Job Description

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & EXECUTIVE SEARCH LEADERSHIP

 Avenues for Youth is seeking a candidate for a contract position of Interim Executive Director. This is an opportunity to lead a growing youth-centered organization partnering with young people experiencing homelessness and to facilitate an inclusive and values-focused search for a new permanent Executive Director.

ABOUT AVENUES FOR YOUTH  

For 30 years, Avenues has supported youth ages 16-24 in Hennepin County. Whether a young person needs a place to stay for just one night, or a year and a half, Avenues partners with youth to find their path out of homelessness. We do that by providing a stable home, building trusting relationships, and supporting the youth’s education, career, health and wellness and housing goals. Avenues operates two shelter/transitional living programs for young people, one in North Minneapolis and one in Brooklyn Park, temporary supportive housing for young families, outreach and drop-in services, and affordable housing for young people exiting homelessness. Avenues also operates two community-based programs, our ConneQT Host Home Program and our scattered site, apartment-based Avenues for Youth Families program. 2026 has been a year of significant growth for our organization – we closed on a capacity campaign, built a new building in North Minneapolis, and expanded programming. 

OUR MISSION 

Avenues partners with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams.

  OUR VISION  

A community where all youth flourish.

OUR VALUES  

Avenues work is guided by the 9 Evidence-based, Guiding Principles to Help Youth Overcome Homelessness and our core values: Equity, Community, Respect + Dignity, Trust, Liberation, and Anti-oppression. 

At Avenues, we believe:

 • Homelessness does not define a person. It is just one part of a journey that we are here to help young people navigate.

 • Nearly all youth experiencing homelessness have or are experiencing trauma. Therefore, mental health is at the center of all our work.

 • There is no one reason why youth experience homelessness – it’s intersectional. Systems of oppression, racism and poverty are some of the root causes of homelessness. Without addressing these systems, homelessness will persist.

 • Youth are resilient, inspiring, and the drivers of their own journey. With stability, trust and youth-centered supports, their dreams can become reality. 

KEY ROLES

With support from the Associate Executive Director, Director of Advancement, and the Director of Finance, the selected applicant will provide administrative, financial, personnel, and program management for the organization. They will oversee the day-to-day operations of the work, guide a diverse and talented staff, ensure the financial stability of the organization in a time of growth, and represent Avenues within the community and, to a more limited extent, with funders. They will also work with the Board of Directors to conduct a search for a permanent director. Avenues is a values-guided organization – the 9 Guiding Principles and the 6 organizational values are key to who we are and how we do our work. It’s important that the contracted Interim Executive Director understand and live in those values as they provide leadership for the organization and the search for the next permanent Executive Director. 

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

• Work with program team to ensure excellent inclusive programming continues to support young people in finding and maintaining housing and exiting into safe and stable housing

 • Work with the Director of Finance to maintain the fiscal health of the organization and plan resources according to programming and administrative needs

 • Support the Director of Advancement in raising funds from government, foundation, and individual donors and communicating the work of Avenues in the community 

• Partner with the Associate Executive Director in managing the human resources, operation, and infrastructure of the organization

 • Ensure proper oversight of the organization by providing consistent support and updates to the Board of Directors, working in partnership with the Board Officers and Committee Chairs 

• Ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and execute legal documents on behalf of the Board of Directors 

• Serve as representative for the organization with funders, community members, government funders, and media (lobbying is not required of this role) EXECUTIVE SEARCH 

• Conduct interviews and focus groups to identify the key competencies and skillsets needed for the next permanent Executive Director

 • Develop the necessary infrastructure to ensure that young people, staff, and Board can participate in the search process • Create and execute a timeline to hire the permanent Executive Director by mid-2027 

THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU IF…  

• You enjoy mission-driven work and feel aligned with our youth- and justice-centered values.

 • You have experience leading programs or organizations through times of transition. • You like to collaborate closely with a team and foster an environment of transparency and cooperation. 

• You manage well in unpredictable circumstances and step up when help is needed.

 • You can manage competing priorities and deal with multiple important factors simultaneously. 

• You are ready to lead a group of engaged young people, staff, and board members in an executive search. 

TERM  

This is a temporary, contract role, with an estimated 25-30 hours/week, not benefits eligible. The contract will begin in December 2026 and end when the new permanent Executive Director begins in mid-2027. The applicant selected for this position is not eligible to apply for the permanent Executive Director role. 

HOW TO APPLY  

Avenues welcomes proposals until September 30, 2026. 

Please email Katherin Meerse at kmeerse@avenuesforyouth.org with a proposal including:

 • Résumé with relevant experience; 

• Outline of your philosophy of approach including how it aligns with the values and goals of this RFP, including:

 • Your qualifications and relevant interim executive leadership experience in nonprofits with examples of transition and executive search experience;

 • Your approach to entering an organization and assessing priorities; 

• Your plan to maintain organizational stability and support strategic decision-making and executive; leadership at Avenues, including sustaining current culture through transition;

 • How your approach aligns with Avenues' values and commitment to equity and anti-oppression;

• Your experience with financial oversight, budgeting, and nonprofit governance;

 • Your proposed executive search methodology including timeline, youth, staff and Board engagement;

 • A proposed timeline and milestones from the start of the contract through onboarding of the permanent Executive Director; 

• Your proposed fee structure and anticipated reimbursable expenses; 

• Three professional references. 

Please keep proposals to fewer than 5 pages. 

If you have questions, please email Katherine Meerse at katherine@avenuesforyouth.org .

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