CANDIDATE PROFILE
POSITION TITLE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PRIMARY LOCATION
CREATED FOR LOS ANGELES, CA
OPTIMIST YOUTH HOMES & FAMILY SERVICES
Qualifications
Ideal
About
about OPTIMIST YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES
Founded in 1906, Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services is one of Los Angeles’ oldest and most trusted foster care–focused nonprofit organizations. For more than a century, Optimist has stood beside vulnerable youth and families, guided by compassion, equity, and a commitment to building stability, belonging, and brighter futures.
With a budget of $18M and a dedicated staff of over 130 employees, Optimist serves over 1,800 youth and families each year across Los Angeles County, with program sites in Highland Park, Woodland Hills, the Antelope Valley, and the San Fernando Valley. Through a continuum of care that focuses on both prevention and healing, Optimist helps families stay together and empowers youth to thrive.
Optimist supports children and families through every stage of the foster care journey. By providing wraparound services, counseling, and parenting support, the organization helps families address challenges and prevent foster care placements. For youth already in care, Optimist offers housing, adoption services, and transition programs that build stability, independence, and brighter futures.
our mission
To support children/youth, and their families, in and at risk of foster care, to build hope and achieve bright futures through wellness, education, relationships, and career focused services and resources
21,175 hours of therapy for children, youth, and families
$3.7M
spent providing housing and support programs
11,075 days of housing for transition age youth
what we do & WHO WE SERVE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
Optimist provides safe, supportive housing and essential resources for youth in foster care, those transitioning to independence, and students pursuing higher education, ensuring stability and opportunities for a brighter future.
PREVENTATIVE SERVICES FOSTER CARE & ADOPTION
Optimist strengthens families by providing case management, tailored support, and critical resources — helping them navigate challenges, stay together, and build longterm stability.
Optimist prepares and supports foster families to provide safe, nurturing homes for children in need, while our adoption services help create permanent, loving families through guidance and resources at every step.
what we do & WHO WE SERVE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Optimist offers specialized mental health support for youth and families facing emotional, psychological, or behavioral challenges, delivering services in community settings for a more comfortable and effective experience.
CSEC ADVOCACY LIFE-SKILLS COACHING
Optimist provides therapeutic housing and comprehensive support for youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation, offering a safe environment, traumainformed care, and tailored resources to help them heal, rebuild, and thrive.
Optimist provides career readiness training, financial literacy tools, mentorship, and relationship-building opportunities for young adults ages 18–24, equipping them with the skills, support, and confidence they need to thrive.
Position Overview
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the chief strategist, culture leader, and external ambassador for Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services. Reporting to the Board of Directors and leading a dedicated Executive Leadership Team, the CEO will guide Optimist through a period of organizational evolution, building on its legacy while positioning the agency for a sustainable and impactful future. The CEO brings a strong strategic and systems-thinking lens, consistently connecting day-to-day decisions to long-term organizational vision, impact, and financial health.
The CEO is a business-minded nonprofit leader, pairing a deep commitment to youth and families with strong financial, operational, and asset-management acumen. As a visible and accessible presence, the CEO builds trust with our youth and families, staff, Board, funders, public partners, and community stakeholders. The CEO leads with a strong equity and trauma-informed lens, fosters an inclusive and high-performance culture, and communicates with clarity, integrity, and accountability.
First Year GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Conduct a listening tour with Board of Directors, staff, and other stakeholders
Develop a strategic plan and financial strategy for the organization
Foster relationships with new and existing donors and community members
Strategic Planning
Organizational Growth & Staff
Leadership
Board Recruiting & Development
Growth in Unrestricted Funding
Cultivate Corporate & Foundation
Relationships
Greater Community Engagement, Awareness, and Advocacy
New Donor Relationships
Strong Fiscal Management
Execeptional Operations & Infrastructure
Enhance the fundraising pipeline and prospect new donors and funding opportunities
roles & responsibilities
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & VISION
Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive strategic plan to guide Optimist’s growth, sustainability, and mission delivery.
Align programs, operations, and staff culture around a shared organizational vision.
Assess and adapt services to meet the evolving needs of youth and families in foster care and community-based programs.
Position Optimist as a thought leader and collaborator in the child welfare and behavioral health landscape.
ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT & CULTURE
Organizational Management & Culture
Oversee all programs, services, and operations to ensure quality, impact, and regulatory compliance.
Foster a trauma-informed, inclusive, and values-based culture that empowers staff and promotes professional growth.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team through transparent communication and mutual trust.
Implement best practices in continuous quality improvement (CQI) and operational efficiency.
FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP & ASSET MANAGEMENT
Provide strategic oversight of Optimist’s $18M budget, ensuring fiscal accountability and sustainable operations.
Manage and leverage the organization’s significant real estate holdings for maximum mission alignment and financial return
Diversify revenue streams beyond government contracts, developing creative business and social enterprise models
Oversee accurate financial reporting and compliance with funding requirements
fundraising & resource developmetnt
Fundraising & Resource Development
Drive a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes institutional giving, major donors, corporate partnerships, and special events.
Cultivate new and existing relationships with foundations, corporations, and government funders.
Build a major donor pipeline and strengthen relationships with individual supporters.
Partner with the Board to expand unrestricted revenue and philanthropic visibility.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS & COMMUNITY ENGAGMEENT
Serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for Optimist, elevating its visibility in Los Angeles and beyond.
