California State Alliance of YMCAs - CEO

EXECUTIVE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
CALIFORNIA STATE ALLIANCE OF YMCAS

Position: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Address: 925 L Street, Suite 1200, Sacramento, California 95814

Website:https://www.ymcasofca.org/ 

The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated, cause-driven leader ready to take the next step in their career and lead a dynamic, impact-focused Alliance serving YMCAs across California. The new CEO will join an organization supported by an energized and committed Board of Directors whose members share a deep passion for strengthening the Alliance and expanding its impact on Ys and communities throughout the state.

As the Alliance’s chief executive officer, the CEO reports directly to and is accountable to the Board of Directors. This leader will have the opportunity to shape the future of the Alliance—setting a bold strategic direction, strengthening organizational and financial sustainability, developing and supporting a high-performing team, and positioning the Alliance as an influential statewide partner, convener, collaborator, and advocate.

Working within the policies, directives, and guidelines established by the Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for achieving key organizational results and translating vision into meaningful action and measurable impact. Central to the CEO’s success will be building strong, trusted relationships with Member Y CEOs throughout California. In partnership with these leaders and the Alliance Board, the CEO will establish and advance goals that reflect the values of the Y movement while furthering the Alliance’s mission and purpose.

This is a highly visible and multifaceted leadership role requiring the ability to bring people together around a shared vision and turn opportunity into action. Responsibilities span staff and board engagement, public policy and advocacy, fiscal sustainability, statewide initiatives, state and federal funding, and the cultivation of strategic partnerships. The CEO will also play a critical role in strengthening relationships with Y-USA and positioning the Alliance as an essential statewide partner capable of amplifying the collective voice, reach, and impact of California’s Ys.

The successful candidate will be a relationship-centered, strategic, and forward-thinking leader who can navigate complexity, inspire collaboration, and deliver results. They will understand that the strength of the Alliance is rooted in the strength of its members—and will bring the leadership, energy, credibility, and vision necessary to help California’s Ys thrive.

Key Deliverables
Several performance objectives define the experiences, competencies, relationships, and leadership capabilities essential for success in this role. These priorities will provide an important roadmap for the new CEO and include:

• Elevate and Advance the Alliance’s Advocacy Efforts: Work in partnership with all Ys in the Alliance on critical state, regional and federal issues. Work with the Alliance Board Members to advance statewide and federal legislative priorities as well as stewarding the efforts. Identify and determine potential statewide and or federal funding opportunities that support the Alliance’s strategic plan and the work of Y’s collectively in the Alliance. Create and disseminate annually a community benefit document to key stakeholders and elected officials that highlights stories, statistics, and funding that communicates the true value of local Ys community benefit as well as collectively as an Alliance. The Alliance identifies and advocates for public policies that address critical social issues in the Y’s areas of impact while also activating community leaders, policy makers, influencers, and the public to foster dialogue and catalyze positive change. Conducts advocacy events and training opportunities for Y leaders that raise the visibility of Ys in the Alliance as valued resources to respective state partners and groups in the Y’s areas of impact. Manage contract lobbyist to set and meet the contract’s deliverables.Key competencies: Change Leadership, Inclusion, Communication and Influence, Collaboration
   
• Steward State and Federal Funding Efforts: Identify, pursue, and steward state and federal funding opportunities that advance the Alliance’s strategic priorities and strengthen the collective work of YMCAs across California. Build relationships with public agencies, policymakers, and funding partners; assess opportunities for strategic alignment and feasibility; coordinate collaborative funding efforts among member YMCAs; and ensure effective implementation, accountability, compliance, and reporting for secured funds.Key competencies: Strategic Thinking, Collaboration, Fiscal Management, Communication & Influence, Project Management, Quality Results
   
• Lead Strategic Services and the Alliance Team: Build, develop, and lead a high-performing Alliance staff team while ensuring effective strategic services to YMCA member organizations. Recruit, develop, retain, and hold staff accountable for key objectives while fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, learning, and shared purpose. Lead or oversee strategic services including strategic planning, board development and governance, CEO/CVO onboarding, collaborations, shared services, and mergers. Partner with Y-USA to leverage best practices and maximize impact.Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Inclusion, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership, Decision-Making, Innovation, Project Management, Quality Results, and Influence
   
• Position the Alliance as a Vital Partner for Community and Statewide Change: Build and cultivate relationships with key constituents from diverse backgrounds while upholding the highest standards and values of the Y and the Alliance. Position the Alliance as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities by connecting elected officials, community leaders, and partners with the Alliance and one another. Educate and inform Board Members, equipping them to advocate effectively as a collective voice.Key competencies: Communication & Influence, Engaging Community, Collaboration
   
• Develop, Implement, and or Lead Alliance Strategic Plan: Work effectively with CEOs, and key Alliance staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the Ys in the Alliance and includes defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals.Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management

Salary Range:$240,000 to $270,000 commensurate with the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, and demonstrated leadership.

