Executive Director

ASTORIA HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS, INC.

Astoria, Oregon | astoriascholarshipfund.org

Position Announcement: Executive Director

About Astoria High School Scholarships, Inc.

For 50 years, Astoria High School Scholarships, Inc. (AHSSI) has done something quietly

remarkable: built and administered one of the most robust scholarship programs in Oregon — not

through aggressive fundraising campaigns or grant cycles, but through the sustained generosity of

Astoria residents and alumni who believe in their students.

Founded in 1976, AHSSI has grown to manage more than 100 individual scholarship accounts,

each one reflecting a donor’s deep connection to this community. Today, the organization awards

over 90 scholarships annually to graduating AHS seniors pursuing education through college, trade

school, apprenticeship, or other accredited or certified programs, distributing more than $350,000

each year.

That success has been organic, community-driven, and deeply rooted — which is exactly why it has

endured.

As AHSSI celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization is entering its most ambitious chapter

yet. With a strong investment portfolio and growing community support, AHSSI is ready to expand

its scholarship program beyond the first years of post-secondary education to support students

through their third and fourth years of college or trade school. This growth represents a meaningful

evolution in the organization’s mission.

About the Role

This is a founding executive role — an opportunity to be the first professional leader of an

organization with 50 years of community trust behind it and significant momentum ahead.

The Executive Director will serve as AHSSI’s chief executive and public face, taking over day-to-day

administrative responsibilities currently managed by office staff while assuming the

community-facing, strategic, and organizational leadership functions the volunteer board has carried

for decades.

Working closely with the board, the right candidate will be equally comfortable managing 100

scholarship accounts and representing AHSSI at a community event. They will be self-directed,

detail-oriented, and genuinely motivated by the opportunity to deepen AHSSI’s impact in Astoria.

Key Responsibilities

Executive & Strategic Functions

• Serve as AHSSI’s community representative, cultivating relationships with local residents,

donors, alumni, businesses, schools, and civic organizations

• Prepare board meeting agendas, materials, and minutes; facilitate communication among

Board Members

• Support board governance and committee coordination

• Consistent with Board direction, lead organizational communications including donor

outreach, community announcements, annual reports, and media relations

• Support the expansion of AHSSI’s scholarship program to assist students in their third and

fourth years of continuing education

• Lead new fund development efforts, engaging prospective donors and stewarding existing

fund holders to grow the organization’s scholarship reach

• Represent AHSSI’s mission and 50-year legacy as the organization enters a new phase of

visibility and growth

Administrative & Fund Management Functions

• Manage records and documentation for 100 individual scholarship accounts, ensuring

accuracy, compliance, and fidelity to donor intent

• Working with the AHS Administrative and Counseling departments, coordinate the annual

scholarship application and interview process; support the board and selection committee

during scholarship awards

• Organize and coordinate the AHSSI Awards Night event

• Process scholarship disbursements and maintain accurate financial records in coordination

with AHSSI’s accountant

• Respond to inquiries from donors, students, applicants, and the public in a timely and

professional manner

• Maintain and update organizational systems, databases, and digital platforms, including the

AHSSI website

• Support gift acknowledgment and donor recognition processes

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for a mission-driven leader who brings both professional capability and genuine

community commitment.

Qualifications

• Experience in administration, community relations, donor stewardship, or a related field

• Strong organizational and record-keeping skills; comfortable managing complex,

detail-oriented administrative systems

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent AHSSI

authentically to a wide range of audiences

• Self-directed work style with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently

• Demonstrated success building and sustaining relationships that increase community

involvement, donor engagement, and philanthropic support

• Proficiency in the administrative, financial, and governance functions necessary to support

organizational growth and long-term sustainability

• Genuine enthusiasm for educational access and for supporting Astoria’s students

Preferred, but Not Required

• Connection to Astoria, OR — whether through upbringing, professional history, family ties, or

deep familiarity with the region

• Experience with fund or endowment administration

• Familiarity with nonprofit financial practices

• Familiarity with nonprofit board requirements regarding ethics and conflict of interest

Compensation & Details

Type of Service: Full-time, exempt

Compensation: $65,000–$85,000 annually, commensurate with experience. AHSSI is open to

structuring compensation as salary with a benefits package, or as a higher base salary without

traditional benefits, whichever arrangement best serves the right candidate.

Location: On-site in Astoria, Oregon. AHSSI has a waterfront office in downtown Astoria.

Reports To: Board of Directors, Astoria High School Scholarships, Inc.

Coordinates With: AHSSI President at least twice per month.

Direct Reports: Existing Administrative Assistant.

Evaluation: One-year probationary period, followed by annual review.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: July 27, 2026

Submit online: www.astoriascholarshipfund.org/careers

For questions or to request more information, please contact ahssicareers@gmail.com.