President/CEO

 

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND AND
CULTURE  

The Muhammad Ali Center: Transformative Legacy and
Global Impact 

 The Muhammad Ali Center stands as the custodian of an enduring
legacy that transcends temporal and cultural boundaries. The heart
of our mission lies in Muhammad Ali’s six core
principles—spirituality, respect, confidence, conviction, giving,
and dedication. Ali, a paragon of resilience, courage, and
compassion, left a legacy that extends far beyond the confines
of the boxing ring. As the custodian of this enduring
legacy, the Muhammad Ali Center serves as both a world-class museum
experience and as a global beacon for hope, inspiration, and
action. Through a meticulously curated collection of artifacts,
multimedia exhibits, and educational programs, the Center endeavors
to immortalize the indomitable spirit of “The Greatest” and
disseminate the wisdom garnered from his struggles, successes, and
a life story defined in service to others. Educational programs are
dedicated to mobilizing Alis legacy of promoting respect, inspiring
change, and advancing social justice. 

The Museum 

The Muhammad Ali Center consists of an immersive experience that
encapsulates the essence of Ali’s life and principles. It is
strategically positioned as an institutional hub for education,
social justice, inclusion, and convening people around the tenants
of understanding, love, peace, and the common good. The Muhammad
Ali Center assumes a pivotal role in preserving and disseminating
Ali’s ideals. From Louisville, Kentucky to the World, the Center
resonates globally as a beacon for those aspiring to effect
positive change. By housing a repository of Ali’s personal effects,
speeches, and archival material, the Center affords scholars,
athletes, activists, and enthusiasts alike the opportunity to
engage with the multiple facets of Ali’s legacy as a three-time
heavy weight champion all while drawing inspiration from his
unwavering dedication to justice, peace, and inclusivity.
Candidates can find more information at
alicenter.org.  

 

THE OPPORTUNITY 

The President & CEO will have a deep commitment to the
mission and future of the Ali Center, setting the tone by which the
Center will flourish and achieve the next phase of growth and
development. Reporting to the Board of Directors, they will provide
strategic leadership, as well as oversight of the Ali Center’s $5M
budget, operations, programs, and 30+ staff and
volunteers. 

A successful track record of fundraising is paramount to this
role and is the focus of Pillar One of the Strategic Plan. Over the
first 17 years of operations, the Ali Center has experienced
inconsistent funding, which has limited its ability to build and
execute its programming. The Center relies on a mix of earned and
contributed revenue and both are addressed in Pillar One of the
Strategic Plan. The President & CEO will ensure that the Ali
Center is a sustainable organization by focusing significant
efforts on fundraising through individuals, corporations,
foundations, special events, government grants, and all other
sources to support the Ali Center’s mission. 

The President & CEO will serve as a visible representation
of the Ali Center and will be responsible for developing key
strategies for its positioning and growth, developing strong
relationships with donors, strategic partners, community, and world
leaders to implement the vision and strategy. They will have the
capacity to turn a mission into real results.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 
 
Specific duties and responsibilities include: 

• Provide leadership and
  guidance to ensure the efficient operation of the organization and
  accomplishment of key projects; appropriately align operational
  strategies and revenue development with the strategic plan’s
  goals.
• Personally initiate,
  lead, and be responsible for fundraising activities with experience
  closing gifts at the 6-figure level, required and 7-figure level,
  preferred.
• Continually promote
  awareness of the Muhammad Ali Center and its mission within the
  community and beyond with the goal of cultivating friends,
  increasing membership, and raising funds.
• Foster a healthy
  organizational culture by inspiring, supervising, developing, and
  retaining staff and volunteers.
• Establish evaluation
  methods to measure and assess the impact of the Ali Center’s
  programs to ensure they are effective, sustainable, and tied to the
  mission.
• Establish and adhere to
  regular written updates and oral communication with the
  Board.
  