Residency and Travel Expectation: The successful candidate must reside in California, with a preference for living in or near the Sacramento area. Regular statewide travel is required, including frequent presence in Sacramento and at the State Capitol to build relationships with elected officials, policymakers, state agencies, and statewide partners, as well as regular visits with key leadership at local YMCAs throughout the state to strengthen relationships, understand local priorities, and represent the collective interests of California YMCAs.

Benefits: 

• 12% Alliance paid retirement after eligibility
• 403b supplemental retirement plan at employee's cost 
• Medical and dental covered 99% for the employee, 0% for dependents
• Medical plans through Kaiser Permanente or Anthem Blue Cross
• Dental plan through CIGNA
• Long term disability 
• Life insurance 
• PTO and other benefits per personnel policy

Minimum Candidate Criteria: 

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong alignment with the YMCA mission and Alliance purpose. 
• Five+ years of senior management experience, including multi-level staff supervision. 
• Proven ability to build relationships with state and federal officials and statewide leaders. 
• Demonstrated success securing funding and managing budgets of $5 million+. 
• Ability to collaborate effectively with the Alliance Board, California Ys, networks, and Y-USA.

About the Alliance:
For 175 years, YMCAs have strengthened communities across California. Today, the California State Alliance of YMCAs brings that collective strength together, uniting independent YMCA associations around a stronger statewide voice, shared opportunities, strategic partnerships, and greater community impact.

Led by California YMCA CEOs and executive leaders, the Alliance serves as a hub for advocacy, collaboration, technical assistance, professional networking, and collective action. Together, California Ys represent a powerful network of 23 associations and 167 branches and overnight camps, with deep connections to communities throughout the state.

A Powerful Statewide Network:
California Ys collectively employ approximately 45,000 people and have established more than 1,300 community collaborations and 346 partnerships with local and state government. The Alliance leverages this reach to strengthen local Ys, advance shared priorities, and elevate the Y’s collective impact.

Statewide Initiatives & Collective Impact:
The Alliance connects local Y capacity with statewide priorities, public and philanthropic investment, and community needs. Its work spans public policy and advocacy, statewide partnerships, funding initiatives, technical assistance, organizational capacity building, communications, and professional networking.

An Alliance Poised for What’s Next:
As California faces increasingly complex challenges affecting children and families, health, affordability, workforce, disaster preparedness, and community connection, the Alliance has an important opportunity to expand its statewide influence. Its next chapter will focus on convening Y leaders, attracting investment, influencing public policy, developing innovative statewide initiatives, strengthening local Ys, and amplifying the collective impact of Ys across California.

Key Alliance Facts:

• Operating Budget: $11M 
• Serving: 23 Local Y Associations, 167 Branches and Overnight Camps
• Direct Reports: 4 (Director of Association Resources, Director of Communications and Development, Director of Public Policy, and Communications and Engagement Manager)

Impact Snapshot:

• 849,132 members engaged statewide
• 1,949 community collaborations statewide
• 24,783 volunteers engaged statewide
• 126,682 summer day campers building character and life-long friendships
• 142,410 children engaged in swim lessons to promote healthy living and prevent drowning
• 125,960 older adults found community through Y membership
• 55,000+ full- and part-time employees statewide
• 590,776 students are safe and supported in afterschool care programming
• 3 statewide funded partnerships
• 2.3m meals served to provide critical nourishment to communities across California

Information Sites:

• Alliance website:https://www.ymcasofca.org/
• YMCA of the USA:https://www.ymca.org

Search Process Target Dates:

• Resumes accepted through: October 30, 2026
• Virtual Preliminary Interviews: December 3-4, 2026
• On-site interviews: January 7-8, 2027
• New CEO on board (anticipated): February 1, 2027        

To Apply:Candidates will apply via the following website:https://tinyurl.com/california-alliance-ymca-ceo 

References, Background Check, and Organizational Leader Certification:Candidates must submit (pdf format only) the following in their online application: a resume, cover letter. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Candidates who advance to final interviews will need to submit six references (four professional and two personal). References checked only with prior notification. Successful candidate accepting the offer must pass a background check and must have a current Y-USA’s Organizational Leader Certification or obtain certification within the first three years from start date as the CEO. The YMCA's personnel policies may require further screening.

Questions?

Richard Clegg
Senior CEO Search Consultant
richard.clegg@ymca.net