Strengthen relationships with local, state, and national partners, including DCFS, DMH, and peer agencies.
Represent Optimist in policy discussions, coalitions, and professional associations to influence the future of youth and family services.
Ensure consistent, compelling messaging and brand alignment across all communications.
qualifications
A minimum of ten years of experience in progressively responsible roles within a nonprofit agency.
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g. nonprofit management, business administration, or a related discipline).
A business mindset with a proven track record in managing a strategic planning process, resulting in improved efficiency, program effectiveness, and sustainability of organizational budget.
Extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, including budgeting and accounting, financial statements, financial projections and fundraising and donor relations.
Familiarity in the field of mental health, foster care, and children’s services.
Experience working with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and Department of Mental Health or similar agency strongly preferred.
Proven fundraising success with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partnerships, resulting in overall organizational growth.
Demonstrated success managing teams, supervising staff, and fostering a productive, motivated work environment.
A deep passion for the mission and core values of Optimist.
compensation & benefits
The annual salary range for this position is $265,000 - $290,000. Benefits include generous PTO, medical, dental and vision insurance, and retirement plan with employer match.
Optimist is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse workforce. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including persons with disabilities and veterans.
the ideal candidate
The ideal candidate for the next CEO of Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services should be a dynamic leader with a strategic mindset, and a strong background in organizational growth, fundraising and financial management. They should possess exceptional communication skills, capable of inspiring and engaging diverse stakeholders across the community. A natural influencer, they thrive on fostering relationships and creating a shared vision for the future of Optimist.
The ideal candidate should excel in team building, stakeholder engagement, and organizational strategy, fostering a cohesive and engaged Board and staff. Prior work in youth services, housing for transitional-age youth, or behavioral health would align well with the organization’s programmatic focus.
The CEO should be business-minded, capable of diversifying funding streams beyond government contracts, and skilled in optimizing physical assets such as campuses and facilities for greater financial sustainability. The ideal CEO is a visionary leader dedicated to measurable impact, strong culture, and advancing the mission of Optimist.
The next CEO will bring high emotional intelligence, exceptional communication, and trust-building to the team at Optimist. They are both visionary and empathetic, able to listen deeply to diverse stakeholders while driving cultural alignment and operational discipline. Resilience, transparency, and humility balanced with decisive, strategic action will be essential for guiding the organization through a period of rebuilding and renewal.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES
Optimist Youth & Family Services sits in the heart of Highland Park, one of Los Angeles’s most vibrant and historic neighborhoods. Known for its tree-lined streets, historic architecture, and creative energy, Highland Park has evolved into a dynamic community that blends old Los Angeles character with modern amenities. The neighborhood’s mix of long-time residents, artists, young professionals, and families contributes to a rich cultural fabric that feels authentic, diverse, and deeply connected. Living here means being part of a community with a strong sense of identity, local pride, and neighborly warmth.
The organization’s presence here reflects a commitment to being embedded in the community it serves. Highland Park and the surrounding neighborhoods represent a crosssection of Los Angeles; diverse, resilient, and full of potential, which makes this location ideal for reaching youth and families who can benefit from Optimist’s programs and services. Being in the middle of such a thriving, accessible area allows Optimist to stay
visible and approachable, meeting people where they are and reinforcing its mission of support, empowerment, and connection.
This central and community-oriented location also positions Optimist well for partnership and outreach. The proximity to schools, local nonprofits, small businesses, and government offices allows for collaboration that amplifies impact. On a practical level, being on a major corridor provides accessibility and visibility, both essential for engagement and growth.
On a symbolic level, it underscores Optimist’s role as a neighbor not just a service provider, but an active participant in the life of the community. Highland Park’s vibrancy and diversity mirror the very spirit of Optimist’s work: building opportunity, fostering belonging, and helping families thrive.
Envision Consulting has been retained by Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services to conduct the search for their incoming CEO. We follow a comprehensive and structured approach that begins with a needs assessment to understand the organization's position and culture. We source candidates using various strategies, such as leveraging networks, industryspecific databases, and targeted research. Our evaluations are designed to assess qualifications, experience, cultural fit, and leadership potential.
After two stages of interviews with Envision, we work with the organization's search committee to select the individuals they wish to meet and then curate that interview experience We support the final selection process, including negotiation and offer formulation and offer onboarding support to ensure a smooth leadership transition with a oneyear guarantee. To ensure candidate success, we offer ten (10) hours of executive coaching throughout the first year of employment.
Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law with respect to employment opportunities.
search team for OYHFS
Envision Consulting is a minority-owned firm specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration, and executive leadership transitions With offices in Denver, Lexington, New York, and Los Angeles, our partners and consultants are former executive leaders within nonprofit organizations who are truly inspired by our collective power to lift up the communities we serve Our broad spectrum of services helps increase revenues, expand awareness and strengthen service delivery to the clients who need us the most. Learn more at www.envisionnonprofit.com.
MELISSA MONTOYA DIRECTOR OF SEARCH SERVICES
ALLISON FULLER MANAGING PARTNER
MATT KAMIN MANAGING PARTNER
JESSIE STEGNER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Are you a great fit for the Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services next Chief Executive Officer?
We invite you to apply and share your experience with us!