Leap Arts in Education : Executive Director

Leap seeks a strategic, creative, compassionate, and entrepreneurial executive director to provide the vision and strategic oversight that will lead the organization and its small and talented team, ensuring that Leap’s mission continues to thrive. The executive director will report to the board of directors and directly supervise two full-time staff members : the program director and operations manager, as well as a contract grant writer, a development specialist, and an outsourced finance team. Additionally, the program director and program manager will oversee school partnerships and manage an average of 25 teaching artists each year. The ideal candidate will be a proven fundraiser, collaborative leader, and advocate, deeply committed to equity and inclusion, and will continue the organization’s RTJI work that embeds these values across organizational practices, partnerships, and programming.

About Leap Arts in Education :

Founded in 1979, Leap currently serves over 10,000 students across 33 Bay Area schools, with 40% of these students attending low-income schools. Our 10-15 week residencies place teaching artists, musicians, dancers and architects in local schools. In addition to building artistic skills, the residencies strengthen students' collaboration, communication, and critical thinking while building their confidence. In 2020, Leap built on its success and learnings by launching the collaboratively-run Racial Justice Training Institute (RJTI) - an intensive, eight-hour, artist-led training for teaching artists that strengthens Leap’s curriculum, workforce development, and program evaluations.

Responsibilities

Fundraising and Resource Development (40%)

• Lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and execution, with a focus on growing individual giving and major donor cultivation, in partnership with the development specialist
• Oversee foundation and government grant strategy, in partnership with the grant specialist
• Expand corporate partnerships and sponsorships
• Identify and implement new earned-revenue opportunities

Organizational Leadership and Management (25%)

Community Building (20%)

Board Partnership and Governance (15%)

Qualifications

Required

Preferred

Qualities We Value

Compensation

Leap offers a competitive salary, from $120,000 to $135,000, depending on experience. The benefits package includes health insurance, paid vacation, and professional development support. This position is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and follows a hybrid work model, combining remote work with in‑person collaboration

To Apply

Submit a resume and cover letter in a single pdf document to EdJob@leaparts.org . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a goal of selecting our executive director no later than December 15, 2025. No phone calls, please.

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