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Organization Overview: TeachAAPI

Founded in 2021, TeachAAPI is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) stories and identities are deeply woven into the fabric of American education. The organization partners with pre-K to 12th schools to provide culturally responsive curriculum, lesson plans, and resources that help students understand AAPI history as an essential part of the broader American story.

TeachAAPI was founded by a group of parents and community advocates who recognized a gap in how AAPI narratives were represented in classrooms. What began as a grassroots effort to create inclusive educational materials has evolved into a professional, fast-growing organization now serving 54 schools across 10 states, with a goal of reaching one million students by 2028.

TeachAAPI’s suite of programs includes its AAPI Curriculum Library, Educator Toolkit, Book Club Series, Preschool Activity Boxes, Youth Summit, and Cultural Celebration events- all designed to make AAPI representation accessible, engaging, and integral to everyday learning. Through its educator training, student programming, and community partnerships, TeachAAPI empowers teachers to teach with confidence and cultural understanding- helping the next generation lead with curiosity, empathy, and courage.

At its core, TeachAAPI believes that when every student can see themselves in the American story, we build a more connected, inclusive future for all.

To learn more, please visit: https://teachaapi.org/

Position Summary: Executive Director

TeachAAPI seeks its first Executive Director to lead the organization into its next stage of growth, sustainability, and national impact. Following three years of extraordinary progress under the leadership of its co-founders, TeachAAPI is ready to transition from a passionate grassroots initiative into a professionally managed, results-oriented national nonprofit.

The Executive Director will be a results-driven fundraiser and builder who brings urgency, focus, and structure to the organization’s next phase of development. In the first year, this leader will focus intensively on building and executing a disciplined development strategy- converting existing relationships into sustained support, cultivating new funders across individual, corporate, and foundation segments, and establishing systems to track and measure progress. They will bring a sense of accountability and discipline that reflects a private-sector mindset- translating plans into measurable milestones and results.

Once fundraising systems and processes are established, the Executive Director will expand their focus to programmatic strategy, partnership building, and organizational growth- overseeing the organization’s revenues and budget, a small team and a highly engaged Board of Directors and Educator Advisory Board. This is a hands-on, entrepreneurial leadership opportunity for someone who can turn momentum into infrastructure, passion into process, and relationships into lasting impact for generations to come.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising and Revenue Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan that expands revenue across individual, corporate, foundation, and earned income sources. Evaluate and refine TeachAAPI’s school membership and pricing model to strengthen its earned income strategy, while building the infrastructure and systems needed for clear tracking, reporting, and accountability across all revenue generating activities.

• Donor and Partner Cultivation: Personally engage, cultivate, and steward major donors, corporate sponsors, and institutional funders. Strengthen relationships through consistent communication, thoughtful engagement, and meaningful partnership opportunities that advance TeachAAPI’s mission.

• Operations and Organizational Infrastructure: Oversee day-to-day operations, budgeting, and administrative systems to ensure efficiency and accountability. Evaluate and strengthen DonorPerfect or future CRM tools to improve reporting, data integrity, and transparency.

• Team Leadership and Culture: Lead and support a small, mission-driven team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence. Provide coaching and direction that empower staff to deliver results and grow alongside the organization.

• Program Strategy & Oversight: Drive program strategy in close collaboration with the Board, Advisory Council, and staff. Ensure effective execution of TeachAAPI’s educational programs and resources so they remain mission-aligned, scalable, and impactful for educators and students nationwide.

• Board Partnership and Governance: Partner with and re-energize the Board of Directors, guiding its evolution from a working to a governing body. Define board roles and committee structures, recruit new members aligned with future growth, and strengthen engagement in fundraising and strategic decision-making.

• Strategic Partnerships and External Relations: Serve as a visible and authentic ambassador for TeachAAPI, cultivating relationships with educators, funders, and community leaders to enhance visibility, credibility, and national impact.

• Financial Management and Planning: Oversee financial planning and reporting in partnership with the Acting CFO and Board Treasurer. Lead the creation of a multi-year strategic plan that aligns financial goals with organizational growth and mission priorities.

Leadership & Competency Expectations

Mission-Driven and Values-Oriented

The right leader will carry a deep belief that education can change how young people see themselves and one another. They will understand that teaching AAPI history is about belonging, pride, and expanding how future generations understand what it means to be American. This person will believe in the power of storytelling to create empathy and connection, approaching the work with both head and heart to ensure every student can see their identity reflected with confidence in the classroom.

Strategic Fundraiser and Connector

The Executive Director will bring fresh energy and structure to TeachAAPI’s fundraising efforts, building a disciplined, goal-driven approach to growth. They will be a driver- a results-oriented leader who brings urgency, focus, and follow-through to every stage of the fundraising process. This person will personally engage donors, reconnect with past supporters, and follow up with gala attendees to convert enthusiasm into long-term commitment. They will engage the Board as active partners, recruit new members to expand networks, and cultivate new relationships with corporate and foundation funders. They will also evaluate TeachAAPI’s earned revenue strategy to ensure it supports both financial sustainability and mission alignment.

Entrepreneurial Builder and Scaler

TeachAAPI is entering a pivotal stage of growth, evolving from a founder-led organization to one guided by systems, structure, and shared accountability. The Executive Director will thrive in this environment- someone who is ambitious, entrepreneurial, and motivated by helping organizations move from early success to sustainable growth. They will bring both the vision to imagine what’s possible and the hands-on drive to make it real, establishing the processes and frameworks that will enable TeachAAPI to expand its reach and double its revenue in the coming years.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of nonprofit experience, fundraising expertise, and entrepreneurial drive to lead TeachAAPI through its next stage of growth.

While it is understood that no single candidate will embody every qualification, strong candidates will demonstrate many of the following experiences, skills, and attributes:

• Proven leadership experience within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization, ideally in the fields of education, youth development, or child-focused programming.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and partnership development, including individual giving, education-focused foundation grants, and corporate engagement.
• Experience strengthening organizational operations to support sustainable growth in a small or scaling organization.
• Strong relationship builder with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders- from educators and funders to board members and community partners.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to inspire support and convey impact to a wide range of audiences.
• Candidates from the private sector with strong sales or business development experience- as well as nonprofit leaders ready to take on their first top leadership role- are encouraged to apply.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Location, Compensation and Benefits

TeachAAPI is a remote organization with a preference for candidates based in California, ideally in the Los Angeles or San Francisco Bay Area, where many of its school and community partnerships are concentrated. New York–based candidates will also be considered, given the organization’s growing presence and relationships there.

The salary range for this position is $130,000 – $150,000, commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and holidays; and flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance and professional growth.

Interest in the Role?

To express your interest and explore this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter here.

All inquiries and discussions will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. This position is available immediately, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled.

We look forward to hearing from you!

About Maneva Group

Maneva Group is a leading woman and minority-owned executive search firm dedicated to connecting exceptional talent with organizations committed to making a meaningful impact. Through a consultative and client-focused approach, Maneva Group partners with mission-driven organizations to build transformative leadership teams.

Our name, Maneva, comes from the combination of two Sanskrit words: “Mānav” meaning mankind & “Sevā” meaning service. We are driven by the ideal of our name - service to humanity.

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