YEAR ONE CRITICAL SUCCESS
FACTORS  

The next few years and beyond are a critical time for the Ali
Center. Year one success factors include: 

• A successful transition
  into the leadership role, earning trust and respect among staff,
  the board, and all external constituencies.
• Successful achievement
  of fiscal objectives and fundraising goals (total revenue in the $5
  million to $7 million range) to ensure a vibrant, healthy
  organization.
• To this end, the CEO
  will be charged with hiring a VP for Philanthropy in the first six
  months.
• Execution of the current
  2022-2025 strategic plan focusing on:

• Growing earned revenue
  in addition to individual, corporate, and grant contributed
  revenue;
• Establishing a plan to
  overhaul the Center’s exhibits within the next 24
  months;
• Mobilizing the
  Board;
• Developing and enriching
  professional development opportunities for the staff.

• Implementation of an aggressive marketing campaign and
  communication strategy to raise the visibility and increase the
  annual volume of visitors to the Ali Center and increase
  participation in the organization’s external programs and
  activities.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND
QUALIFICATIONS  

The Muhammad Ali Center seeks a dynamic individual to serve as
its President & CEO and lead the organization during its next
phase of growth into a nationally and globally recognized
institution. Core areas of focus include the operation of an
award-winning visitor experience headquartered in Louisville,
educational and programmatic initiatives focused on the core values
of Muhammad Ali, and establishing strategic national and
international partnerships.  

The President & CEO must be an individual who is kind,
compassionate, and welcoming to all, just like Muhammad. They will
design and implement strategies for the long-term financial
sustainability of the Ali Center while delivering its message,
content, program, and products to a world-wide market. 

The successful candidate will have a record of integrity and
results and will be visionary, energetic, innovative, creative, and
must possess the following:  

• A minimum of ten years
  of relevant experience in increasingly responsible leadership
  positions. Such experiences may come from high–profile nonprofits,
  educational institutions, NGOs, corporate, public or private
  philanthropic entities, and foundations.
• A successful record of
  accomplishment in raising significant funds from individuals,
  corporations, foundations, governments, and strategic
  partners.
• Experience in fiscal
  management and the business acumen required to develop and manage
  balanced partnership arrangements, licensing agreements, and
  institutionally based contractual relationships.
• An ability to implement
  the organization’s objectives effectively, on time, and within
  budget, utilizing resources responsibly and with great sensitivity
  to expense management.
• Proven experience in
  partnering, expanding, and developing relationships with a board of
  directors.

• Successful experience
  building strategic partnerships and an ability to work
  collaboratively and build consensus with a wide range of
  constituents (board members, staff, leaders of other organizations
  and companies, elected officials, foundations, and the public) to
  build support and relationships consistent with the Ali Center’s
  mission.
• Excellent interpersonal
  and team skills for building and fostering key internal and
  external relationships, particularly with individuals and groups
  with diverse backgrounds and needs, with sensitivity and respect
  for all.
• Successful record of
  accomplishment for attracting, developing, empowering, and
  retaining a highly effective, motivated staff.
• This role will be onsite
  in Louisville, Kentucky, so a deep understanding of the Louisville
  community and Muhammad’s impact on it is ideal.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

The Muhammad Ali Center is prepared to offer a competitive
salary in the range of $250,000 – $280,000, commensurate with
experience. Benefits include medical insurance, life insurance,
vacation and sick time, 403b contribution, and a diverse offering
of voluntary benefits.  

The Muhammad Ali Center is an equal opportunity employer and
does not discriminate based on gender, race, age, creed, sexual
orientation, or any other protected class.  

 

CONTACT 

Ashleytendersglobal.netRountree and Associates has been exclusively retained by
the Muhammad Ali Center for this search.  To apply for
this position, please submit a cover letter and resume using the
link contained in the description. 
Applications are considered complete when a cover letter and resume
are uploaded to the portal and all questions (in the site portal)
have been answered. Deadline for applications is April 15, 5:00
pm. For confidential questions or inquiries, contact Lisa
Resnik at lresnik@ashleyrountree.com.