Executive Director

Executive Director

Open Books

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Reports To: Board of Directors
Salary Range: $120,000 – $140,000
Work Model: Hybrid, Primarily Onsite

 

About Open Books

 

For more than 20 years, Open Books has inspired a love of reading and expanded educational opportunities for thousands of children and families across Chicago. Guided by the belief that books can transform lives, Open Books combines literacy programming, book access, and community partnerships with an innovative earned-revenue model that includes neighborhood bookstores and book distribution operations.

 

This unique approach enables the organization to invest in its mission while creating welcoming community spaces that celebrate the power of stories.

 

Open Books envisions a world in which everyone has access to books, literacy, and the opportunities they create. Through high-quality literacy programs, free book distribution, and partnerships with schools, educators, and community organizations, Open Books helps young people develop the confidence, skills, and joy that come from reading and writing.

 

Today, Open Books operates across three locations in Chicago, including its literacy programming center in North Lawndale, a bookstore in the West Loop, and a warehouse bookstore and distribution center in Pilsen.

 

Together, these operations support a mission-driven model that reaches thousands of young people while providing access to books throughout the south and west sides of Chicago, with a large presence and focus in North Lawndale and targeted expansion into Little Village and Englewood.

 

As Open Books enters its next chapter, the organization is well-positioned to build on more than two decades of impact. With a committed staff, an engaged Board of Directors, and a respected reputation across Chicago, the next Executive Director will have the opportunity to strengthen financial sustainability, deepen community partnerships, and shape the future of one of the city's most beloved literacy organizations.

 

About the Executive Director Role

 

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive and primary ambassador of Open Books, providing strategic leadership while ensuring the organization's long-term financial health, operational excellence, and mission impact.

 

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will partner closely with board leadership and staff to advance Open Books' mission, strengthen organizational capacity, and position the organization for sustained growth.

 

This is a highly visible leadership role that requires balancing long-term strategic vision with day-to-day operational leadership. The Executive Director directly manages five senior leaders and is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and success of Open Books' 15-person staff along with over 500 volunteers.

 

The role oversees fundraising, literacy programming, bookstore and earned-revenue operations, finance, marketing and communications, community partnerships, and organizational administration while cultivating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

 

The Executive Director will also serve as the public face of Open Books, building strong relationships with donors, foundations, corporate partners, educators, civic leaders, volunteers, and community organizations throughout Chicago. Success in this role will require exceptional communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to inspire confidence among a wide range of stakeholders.

 

Open Books is a relationship-driven organization, and the Executive Director's leadership is most effective when it is visible. This role requires regular presence across the organization's three Chicago locations in North Lawndale, Pilsen, and the West Loop, as well as throughout the community meeting with donors, partners, schools, and stakeholders.

 

While the position is hybrid, candidates should expect to work primarily onsite, with the flexibility to work remotely approximately one day per week.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Strategic Leadership

 

• Provide visionary leadership that advances Open Books' mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability.

• Translate organizational goals into clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and operational plans.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and continuous learning across the organization.

• Lead the organization through thoughtful decision-making while balancing mission impact with financial sustainability.

 

Fundraising & External Relations

 

• Serve as Open Books' chief fundraiser, cultivating and stewarding relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and public-sector partners.

• Partner with the Board of Directors to expand philanthropic support and deepen donor engagement.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that strengthens and diversifies organizational revenue.

• Represent Open Books throughout Chicago as a compelling advocate for literacy, educational equity, and community investment.

 

Organizational & People Leadership

 

• Lead, coach, and develop a talented leadership team while fostering an inclusive, high-performing organizational culture.

• Build organizational trust through clear communication, thoughtful decision-making, and consistent leadership.

• Ensure teams have the clarity, resources, and accountability needed to achieve organizational goals.

• Support cross-functional collaboration across literacy programming, book access, retail operations, development, finance, marketing, and administration.

 

Financial Stewardship

 

• Oversee the organization's financial health through disciplined budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.

• Partner with finance staff and the Board Finance Committee to monitor financial performance, manage risk, and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability.

• Present clear financial information and strategic recommendations to the Board of Directors to support informed decision-making.

• Ensure compliance with all financial, audit, grant, and regulatory requirements.

 

Programmatic & Operational Excellence

 

• Ensure Open Books' literacy programs, book access initiatives, bookstores, and distribution operations remain mission-aligned, effective, and financially sustainable.

• Balance organizational capacity, community needs, and available resources when making strategic and operational decisions.

