Presents.

President/CEO of AchieveMpls ~
Ballinger|Leafblad is proud to present the following information on behalf of our client,
AchieveMpls, in its search for President and CEO.

As the strategic nonprofit partner of Minneapolis Public Schools, our

shared goal is every student, career and college ready.

www.achievempls.org

www.ballingerleafblad.com

PRESENTING OUR CLIENT ~ AchieveMpls

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION ~

Founded in 2002, AchieveMpls is the
strategic nonprofit partner of the
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). With a
$2.35 million budget and more than 30 staff
members, the organization is fiscally strong
and enjoys enthusiastic support from
business, government and the philanthropic
community. It is governed by a dedicated
AchieveMpls board of directors.
The Twin Cities has one of the largest racial
employment and education achievement
gaps in the country. And by 2018, 70 percent
of all jobs in Minnesota will require some
form of post-secondary education. The
stakes couldn't be higher for our young
people especially young people of color
and for our region.
AchieveMpls is equipping Minneapolis high
school students to meet these challenges
head-on. As the nonprofit partner of
Minneapolis Public Schools, AchieveMpls
provides personalized career and college
planning resources, work readiness training,
on-the-job experience, and professional

mentors to help students become career

and c0llege ready for the workforce.
AchieveMpls manages career and college
centers in MPS high schools and directs the
STEP-UP Achieve Youth Employment
Program with the City of Minneapolis. It also
mobilizes volunteers and sparks community
conversations on public education and
issues impacting young people.
AchieveMpls raises corporate and
foundation money for MPS for the district's
key priorities, including Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM),
career and college readiness, Advancement
via Individual Determination (AVID), human
resource development and more.
Investing in Minneapolis students reaps rich
rewards for the entire community. As more
young people achieve their dreams of
college, meaningful work and a bright
future, we all benefit from a new generation
of dynamic leaders, a strong economy and a
vibrant city.

Partnership for student success is at the

heart of everything at AchieveMpls.
Strong community partnerships lead to
increased student achievement, enhanced
social capital, and a greater likelihood of
graduation and career success. The
organization believes all young people can
achieve their greatest potential in school,
work and life when they have strong
schools and a generous community to
support them.
Seventy-two of the AchieveMpls partner
organizations have demonstrated
outstanding commitment to Minneapolis
students through their generous financial
and program support, as well as their
strategic leadership and collaboration in this
work. AchieveMpls provides great
opportunities for community members to

make a difference for youth as volunteers -both long-term, as school-year Graduation

Coaches and short-term, as Career Fair
presenters and STEP-UP Mock Interviewers.

In collaboration with Minneapolis Public

Schools, AchieveMpls manages more than
100 funds that benefit Minneapolis schools,
teachers, classrooms and students.
AchieveMpls staff feel great pride in their
organization which they view as a thought
leader. The organization is financially stable
and well thought of by funders. The
reputation and results at AchieveMpls make
them happy to be part of the team.
************************************

As the strategic partner of Minneapolis Public Schools, our shared goal is every student, career
and college ready. AchieveMpls raises millions of dollars for MPS from corporations and
foundations for career and college readiness, early literacy, STEM education, leadership
development and other strategic district priorities. AchieveMpls directs its own career and
college readiness programs, including Career & College Centers in MPS high schools and the STEPUP Achieve Youth Employment Program with the City of Minneapolis. And it engages the
community as volunteers, employers & donors helping students reach career & college dreams.
Learn more at www.achievempls.org

