Executive Director

Ballinger | Leafblad is honored to partner with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) on the search for its next Executive Director.

AuSM was founded in 1971 by parents who wanted better school support for their autistic children. Today, as Minnesota’s First Autism Resource™, it serves autistic people of all ages through counseling, summer camps, education, advocacy, and community groups. Each year, AuSM serves more than 300 campers and 270 counseling clients. Autistic and neurodivergent people work on its staff and serve on its board, including in leadership.

For the first time in nearly a decade, AuSM is hiring a new Executive Director. Funding and disability policy are shifting, and the board has launched Reimagining AuSM to plan what comes next. AuSM also has a stable base: a $1 million multi-year grant supports counseling for Medicaid-insured clients through 2028. The next Executive Director will be AuSM’s lead fundraiser and public voice. They will build corporate and major-donor relationships, strengthen financial systems, and lead a neurodiverse team with support and clear expectations.

This is a hybrid role based in St. Paul, with at least two days a week on-site. The job includes evening and weekend events and statewide travel. Candidates must live in Minnesota or be willing to relocate.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of senior-level management experience, including leading people, budgets, and operations, nonprofit governance, strategic planning, and working with a board of directors

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, or a related field

• A proven track record in fundraising, including diversifying revenue and cultivating major donor, corporate, and foundation relationships

• Strong financial literacy, with the ability to manage complex operating budgets, ensure regulatory compliance, and use financial information to make decisions

• Exceptional ability to build and maintain trust-based partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders

• Deep understanding of the disability justice landscape and a commitment to neurodiversity-affirming leadership, accessibility, and inclusion

• A real connection to and knowledge of the autism or broader disability community. This leader cannot be new to the community, though the path to that connection can vary.

• Proven capacity for project management, overseeing multiple priorities, and implementing process improvements

• Exceptional public speaking, communication, and relationship-building skills

• Enterprise-wide leadership experience (CEO, Executive Director, President) preferred

• Experience in autism or disability organizations, including leading autistic, neurodivergent, or disabled staff, a plus

• Established relationships with potential supporters and partners across Minnesota, a plus

• Experience with Medicaid-reimbursed services or other earned-revenue programs, a plus

• Experience in public policy, advocacy, or coalition work, a plus

• Experience in marketing, communications, or storytelling for fundraising, a plus

• Experience building processes and infrastructure in a growing or changing organization, a plus

• Proficiency with Salesforce or other CRM platforms, a plus

• Master’s degree or comparable experience, a plus

INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY

AuSM values lived experience as a credential. It welcomes applicants whose careers include non-linear paths, employment gaps, or unconventional professional backgrounds. To request accommodations for the interview process, contact jen@ballingerleafblad.com.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range is $125,000–$140,000. Full benefits details are available in the position profile.

TO APPLY

Apply online here. A resume and cover letter are required. All inquiries are handled with strict confidentiality. Questions may be directed to Jen Hanlon Ash at jen@ballingerleafblad.com.

View the full position profile at https://www.ballingerleafblad.com/current-searches

Applications will be accepted through December 10, 2026, or until the position is filled. Review of materials begins immediately. We encourage early application.