Executive Director | Kelly Brush Foundation | Burlington, VT
About Kelly Brush Foundation
The Kelly Brush Foundation (KBF), a dynamic and impactful national nonprofit organization located in Burlington, Vermont, was founded by Kelly Brush and her family after Kelly suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury (SCI) in 2006 at an NCAA alpine ski race. While the organization started as a single local event – the Kelly Brush Ride – today the KBF is a nationally recognized, mission-oriented thought leader in the SCI community and the adaptive sports world. KBF offers the inspiration to believe and the funding to enable anyone with an SCI to acquire the adaptive sports equipment they need to be active. It is the mission of KBF that everyone with an SCI can enjoy the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of an active lifestyle.
KBF supports the SCI community and raises awareness through a series of key programs and events:
• The Active Fund: Provides grants for adaptive sports equipment like handcycles, monoskis, and sport chairs.
Scholarships: Provides financial support to individuals with spinal cord injuries seeking to get active in beginner adaptive sports experiences or to test a piece of equipment.
• The Active Project: a digital resource and on-line community for people with SCI.
• Camps: KBF hosts several camps throughout the year to provide exciting and immersive experiences for people with spinal cord injuries.
• Ski Racing Safety: Provides safety equipment grants, advocates for safety awareness, and educates on proper safety practices.
•The Kelly Brush Ride: Riders in Vermont, the San Francisco Bay area, Park City Utah, or in their own communities come together in September each year to raise funds in support of KBF's mission.
In 2026, the Kelly Brush Foundation will mark a major milestone—its 20th anniversary. The incoming Executive Director will be instrumental in honoring two decades of success and impact, while also driving forward a bold vision for the future through innovative programs and meaningful community engagement.
For more information about Kelly Brush Foundation, please visit https://kellybrushfoundation.org/.
About the Position
The Executive Director (ED) will serve as the strategic and operational leader of the Kelly Brush Foundation, driving its mission to empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active lives. The ED will partner closely with Founder and KBF ambassador Kelly Brush, report to a committed board of 11 directors, and will oversee a dedicated staff of nine in programming, development, finance, marketing, and operations/administration. Building on programmatic growth and impact, the Executive Director will broaden and diversify revenue streams, strengthen networks and strategic partnerships, and elevate KBF's brand visibility, support for the SCI community, and overall organizational effectiveness.
Since its inception, KBF has raised over $15M and awarded 1,900 adaptive sports equipment grants to people living in all 50 states, and over 150 grants to ski clubs around the U.S. to help ensure alpine skiing safety. The KBF relies on robust fundraising through events, major gifts, foundation and corporate grants, and direct mail, to meet its mission and philanthropic goals. More than $3.0 million was raised in 2024, and the goal for 2025 is $3.4 million. The new ED will play a key role in engaging and soliciting donors and foundations in partnership with Kelly, the Board and development team, with the goal of raising $10M annually within ten years.
Key Responsibilities:
• Develop and ensure the execution of a multi-year strategic and development plan aligned with KBF's mission and values
• Collaborate closely with Kelly Brush and the Board of Directors to ensure continuity of vision and community impact
• Champion Kelly Brush's role as Founder and public face of the KBF to inspire engagement, maximize media opportunities, nurture high level donors and corporate partnerships, and strengthen community ties
• Represent KBF in public forums and community events
• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, and compliance to ensure operational excellence and sustainability
• Partner with the Board and Director of Development to set fundraising strategy and solicit and steward donors to ensure the success of major gift engagement, grant applications, events, and corporate partnerships
• Serve as a key relationship builder with donors, sponsors, and philanthropic partners
• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of adaptive sports and safety programs
• Manage and mentor a passionate and high performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence
• Promote professional development and a healthy work-life balance
Key Qualifications:
• 8+ years of leadership experience in nonprofit management, preferably in adaptive sports, health, or disability advocacy
• Passion for outdoor recreation, an active lifestyle and empowering individuals with disabilities
• Highly developed staff management abilities, fostering collaboration and a team-oriented work culture
• Track record of holding a leadership role in increasing revenue through philanthropy to support ambitious program expansion
• Strong fundraising and donor engagement skills
• Experience supporting a deeply engaged Board
• Demonstrated success in managing and delivering strategic objectives over a multi-year period
• Skillful project manager: highly organized, analytical, results-driven
• Effective leader with demonstrated record of innovation and creativity
• Strategic thinker with operational savvy
• Collaborative spirit that complements Kelly Brush's role as founder and public figure
Compensation
The salary for this position is $175,000+ per year, commensurate with experience.
To express interest, please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence here.
For more information, please visit www.developmentguild.com.
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JobiqoTJN. Keywords: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Location: Burlington, VT - 05406
