Colorado Nonprofit Association

Executive Director

 About Ignite 

Ignite Adaptive Sports is an industry leading nonprofit providing adaptive snowsport instruction at Eldora Mountain Resort and serving Colorado’s Front Range. Ignite was started in 1975 by University of Colorado students who wanted to enhance the lives of CU students with disabilities by providing them access to skiing. Now, 50 years later and operating out of a newly opened state-of-the-art facility, Ignite serves over 400 athletes annually providing 1600⁺ lessons through the dedication of over 300 volunteers. The program is run by an amazing management team of paid and volunteer staff with decades of combined experience in adaptive snowsports. Ignite serves athletes with all types of physical and cognitive disabilities using adaptive equipment to support access to snowsports for all. We are dedicated to serving active duty and veteran servicemen and women with disabilities.   

About the Executive Director Position 

We seek a compassionate, visionary, and respectful leader who will represent Ignite positively and professionally. The successful candidate will take over the reins from our retiring Executive Director, who led the organization over the past 10 years, culminating with the grand opening of the new Caribou Lodge at Eldora Mountain Resort. This facility will house Ignite for at least the next 50 years. 

The Executive Director will lead and support all aspects of Ignite’s operations, finances, and programs, with primary responsibilities to drive strategic planning, fundraising, staff/volunteer oversight, and stakeholder relationships to achieve Ignite’s mission and goals, leaving program operations to staff and volunteers.  

The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors, and requires strong leadership, communication, and financial management skills to ensure organizational excellence, compliance and sustainability.  

Areas of Responsibility 

Strategic Planning & Leadership 

• Under the guidance and oversight of the Board of Directors, ensure that the organization lives up to its values while delivering its mission and achieving its vision. 
• In collaboration with the Board of Directors, develop, implement and refine a strategic/business plan focusing on the broad goals and objectives of Ignite’s programs, its operations and financing, and other long-range planning efforts. 
• Utilize quantitative and qualitative information for continuous performance improvement. 

Development & Fiscal Stewardship 

• Manage Ignite’s financial planning, budgeting, and financial controls to support the strategic plan. 
• Provide leadership, with the support of staff, volunteers, and the Board of Directors, for all fundraising appeals and events while ensuring consistent message alignment.  
• Lead strategies for donor cultivation and grant writing. 
• Strengthen and diversify Ignite’s earned income and charitable/grant funding sources to sustain the organization financially. 
• Proactively cultivate strong personal and institutional relationships with corporate partners, foundations, individual benefactors and other grantors to secure sustainable long-term funding. 
• Manage Ignite’s grants program to identify grant opportunities, submit proposals and comply with all reporting responsibilities. 
• Act as the public face of Ignite in fundraising appeals and events. 

Organizational Management 

• Oversee the organization’s compliance with all local, state and federal employment, tax and other legal/regulatory requirements. 
• Ensure programs are carried out to the highest standards possible and adhere to program, regulatory, and funding source guidelines. 
• Promote a positive work environment that supports an open exchange of ideas, leverages staff/volunteer strengths, and creates a team-oriented culture. 
• Ensure that appropriate procedures are in place. Oversee staff/volunteer led programs in the recruitment, vetting, training and retention of volunteers as instructors as well as supporting fund development and other administrative activities. 
• Lead, supervise, train and build trust and a strong sense of teamwork among Ignite staff and volunteers. 
• Ensure Ignite’s organizational structure, staff/volunteer roles and decision-making responsibilities are clearly defined and appropriately delegated, to ensure they are done efficiently, inclusively, and with respect. 
• In coordination with the Board of Directors, oversee and support staff as it executes programs within budget so as to ensure long-term financial sustainability.  
• Create and/or maintain policies to ensure the use of the most relevant and efficient technology platforms to support program operations and plan/budget for upgrades needed for future success.  
• Manage official correspondence and execute legal documents on behalf of the organization in conjunction with designated Board officers as appropriate. 
• Manage human resource development and oversight, policies and procedures, ensuring legal compliance, and use of best practices. 

Advocacy and Community Relations 

• Maintain a strong personal and organizational relationship with the management/leadership team at Eldora Mountain Resort. 
• Maintain a healthy relationship with Move United and other stakeholder organizations in coordination with appropriate Board/staff/volunteer support. 
• Develop, maintain, and enhance strategic partnerships and external collaborations to preserve and advance Ignite’s reputation in the field and standing in the community. 
• Build positive relationships with community stakeholders including our athletes, their families/caregivers and community/corporate leaders across the Front Range. 

Marketing and Public Relations 

• Oversee the development and implementation of marketing plans by marshalling the resources of staff, volunteers and outside contractors to ensure the “voice” of Ignite is always present in support of fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and public awareness. 
• Manage Ignite’s response to all media inquiries. 

Board Development 

• Provide periodic status update reports on Ignite’s programs and operations to support the Board’s governance, fundraising, and strategic planning responsibilities. 
• Build, sustain, and strengthen all Board functions. 
• Build a personal rapport and alignment with Board members while also maintaining role clarity. 
• Keep the Board President advised of any situation that arises from program operations that could negatively impact Ignite’s reputation. 
• Additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by the Board. 

Executive Director Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, public policy, or related field is preferred. 
• Leader who demonstrates humility, compassion, kindness and humor. 
• Comfortable in a predominantly volunteer-driven environment. 
• Strategic thinker who can build out long-term sustainability processes while balancing agile, creative problem-solving needed for short-term effectiveness. 
• Understand the “system” but not be constrained by it. 
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong listening skills, and calmness under pressure. Model emotional maturity and self-awareness. 
• Have a deep understanding of fundraising strategies, donor cultivation, and grant writing. 
• Experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, financial management, strategic planning, marketing and communications. 
• Lead the fundraising effort, demonstrate comfort speaking with the press, and try new ideas to engage donors. 
• Demonstrate an eagerness to learn, think critically, acknowledge what they don’t know and seek advice when needed. 
• Experience working with people with disabilities, and a passion to advocate for and work alongside them. 
• Recognize the value and joy of adaptive sports and recreation in a safe, fun, and supportive environment! 
• Value and advocate for accessibility, opportunity, and inclusion. Explore how barriers for people with disabilities intersect with those of other marginalized groups. Be willing to speak up when you see us fall short.   

Position Structure & Compensation 

• This is a salaried, exempt position, which may involve evening/weekend work. 
• Reports to the Board of Directors  
• Ignite is located in Boulder County, Colorado. Much of the work will be remote (from home, not at our facility) but the Executive Director must be local.  

 Salary Range: 

$75,000 – $85,000 per year depending on experience