources to make college a reality for thousands of young people in South Hampton Roads.
The idea for ACCESS began with a story both men read in the New York Times about New York businessman Eugene Lang. In 1981, Mr. Lang adopted a sixth-grade class in Harlem and promised to pay for their college education providing that they graduated from high school and were admitted into college. Six years later, over 90% of the students graduated and over half went on to college-a major achievement considering the high school's 75% dropout projection.
While Mr. Batten and Mr. Darden admired Mr. Lang’s approach, the cost of extending his promise to all students in a school or an entire school system would have been astronomical. After researching similar programs that helped underprivileged children go to college, they learned that hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal, state and local institutional grants and scholarships for colleges were unclaimed by qualified low-income students. In most cases the students and parents were simply unaware that the money existed, and they often had no idea how to apply for the funds. ACCESS and its mission were born from this research and these revelations and the same mission and goals continue to drive the organization forward today.
Over 36 years, the ACCESS College Foundation has helped more than 85,000 students and their families in taking college entrance examinations, applying for financial aid, submitting final applications, and enrolling in college. In the process, $865 million in financial aid and scholarships have been awarded to these students. Through ACCESS’ “Last-Dollar” Scholarship, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to students totaling $16 million. These last-dollar awards bridge the gap between the total amount of aid for which a family qualifies and the final cost of attending college.
ACCESS’ work with students does not stop when they go to college but continues through the organization’s College and Career Success Program that ensures ACCESS Scholars attend college and both thrive and persist while there. With this program, ACCESS extends advisory services to ACCESS Scholars attending the colleges and universities where there is the greatest concentration of ACCESS students. This program targets students from the ACCESS Program to assist them in meeting the requirements of remaining in college and graduating within six years. An average of 92% of ACCESS Scholars are retained after two years with approximately 81% graduating within four years. Through this program’s success, ACCESS also has created an alumni database and has a goal to further alumni engagement and reinvigorate an alumni committee beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.
After more than three decades with the organization, incumbent President and Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Sutton will retire in 2025. The Board of Directors has commenced a national search for her successor to lead ACCESS into its next phase of growth and build upon the organization's 36 years of success.
The new CEO will benefit from ACCESS’ strong financial position, including an annual operating budget exceeding $6 million and an endowment exceeding $60 million, which will increase substantially as a result of a current capital campaign that has raised in excess of $10 million. The enviable, long-term financial strength of ACCESS will allow the CEO to pursue energetically the organization’s goal to grow program services for students throughout southeastern Virginia.
For more information about ACCESS College Foundation, its history, staff, and programs, please visit: www.accesscollege.org.
Position Summary and Responsibilities ACCESS College Foundation (ACCESS) seeks an inspiring, strategic, energetic and visionary leader with proven strategic development, fundraising, and executive management skills to serve as its next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO will be tasked with managing an almost 50-person staff, the creation and execution of the next iteration of ACCESS College Foundation’s strategic growth plans to expand the ACCESS’ impact from almost 3,000 senior students in 30 schools this past year to greater heights, the continued diversification of its revenue generation activities, and the continued growth and potential enlargement of the Foundation’s brand.
This position requires a visionary leader with the ability both to strategize the future of the organization, create a plan to accomplish that strategy and communicate it effectively. The CEO will be an incredible spokesperson for ACCESS with proven experience in fundraising and relationship development (or translatable experience) and interested and able to grow the organization’s impact.
Executive Leadership
Complete the existing 2023-2027 strategic planning cycle and lead the development and execution of subsequent long- and short-term strategies.
Further an existing positive organizational culture through alignment to mission and values, future hiring and talent development, and communication.
Partner with the Vice President of Finance and Administration and the Board of Directors on ACCESS’ budget, ensuring it remains financially viable and capable of meeting current standards and future growth opportunities.’
Attend organizational events and relevant industry and regional happenings, representing ACCESS as its primary spokesperson and ambassador.
Serve as ACCESS’ spokesperson to existing and prospective stakeholders, including donors, educational institutions, community leaders, and others.
Recruit, oversee, retain, and evaluate existing and future staff to foster a culture of staff growth.
External Engagement
Manage and grow organizational fundraising efforts across individuals, foundations, events, and corporate partners.
Create and execute a fundraising strategy to develop new revenue channels. Strategically assess existing donor relationships for potential new fundraising opportunities.
Serve as ACCESS’ primary ambassador and spokesperson across its geographical footprint in South Hampton Roads and Northampton County, Virginia.
Develop and implement operational plans to increase awareness, expand social media presence, and further organizational following.
Strategically assess existing and prospective partnerships for potential new revenue-generating opportunities, including an assessment of whether ACCESS should pursue government grants.
Oversee the successful completion of ACCESS’ existing and future capital campaigns.
Partner with the Vice President of Development in fundraising efforts and integration of best-in-class fundraising operations.
Partner with the Vice President of Programs on the collaboration with schools, colleges, and other key stakeholders in our service area.
Board Engagement
Serve as the primary advisor to the Board of Directors, providing timely information, ensuring transparency, as necessary to ensure informed decisions.
Partner with the Board of Directors on donor opportunities, both in furthering existing relationships and cultivating new ones.
In partnership with the Board of Directors and other staff, recognize and attract new members capable and desiring to make an impact with ACCESS at a non-executive level.
Serve as a staff representative to various Board of Director committees.
Professional Experience/Qualifications ACCESS seeks a dynamic, mission-aligned, passionate leader who aligns with its commitment to the betterment of its students and providing them with the tools necessary to succeed in their educational endeavors. The next President and Chief Executive will be a successful fundraiser and partnership developer, interested in making a multi-generational impact on the communities ACCESS serves. The ideal leader will cultivate new and expand on existing organizational programs to positively impact the region.
The President and Chief Executive Officer will possess the following experience and personal characteristics:
Fifteen plus years’ experience in a similar leadership role in the non-profit, education, or for-profit sectors. Ten plus years’ experience in leadership roles including staff management, strategic development, and stakeholder management.
A passionate leader, desiring to promote and further the mission of ACCESS across its various stakeholder groups.
Sound business and financial acumen. Consistent evidence of decision-making through business analysis, financial budgeting, and experience.
Experience and/or comfort creating deep personal relationships with key individual, corporation, and foundation donors.
Understanding and awareness of the education industry desired.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, to ensure effective internal and external communications.
A personal commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Change management experience, ideally leading or assisting an organization through new leadership or new strategies for growth.
Executive presence to inspire confidence and accessibility with staff.
Experience working with Boards of Directors and volunteers to advance an organization’s mission.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and the capacity for managing and leading groups with differing backgrounds and life experiences.
Undisputable ethics, integrity and transparency.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Vice President, Development
Vice President, Finance and Administration
Vice President, Programs
Education An undergraduate degree is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
Compensation ACCESS College Foundation offers an annual compensation of approximately $300,000, including both base salary and bonus. Additional benefits will be provided to the successful candidate.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is fully committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, compensation, benefits, and training.