CEO

THE CHALLENGE + OPPORTUNITY

At VOW for Girls, we are driven by a powerful mission: to unlock millions in new funding for girls in order to end child marriage. Our objective is to mobilise massive, untapped revenue streams, which create global impact by enabling girls to choose the lives they want to live. 

This mission is urgent. Every three seconds, another girl becomes a child bride – a silent epidemic robbing millions of girls of their futures. Over 12 million girls are at risk this year alone.

Founded with a focus on mobilising the multi-billion dollar wedding industry for impactful fundraising, VOW's approach is built on a powerful insight: that if just one percent of the 4.5 million couples marrying annually in the US and Europe chose to partner with VOW and raise $1,000 at their celebration, it could unlock $45 million each year for girls. This compelling potential was at the heart of our founding.

Launched in 2018 by global human rights activist Mabel van Oranje and Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, VOW's model is distinct: we are an innovative fundraising organization dedicated to ending child marriage and empowering girls across the world. The funds we raise are expertly invested in community-led programs through our sister organisation, Girls First Fund, currently reaching 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Operating with a small, nimble team with deep expertise in marketing and mobilising resources in innovative ways, we maximize the impact of every dollar raised by empowering on-the-ground changemakers.  

The CEO role provides a pivotal opportunity for a visionary leader. Building on our success to date, VOW is entering an ambitious phase of innovation and growth. While our initial focus leveraged the power of weddings and celebrations, we are now refining and scaling our strategy to prioritize increasing income from engaged couples and the general public, while also exploring new, high-potential models to mobilise new resources for girls. Our goal is to build a scalable and sustainable funding engine that directly impacts the lives of millions of girls worldwide. Our early success demonstrates that our mission resonates and serves as a powerful example of the kind of high-potential avenues we will continue to test and scale.

THE ROLE

The CEO role with VOW presents an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, passionate, and strategic leader with an entrepreneurial spirit to steer this unique organization. VOW isn't a traditional NGO. We're a small startup focused on mobilizing resources and are ready to build on our initial proof-of-concept. The right candidate will help us scale what's working and explore new models to exponentially increase our impact on girls' lives.

This is a role for a visionary builder who sees the immense potential in unlocking millions more for girls and is eager to be at the helm of this next chapter of innovation and growth. In partnership with the Board, the CEO will develop, sharpen, and execute a strategic plan focused on refining and scaling our direct-to-consumer fundraising, particularly from engaged couples, and exploring new market-based models. This will convert mass-market interest into measurable, sustainable funding that helps to end child marriage and unleash the potential of girls.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The CEO will drive the organization's evolution, balancing day-to-day leadership with the urgent, creative work of designing VOW's future. This leader will be VOW's primary innovator, champion, and resource mobiliser.

• Develops and leads the implementation of VOW's nimble and evolving strategic vision, while solidifying our model to unlock even more funding for girls, which is deployed to effective community programs through our sister organisation, the Girls First Fund.
• Cultivates and articulates a compelling narrative for VOW, inspiring partners, donors, and the public to engage with the mission.
• Leads VOW with an entrepreneurial spirit, continually identifying new opportunities and approaches for growth and impact.
• Acts as the primary external representative of VOW, effectively communicating its mission and achievements to diverse audiences.

• Leads on VOW’s programmatic fundraising strategy, working in close collaboration with the fundraising team to raise millions of dollars in new funding for girls by:
• Developing and executing large-scale, creative marketing campaigns to mobilise resources from couples, the public, and corporate partners.
• Shaping and driving the overarching marketing, communications, and brand strategy to inspire donations and engagement from diverse audiences.
• Cultivating and managing a portfolio of strategic partnerships to create and scale sustainable funding streams.
• Ensures availability of operational funding. In partnership with the fundraising team, secures and stewards financial support for VOW's vital operations, growth, and day-to-day excellence.  
• Serves as VOW's primary spokesperson, deepening high-touch relationships with donors, PR contacts, and our Ambassadors by articulating VOW's strategic vision and ensuring clear communication on the impact of all contributions.

• Leads a lean and nimble, remote team of less than 10 people, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability crucial for VOW's continued growth.
• Ensures operational excellence across all aspects of VOW, including financial management, legal compliance, and human resources.
• Reports to and regularly collaborates with the Board of Directors on strategy, progress, and financial health.
• Together with the board chair, manages and develops the Board of Directors, leading efforts to enhance governance, fundraising, and strategic guidance.

• We are seeking an entrepreneurial leader with a true startup mentality who is energized by the opportunity to spearhead VOW’s next chapter. The ideal candidate is a "visionary doer" who thrives in ambiguity, is adept at both scaling proven strategies and exploring new, untested ideas, and is comfortable rolling up their sleeves to lead a small organization through a pivotal period of growth.

• A startup mentality – someone who dreams big, tests rapidly (in days and weeks, not months), and brings winning concepts to life, even when navigating the unknown.
• Proven success leading a small organization (<25 people) through a period of significant growth, innovation, and strategic evolution, with a track record of scaling impact and revenue.
• Proven experience and success in developing and scaling innovative mass-marketing campaigns, leveraging technology to reach diverse audiences, and building impactful brand and PR partnerships.
• Strong fundraising acumen, with demonstrated success in securing significant contributions from diverse audiences (e.g. digital campaigns, corporate partnerships, major donors).
• A genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, coupled with unwavering integrity and bold leadership.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, capable of inspiring diverse audiences.
• Strong financial literacy and experience managing budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and mentor small high-performing teams. Experience managing a remote team is a plus.
• Proven ability to partner with and develop an active, engaged board of directors to advance organizational goals.
• A passion for social impact, and an interest in gender equality and/or international development.

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent is welcome, but not required. We are most interested in your proven skills and a track record of entrepreneurial success.

• VOW offers a generous benefits package, including:
• 3 weeks of PTO in addition to 14 paid holidays, as well as personal and sick leave
• 100% medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and 50% for family
• 401K match of 1% that vests immediately
• 12 weeks paid parental leave (available after 6 months of employment)
• Home office setup stipend
• Funding for professional development opportunities 
• The ability to work from wherever in the U.S. is best for you
• Quarterly in-person gatherings of the full VOW team 

LOCATION

VOW for Girls is headquartered in New York City. The role is based in the United States with flexibility for candidates located in or near a major city and airport (Eastern Time Zone preferred). The position requires significant travel (30–50%), including occasional international travel.

DON’T MEET EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT?

We still encourage you to apply! Studies show that women, non-binary applicants, and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. However, at VOW for Girls, our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, identities, and talents help us thrive.

VOW is committed to racial equity and social justice and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We actively seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities to provide a wide range of perspectives, ideas, views, and insights into the strategy, policies, culture, and ambitions of VOW for Girls.