Executive Director

Friends of the Children – He Sapa

Rapid City, South Dakota

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with Friends of the Children – He Sapa to recruit the organization's next Executive Director.

Friends of the Children is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization with a powerful mission to impact generational change by empowering youth who face the greatest obstacles through relationships with paid professional mentors—12+ years, no matter what. For more than three decades, the Friends of the Children model has produced measurable outcomes for children and families across the country. Friends of the Children’s impact is evident - a longitudinal study by the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon confirmed that for every $1 invested in Friends of the Children, the community benefits over $7 in saved social costs.

Launched in the summer of 2022, Friends of the Children – He Sapa (Friends-He Sapa) is an independent nonprofit and the first Indigenous-led, culturally specific location of the national Friends of the Children network. This Indigenous focus reflects the demographics of Rapid City as well as the organization’s proximity to the Pine Ridge Reservation and the culturally sacred Black Hills. This model deeply exemplifies an Indigenous commitment to the next seven generations. Friends-He Sapa currently operates with a dedicated and diverse team of 8 full-time staff and a committed Board of Directors.

Friends-He Sapa is seeking a passionate, visionary advocate for Indigenous children and families to serve as Executive Director. The ideal candidate understands both the incredible potential of every child as well as the significant barriers facing families impacted by foster care. The next Executive Director will continue to build the organization’s programs in Rapid City and on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Accountable to the Board of Directors, staff, and program participants, the Executive Director leads the executive team and manages all aspects of organizational development, financial health, and culturally grounded operations. Additionally, the leader will collaborate with the National CEO and network team to leverage best practices from over 30 years of national impact. 

Friends of the Children – He Sapa is part of a national network. The Executive Director works with the national team, and particularly the National Chief Executive Officer of Friends of the Children and the Chief Officer of Chapter Success, to build a high-performing, sustainable organization that leverages network best practices, partnerships, and over 30 years of impact.

The Executive Director will lead fundraising and relationship development by cultivating meaningful partnerships with tribal nations, community organizations, donors, public officials, and nonprofit partners to support long-term sustainability and regional impact. This leader will provide strategic and visionary leadership, partner with the Board on governance and planning, foster a culture grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and living, and collaborate with National leadership to ensure program fidelity and growth. The Executive Director will also oversee program and operational management, including staff development, financial performance, administrative systems, and organizational structure to support high-quality, culturally appropriate services.

The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge of Indigenous culture and ways of knowing, with the proven ability to interweave this knowledge throughout all areas of organizational operations. They will have at least seven years of demonstrated success working collaboratively within tribal communities or tribal-serving organizations, as well as a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, or similar capacities. A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree is preferred. The successful candidate will also demonstrate strong financial acumen, strategic risk mitigation, exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and a proven ability to solve problems in a fast-paced, startup-style environment.

The annual salary range for this position is $97,000 – $117,000, including incentive compensation, depending on qualifications and experience. Friends of the Children offers a comprehensive benefits package and a culture that values collaboration, belonging, professional growth, and work-life harmony.

The search for the Friends of the Children – He Sapa Executive Director is being conducted by The Moran Company. Questions about the position can be directed to Mike English with The Moran Company; mike (at) morancompany.com. To apply for this position, submit cover letter and resume to Mike English, The Moran Company, via the secure online portal. Resume should include all professional education and experience, dates of employment (month and year) and position/title and organization names. Cover letter should articulate relevant experience and fit with the stated preferences of the position.

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