DRi Seeks CEO for Atlas Service Corps

August 2, 2021 – Arlington, VA-based executive search firm Development Resources Inc. (DRi) has been retained by Atlas Service Corps, also known as Atlas Corps, to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Based in Washington, D.C., Atlas Corps is an international network of social sector leaders and organizations that promotes innovation, cooperation and solutions to address the world’s 21st-century challenges.

The non-profit wants a CEO to empower young leaders across the world and serve as an inspirational leader guiding Atlas Corps to new levels of global thought leadership, said DRi. The CEO leads the strategic vision of the organization, interfaces with external audience and is the main liaison with key partners. The CEO is one of the chief fundraisers, working closely with the chief development & engagement officer who leads fundraising and communications.

The CEO is charged with demonstrating leadership and credibility across both strategic and operational dimensions of the organization. Strategic vision and leadership is a vital part of the role. The individual must formulate and implement a strategic plan that guides the direction of the business.

Atlas Corps’ new leader will also be expect to work with the chief development and engagement officer to lead fundraising. Currently Atlas Corps has a
strong track record with earned revenue and federal government (State Department) support. The organization has also done well with online, generally lower dollar donors. It has also seen some success with corporate giving (American Express, IBM, Microsoft) and limited success with high-net-worth donors. The CEO will be expected to have significant experience, a successful track record, and their own network to expand development capacity.

Creating Excitement

The new leader must also be an external visionary. He or she must create excitement throughout the global development community –and beyond – about the mission, impact and future of Atlas Corps through active participation at major conferences, forums, and events.

Also critical to the role is public and government relations. “The visibility of the organization needs to be built upon and increased through the development and implementation of sustainable marketing, government relations and public relations campaigns geared to its various constituencies,” said the search firm.

Candidates should have at least 10 years of experience in relevant senior management and leadership positions, said DRi. Experience serving as a leader and motivator to an internationally-based team is required. Social enterprise experience is highly valued. Experience across sectors, including non-profit, entrepreneurial, government and/or corporate vis also important.

Significant strategic leadership, management and decision-making experience with direct accountability for results at the executive level of an organization with complex, geographically distributed operations is critical to the role. Ideally, prospects should have proven experience scaling an organization in terms of resources, programs, and impact.

DRi also said that experience in different forms of fundraising, particularly with the U.S. government, corporations and high net worth individuals is a key requirement. Sales and business development experience is also a plus. Candidates should have a successful track record of building, motivating and mentoring high-performing leadership teams across program and functional areas. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required for the role. A master’s degree is preferred.

Non-Profit Recruiters

Atlas Service Corps, Inc. (Atlas Corps), started in 2006, works to address critical social issues by developing leaders, strengthening organizations, and promoting innovation through a fellowship of skilled non-profit professionals. Profiled as a “best practice” in international exchange and volunteerism by the Brookings Institution and World Economic Forum, featured in the Washington Post and Forbes as a model social entrepreneurship program, and recognized as a Top 10 International Voluntary Exchange Program by the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, Atlas Corps engages leaders committed to the non-profit sector in six to 18 month, professional fellowships at organizations (like Ashoka, Peace Corps, and Nike Foundation) to learn best practices, build organizational capacity and return home to create a network of global changemakers.

DRi is an executive search and strategic consulting firm committed to helping non-profits. For over 15 years, the firm has served more than 350 of the most innovative and respected non-profit institutions operating at the local, national and international levels. DRi has placed hundreds of executive leaders and worked side by side with them to adopt strategic plans, design fundraising programs and build staffs.

With offices in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, Denver, Omaha, Austin and Seattle, the firm is led by co-founder, president and CEO Jennifer Dunlap and COO Nancy Racette, each of whom spent more than 25 years as leaders with non-profit organizations such as CARE, the American Red Cross, United Way, Easter Seals Society, and Girl Scouts of the USA. Since founding DRi in 2001, they have built a senior team of experienced non-profit leaders supported by specialists in research, communications, and candidate relations and have had great success with placing candidates both domestically and internationally.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media