Director of Sustainability

Preference is given for Alberta residents, defined as a legal adult who has a mailing address anywhere within the province. The Director of Sustainability will sit on the Board of Directors, and will likely be asked to serve as a signing authority for Free Your Mind, interacting with legal or financial bodies based in Alberta. People who reside outside of Alberta are still welcome to apply, and all submissions will be considered on a holistic basis.

Application Link: https://forms.gle/K4rQCzrurVBr9cAJA

Role Description:

Free Your Mind (FYM) is recruiting a Director of Sustainability. This is a new leadership position designed to ensure FYM’s long term viability and growth. This role is ideal for an individual with professional experience, preferably in nonprofit administration, business management, or finance, who is passionate about youth mental health and wants to leverage their expertise to strengthen community infrastructure.

The Director of Sustainability works closely with FYM’s executive team to develop and implement strategies that promote financial stability, operational efficiency, and sustainable organizational growth. You will be responsible for identifying new funding opportunities alongside two Directors of Finance, cultivating relationships with donors and community partners alongside the co-Executive Directors, and creating systems that support FYM’s expansion. You will help us maintain our commitment to youth-led, community-centered mental health programming, working closely with our Director of Accessibility. This role requires familiarity with Albertan not-for-profit structure and legal responsibilities .

As Director of Sustainability, you will take the lead in diversifying revenue streams, which may include researching and applying for grants,exploring social enterprise opportunities, and building partnerships with corporations, foundations, and government agencies. You will work closely with the existing executive team to assess organizational capacity, identify areas for operational improvement, and implement best practices in not-for-profit governance. You are also responsible for developing sustainability plans that ensure FYM can continue effectively serving youth even as community needs and funding landscapes evolve.

This is a strategic, forward-thinking role that requires both big-picture vision and practical execution skills. You should be comfortable analyzing financial data, preparing compelling funding proposals, and presenting FYM’s impact to diverse audiences with a range of business knowledge. You will be expected to connect with FYM’s team directors to understand their resource needs and team-specific opportunities for growth.

Please recognize that this role description is not a comprehensive list of everything the Director of Sustainability is expected to oversee – this is a framework, which may change over time, and as the needs of FYM evolve.

Recommended Skills:

Experience in not-for-profit management, fundraising, or organizational development

Proven track record of securing grants and diversifying funding streams

Financial analysis and strategic planning expertise

Strong grant writing and proposal development skills

Relationship management with donors, funders, and community partners

Knowledge of not-for-profit sustainability best practices (preference for Alberta-specific)

Data analysis and impact measurement

Strong communication and presentation skills

Ability to work collaboratively with youth-lead teams

Understanding of social enterprise and earned revenue models (asset)

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive sustainability strategy for FYM

Research and identify new funding opportunities including grants, donations, and partnerships

Lead grant writing efforts and prepare compelling funding proposals

Cultivate relationships with existing and prospective donors, corporate sponsors, and funding partners

Work with Co-Executive Directors to diversify revenue streams and reduce reliance on single funding sources or one-time grants

Analyze organizational finances and identify opportunities for operational efficiency

Tracking and demonstrating FYM’s impact to funders and community stakeholders

Lead the creation of donor stewardship materials and impact reports

Develop multi-year financial projections and sustainability plans

Build partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and government agencies that align with FYM’s mission

Provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership on organizational growth and capacity building

Collaborate with other directors to understand resource needs and align sustainability efforts with program goals

Estimated Time Commitment: Upwards of 4h per week

Mode: Primarily virtual, with some in-person commitments (as a signing authority).