• Continuously evaluate opportunities to strengthen organizational effectiveness, improve systems, and maximize mission impact.

• Promote innovation while maintaining operational discipline and exceptional service to the communities Open Books serves.

 

Board Partnership

 

• Partner with Board leadership to ensure Open Books is positioned for long-term organizational success.

• Grow a strong and collaborative partnership with the Board of Directors grounded in transparency, trust, and shared accountability.

• Keep the Board informed through regular updates on organizational performance, finances, fundraising, operations, and strategic priorities.

• Support the Board in governance, strategic planning, fundraising, and organizational stewardship.

 

Leadership Competencies & Essential Functions

 

Mission-Driven Fundraising Leadership

 

Demonstrated success securing philanthropic revenue through major gifts, foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Builds trusted relationships with supporters, inspires investment in the mission, and develops diversified funding strategies that strengthen long-term sustainability.

 

Strategic Organizational Leadership

 

Leads complex nonprofit organizations by setting clear priorities, aligning programs and operations with mission, and balancing strategic vision with day-to-day execution. Oversees multiple functional areas while ensuring organizational effectiveness and long-term impact.

 

Organizational Leadership & Change Management

 

Provides steady, transparent leadership during periods of transition or growth. Builds trust, strengthens organizational culture, establishes accountability, and helps teams navigate change with clarity, empathy, and confidence.

 

Financial Stewardship & Operational Acumen

 

Exercises sound financial judgment by overseeing budgets, cash flow, and organizational resources. Uses financial and operational data to inform decision-making, manage risk, and ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the organization.

 

Executive Leadership & Board Partnership

 

Partners effectively with the Board of Directors through transparent communication, strategic counsel, and thoughtful governance support. Equally skilled at leading and developing staff while fostering collaboration, accountability, and shared purpose across the organization.

 

Community Leadership & Mission Alignment

 

Serves as a visible and authentic ambassador for Open Books across Chicago's philanthropic, education, civic, and nonprofit communities. Demonstrates a deep commitment to literacy, educational equity, and expanding access to books and learning opportunities for all.

 

Position Qualifications

 

• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience within nonprofit organizations or mission-driven enterprises, including experience leading complex teams, budgets, and organizational strategy.

• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding philanthropic revenue from individual donors, foundations, corporations, and public funding sources, with a track record of personally cultivating and closing significant gifts.

• Experience serving as an executive leader (Executive Director, CEO, Deputy Executive Director, COO, Chief Development Officer, or comparable senior leadership role) with responsibility for organizational performance and cross-functional leadership is ideal, but not mandatory.

• Proven ability to lead organizations through periods of growth, transition, or organizational change while building trust, strengthening culture, and maintaining focus on mission and results.

• Strong financial and operational acumen, including experience overseeing organizational budgets, financial planning, and organizational sustainability in partnership with finance staff and governing boards.

• Demonstrated success leading, developing, and retaining high-performing, mission-driven teams while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable organizational culture.

• Exceptional relationship builder with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders, including board members, donors, community partners, educators, civic leaders, volunteers, and staff.

• Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills, with the ability to serve as a compelling ambassador and spokesperson for the organization.

• A strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to balance long-term vision with day-to-day operational leadership and sound decision-making.

• Familiarity with Chicago's nonprofit, education, literacy, or community landscape is strongly preferred, along with a genuine commitment to building meaningful relationships across the city's diverse neighborhoods and communities.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, literacy, educational opportunity, and ensuring that books and learning resources are accessible to all children and families.

 

Compensation & Benefits

 

The salary range for this position is $120,000 – $140,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

 

Open Books also offers:

 

• Competitive benefits, including medical and dental insurance with multiple BlueCross BlueShield plans for individuals and families.

• Voluntary vision and life insurance.

• 401(k) contribution.

• Paid time off and paid holidays.

• Flexible work environment with presence in the community and main office 3–4 days a week and approximately one day remote.

 

How to Apply

 

Open Books has retained Morten Group, LLC to conduct this search.

Applicants should complete the application form and submit a cover letter and resume in PDF format by the best consideration date of Friday, September 11, 2026. Cover letters will be evaluated as a writing sample.

Only applicants invited to a screening interview will be contacted between September 14–September 25, 2026.

 

Equal Opportunity Statement

 

Open Books encourages individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, physical or mental disability, veteran/military status, unfavorable discharge, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

 

Open Books specifically prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination, including discrimination because of any one of the protected statuses listed above.