About Alliance for Community Development
About Our Client
The Alliance for Community Development ("Alliance" or "ACD") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to capital for entrepreneurs and businesses in local communities. The Alliance believes that access to capital encompasses not only financial resources, but also the human, intellectual, and social capital necessary to build thriving businesses and vibrant communities.
For more than twenty years, the Alliance has worked to strengthen the Bay Area entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting the development, growth, and sustainability of entrepreneurs and business owners who serve as the backbone of local economies. The Alliance's constituents reflect the rich diversity of the Bay Area, including women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, and other historically underserved communities.
In 2003, the Alliance partnered with the Bay Area Council to sponsor the Bay Area Equity Fund, a $75 million impact investment fund that pursued both market-rate financial returns and meaningful economic, social, and environmental impact in low- and moderate-income Bay Area neighborhoods. The fund is widely recognized as one of the first impact venture funds to achieve significant scale and has provided the Alliance with a modest endowment.
For the past sixteen years, the Alliance has convened Bay Area Capital Connections, an annual conference that connects investors, business service providers, and underrepresented entrepreneurs. The organization also provides navigation services to entrepreneurs, collaborates with municipalities and public agencies to advance community economic development, and serves as a trusted convener within the Bay Area entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In addition to its mission-driven programming, ACD provides fee-for-service consulting and technical assistance to public agencies and community partners. Through initiatives focused on business retention, merchant association development, business improvement districts, and resource collaboratives, the organization helps strengthen local economies and build sustainable support systems for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
ACD is also leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance both its internal operations and the services it provides to clients. The organization utilizes AI-powered tools to support grant writing, market research, competitive analysis, and targeted outreach, helping entrepreneurs better identify and access funding opportunities, including grants, loans, and other sources of capital. By integrating AI into its service delivery model, ACD is helping clients improve business planning, refine marketing strategies, better define target customer segments, and adopt emerging technologies that drive growth and long-term success.
Learn more about ACD at https://alliancecd.org/.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a visionary, mission-driven Executive Director to lead the Alliance into its next chapter of growth and impact. The ideal candidate is a calm, steady, and confident leader with the gravitas to represent the organization across a wide range of stakeholders and the judgment to navigate both opportunity and complexity with clarity.
This individual will be a strong communicator and relationship builder who is equally comfortable operating in highly professional, businesslike environments while also fostering a collaborative, engaging, and positive organizational culture. They will be both strategic and hands-on, able to define a compelling vision for the future while ensuring strong execution across all aspects of the organization.
A key aspect of this role is serving as a trusted partner to the Board of Directors, supporting strong governance, strategic alignment, and the recruitment and engagement of highly qualified board members who reflect the mission and future direction of the Alliance.
Key Responsibilities:
Manage Our Operations
Serve as the primary liaison between the Alliance Board, staff, and community. Provide calm, steady leadership and ensure strong alignment across governance, operations, and external relationships.
Develop & Execute Strategy
Lead the organization in developing and executing strategic priorities that advance mission impact. Provide visionary leadership while ensuring disciplined implementation and measurable outcomes.
Tell Our Story
Oversee the development of compelling narratives across communications channels. Ensure the Alliance’s voice is clear, authentic, and persuasive, reflecting both professionalism and passion for impact.
Lead Our Fundraising and Resource Development
Direct fundraising efforts to ensure the continued viability and growth of the organization. Build trusted relationships with funders, corporate partners, and philanthropic stakeholders, and represent the Alliance with credibility and gravitas.
Drive Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships
Engage corporate partners and ecosystem stakeholders to build meaningful connections that support underrepresented entrepreneurs. Translate community insights into opportunities for partnership and investment.
Collaborate for Impact
Work alongside entrepreneurs, community partners, and ecosystem leaders to foster collaboration, innovation, and opportunity. Build strong, trust-based relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
Business and Financial Leadership
Create and oversee the annual plan and budget, ensuring disciplined execution and financial sustainability. Oversee organizational administration, compliance, reporting, and financial management. Serve as liaison with fund managers of the Alliance’s investment portfolio.
Convening and Event Leadership
Lead the planning and execution of signature events, including the Bay Area Capital Connections conference. Use convenings as a platform for fundraising, visibility, partnership development, and ecosystem-building.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred (MBA, MPP, or related field strongly preferred).
- At least 5+ years of senior management or executive experience in nonprofit, public, philanthropic, or mission-driven organizations.
- Demonstrated track record of leading and scaling outcomes-driven organizations.
- Strong understanding of nonprofit financial management, budgeting, compliance, and fundraising.
- Experience developing and executing strategies that drive organizational growth and impact.
- Strong marketing, communications, and public relations experience with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with diverse communities and partners.
- Experience leading diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in organizational and external contexts.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and credible communicator.
- Demonstrated experience working effectively with a Board of Directors, including governance support and engagement.
- A calm, grounded, and steady leadership presence, particularly in complex or high-stakes situations, with the ability to represent the Alliance with senior leaders across sectors.
- A visionary mindset, able to see long-term opportunity while ensuring strong day-to-day execution.
- Strong business judgment and operational discipline, balanced with creativity and innovation.
- The ability to communicate clearly, persuasively, and authentically across audiences.
- A collaborative leadership style that builds trust and alignment across boards, staff, funders, and community partners.
- A balance of professionalism and approachability—comfortable being both businesslike and relational, structured and engaging.
- A proven ability to support board governance and recruit and engage strong board members aligned with mission and strategy.
- Deep commitment to the Alliance’s mission and to expanding economic opportunity for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Why You’ll Love Working With Us
- Impact & Ownership: See your ideas come to life and directly influence organizational success.
- Grow With Us: We invest in professional development and leadership growth.
- Live Your Life: Flexible PTO, hybrid work model, and family-friendly policies.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The anticipated starting salary for this role is between $120,000 and $145,000. The exact salary that will be offered to the Executive Director will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and geography and aligned with ACD’s compensation policies.
The Alliance is a San Francisco - Bay Area-wide organization. While our physical office is located in Oakland, California, we co-work from other spaces across different Bay Area cities.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trevor Hooper. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.