Interim Executive Director (Transition Lead)

Interim Executive Director (Transition Lead)

Richmond Community Foundation

Contract | 6–8 Months | 12–20 Hours per Week (flexible)

$40–$50 per hour (based on qualifications)

Hybrid role (remote with occasional in-person meetings in Richmond)

Preferred Starting Date: May 1, 2026 or earlier

About Richmond Community Foundation

Established in 1990, the Richmond Community Foundation (RCF) is a charitable public foundation dedicated to strengthening our community through prudent stewardship of donated capital and responsive grant making.

RCF manages over 60 Forever Funds and stewards over $7 million in endowed assets. These permanently invested funds generate annual income to support Richmond charities and scholarships for local students.

We are a volunteer-led organization governed by a working Board of Directors and are proud members of Community Foundations of Canada, part of a national network managing more than $6 billion in community assets.

For over 35 years, RCF has served as a trusted vehicle for philanthropy in Richmond — enabling donors to create lasting legacies while supporting charities across education, health, arts, social services, and community development.

RCF is now entering a strategic operational transition from a shared staff service model to operational independence. We are seeking an experienced Interim Executive Director to guide this important next phase.

This interim role is an opportunity to help strengthen the Foundation’s operational independence and position it for its next 30 years of impact.

This is part-time work with long-term community significance.

The Opportunity

Richmond Community Foundation is seeking a seasoned nonprofit leader to serve as Interim Executive Director for a 6–8 month contract.

This role is focused on:

• Establishing independent operational infrastructure
• Overseeing IT, financial, donor communication system transitions
• Supporting governing board
• Overseeing and supporting ongoing grant and scholarship cycles

This is a part-time leadership contract (12–20 hours per week) suited to an experienced executive, consultant, or retired nonprofit leader who enjoys building systems and guiding volunteer boards through change.

The Interim Executive Director will report directly to the Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities

1. Organizational Transition & Infrastructure

• Develop and execute a structured transition workplan with timelines and deliverables.
• Oversee migration of IT systems, digital assets, cloud storage, and email platforms.
• Coordinate transition of financial systems, bookkeeping, and banking access.
• Secure and maintain office space and physical presence of the Foundation.
• Work with external professional advisors or consultants as required.
• Provide regular written progress reports to the Board.

2. Financial & Operational Strengthening

• Support implementation of appropriate accounting and financial management systems.
• Work closely with the Treasurer.
• Review administrative processes and recommend efficiencies.
• Ensure compliance with CRA charity requirements and best governance practices.

3. Governance & Leadership Continuity

• Support Board during leadership transition.
• Provide guidance to new and incoming board leadership.
• Clarify board/staff roles and committee workflows where necessary.
• Help position RCF for recruitment of a future long-term Executive Director and other positions.

4. Communications & Systems Review

• Review current branding, communications, and website infrastructure.
• Make recommendations regarding:
  • Donor communication systems
  • CRM and fundraising platforms
  • Website and domain management
  • Public messaging during transition

5. Grant & Scholarship Continuity

• Ensure smooth delivery of 2026 grant and scholarship cycles.
• Support Forever Fund distributions.
• Provide oversight support to the Grants and Scholarship Committees.

Deliverables

The Interim Executive Director will:

Present a transition roadmap with timeline.

Provide mid-contract status reporting.

Deliver a final transition summary report including:

• Completed work
• Outstanding action items
• Recommendations for long-term operational structure
• Guidance for recruitment of a permanent Executive Director and other positions

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have:

• Senior leadership experience in the nonprofit or philanthropic sector.
• Experience working with volunteer Boards of Directors.
• Demonstrated experience managing organizational change or transitions.
• Financial literacy and comfort with accounting systems for charities.
• Strong project management and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of cloud-based systems (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365), Zoom, and donor management platforms.
• Understanding of community foundations, endowed funds, or philanthropic stewardship (an asset).

We are seeking someone steady, pragmatic, and collaborative — capable of balancing operational detail with board-level strategy.

How to Apply

• Please submit the following to Mr. Sunny Chiu, Board Chair of the Richmond Community Foundation:
• Resume
• A cover letter outlining relevant transition or leadership experience
• A short outline of your proposed approach to a 6–8 month transition mandate