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

Ashley|Rountree 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. 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.