SERVICES PROVIDED ~

STEP-UP Achieve - Part of the City of

Minneapolis STEP-UP program, this service
provides vital job training, mentoring and
internships for Minneapolis youth who face
some of the greatest barriers to
employment. Each year the program
connects 800 youth with more than 160 top
Twin Cities employers -- from Fortune 500
companies to small businesses, public
agencies and nonprofits -- providing
tremendous career opportunities for young
people and building a stronger workforce
for the knowledge-based global economy.
Community in the Schools The
Community in the Schools program
connects volunteers with Minneapolis
students as Graduation Coaches, Career Fair
presenters and STEP-UP Achieve Mock
Interviewers.
Collaboration for Student Success AchieveMpls partners with Minneapolis
Public Schools to accomplish the shared
goal of every student, career and college
ready and dramatically improves outcomes
for all students. AchieveMpls collaborates
with other organizations and networks that
are helping young people secure the skills,
resources and connections they need to
succeed. Together they work to align
strategies, create common goals and

metrics, and build effective programs for a

students success.
AchieveMpls raises millions of dollars for
MPS from corporations and foundations for
career and college readiness, early literacy,
STEM education and other strategic district
priorities.
The organization supports MPS by
managing individual school funds,
administering more than 60 college
scholarships and awarding mini-grants for
classroom projects and staff development.
And the organization partners with MPS on
career and college readiness initiatives,
using new technologies to help reach
students who have the greatest need for
additional support.
Career & College Centers - Career & College
Centers (CCCs) in MPS high schools help
young people make their life dreams and
career and college aspirations become
reality. They offer the personal attention
and strategic guidance that all students
need to make a plan for success after
graduation -- whether that means college,
technical training, work or other
opportunities.

CCCs are staffed by professional

AchieveMpls coordinators who are trained
in the key elements of college and career
readiness. Many are licensed school
counselors. The coordinators provide
resources for all students, as well as
targeted support for those who need extra
help exploring careers or navigating the
college process. They also track individual
student progress to ensure all graduating
seniors have a plan for life after high school.

All CCCs offer:

My Life Plan activities and

assessments
Career Fairs with local professionals
College fairs, tours and recruiter visits
ACT test preparation
College application assistance
FAFSA, financial and scholarship
assistance
Resume writing, job interview, and
financial literacy workshops

MISSION ~

As the strategic nonprofit partner of the Minneapolis Public Schools, we mobilize a wide web
of community support to ensure academic achievement, equitable opportunities and career
and college readiness for all students. We believe that preparing our young people to succeed
in school, work and life is the best investment we can make in our citys health and vitality.
VISION, VALUES AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ~

All young people in Minneapolis will succeed in school, work and life, and our community
will thrive as a result of the talent, diversity and vitality of the next generation.
MSP Students are talented, capable and eager to learn. To realize their potential they
need access to opportunity, a supportive learning environment, strong teachers and
mentors and the knowledge and skills to pursue their goals.
All students can and do benefit from career and college readiness services, but a
commitment to equity means prioritizing for those with the greatest needs and barriers.
Providing all students with the level of resources they need to be successful is a
collective responsibility.
Young people benefit from the greater community involvement and partnerships.
Student success is the responsibility of our entire community because schools alone
cannot do the work of educating and nurturing our young people.
Both public and private resources are necessary for young people to achieve their goals.
Education is the best investment we can make in our youth, community and citys future.
Public education is the foundation of a healthy democracy. It strengthens our civic life
and social fabric and ensures an informed, engaged and cohesive community.

Staff at AchieveMpls describe the organizational culture as one that is growth-oriented with a
strong belief in the potential of all students. Dedicated team members are committed to
making meaningful connections that bring results. Staff at AchieveMpls value the
encouragement and inspiration they get from each other and they seek continuous
improvement in their work. But, busy schedules can make it hard to be planful at times.

PRESENTING THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT/CEO ~

The Chief Executive Officer provides strategic leadership for the organization
and reports directly to the AchieveMpls Board of Directors.

Primary Responsibilities
1. Leadership and Vision
Provide strategic vision for the
organization and for its individual
program areas.
Lead, motivate and support staff to
realize the mission and goals of the
organization through high quality
programs, strong administrative
practices and a commitment to
accountability for results.
Maintain the independence and
integrity of the organization in its
role as an intermediary with other
public, private and nonprofit
partners.
2. Institutional Relations
Work with the Superintendent of
Schools and senior leaders in MPS to

align policy and practices, implement

the Memorandum of Agreement and
ensure a productive working
relationship with individuals from the
central office to school sites.
Work with the Mayor of Minneapolis,
mayoral staff and staff with
Minneapolis Employment and
Training Program (METP) to ensure
alignment on issues related to
workforce development and other
partnership opportunities
Maintain close ties with leaders in
the business community to ensure
support for programs impacting
youth in Minneapolis. Primary
relationships include local Chambers,
business roundtables and
corporations.

3. Community & Public Relations

Serve as spokesperson for the
organization to the media.
Represent the organization at the
local, state and national level.
Connect with a wide and diverse
group of partners and stakeholders,
including elected officials, civic and
business leaders, nonprofit allies and
the general public.
Work with the Director of Marketing
and Communications to develop key
messages and positions and to
effectively share those messages
through the website, email, social
media, print and broadcast outlets
and internal communications.
4. Fundraising
Provide strategic direction for
fundraising initiatives with corporate
and philanthropic partners and
individual major donors.
Work with the Director of
Development to create and
implement a fundraising plan to
meet and exceed the annual
organizational budget.
Build and maintain relationships with
corporate and philanthropic partners
and individual donors and actively
and directly engage in fundraising.
5. Program Management
Oversee existing programs and the
development of new programs to
further the organizations mission.

Evaluate and measure the results of

programs; make changes as needed
to enhance programmatic outcomes.

6. Leadership and Management of Senior

Staff
Hire, supervise, support and evaluate
senior leadership of the
organization, including six direct
reports.
Ensure a positive culture of
continuous improvement of
programs and services and
professional development for staff.
Ensure accountability of program
goals through evaluation and
rigorous commitment to the use of
data.
7. Financial Management
Work with the Director of Finance
and Operations to ensure strong
systems of financial management of
the organization.
Monitor finances of the organization
on a monthly, quarterly and yearly
basis.
Ensure the organizations continued
financial sustainability through longterm planning, forecasting and
oversight.
8. Board of Directors
Engage with board members, using
their abilities to further the goals of
the organization.
Support board members and
committees with regular and open
communications.
Serve on the Finance Committee and
Executive Committee, and the
Development Committee as needed.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP STYLE AND CHARACTERISTICS:

The ideal candidate will possess background and experience in K-12 education or non-profit
leadership in youth mentoring, college preparation, career readiness programs or related
fields. He or she will have strong external relations and fundraising experience with the
ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures. A background of successful
fundraising in the Twin Cities area will be preferred. Knowledge and interaction with public
school systems and/or school boards such as the Minneapolis Public Schools would be
helpful for this role.
The new President and CEO will bring superior strategic planning and implementation skills
along with an orientation to help the organization grow into the future. Further, this
individual will have an unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven
program evaluation. Financial and budgeting skills will be valuable as well.
For this executive position, collaboration is key. The fully qualified candidate will have
superior organizational management skills with the proven ability to positively coach and
develop staff. He or she will be politically astute, and able to work thoughtfully and
diplomatically with multiple interest groups. Skills in working with a board of directors and an
approach of cultivating strong and positive board member relationships will be highly valued.
The AchieveMpls board describes itself as committed, positive and collegial. They look
forward to supporting and encouraging the new President and CEO.
Strong written and verbal communication skills are important for the President and CEO. This
role is best suited for a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal
abilities and the ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups of all sizes
from academic teams and business organizations to individual donors and community groups.
The ideal candidate will be action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative. He or
she will be a capable problem solver with an ability to focus on multiple tasks and priorities.
Finally, the following characteristics are critical for the new President and CEO: Integrity,
honesty, passion, positive attitude, creativity and mission-orientation.

BALLINGER|LEAFBLAD WELCOMES YOU TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Marcia Ballinger, PhD
Co-Founder/Principal
651-341-4840
marcia@ballingerleafblad.com

Lars Leafblad, MBA

Co-Founder/Principal
612-598-7547
lars@ballingerleafblad.com

AchieveMpls is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer