Summary
Description
Chief Executive Officer
About Covenant House California
Covenant House California (CHC) is a nonprofit organization serving young people ages 18–24 who are overcoming homelessness and human trafficking by providing sanctuary and comprehensive supportive services. CHC is deeply committed to meeting young people where they are and walking alongside them toward stability, healing, and independence.
California is home to nearly one-third of all young people experiencing homelessness in the United States, with an estimated 12,000 youth unhoused on any given night. CHC is well positioned to help address this crisis through a bold vision and holistic approach that centers the dignity, strengths, and potential of young people. By serving a diverse population and influencing systems and policy at the statewide level, CHC delivers high-quality, youth-centered services while continuing to expand its reach and impact across California.
Covenant House California provides sanctuary and support by addressing homelessness when it begins – when hope and possibility are still strong. The organization empowers young people to harness their own strengths so they can leave homelessness behind for good. As an affiliate of Covenant House International (CHI), the largest primarily privately funded charity in North and Central America serving young people experiencing homelessness and survivors of trafficking, CHC is part of a proven model with more than 50 years of impact across over 30 cities in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Grounded in the belief that no young person deserves to be homeless, CHC ensures that young people in California have access to shelter, food, clothing, education, and – most importantly – love, opportunity, and a path forward. CHC ensures shelter, love, and opportunity for California's young people through:
Immediacy
Covenant House immediately meets the basic needs of youth experiencing homelessness
through a nourishing meal, a shower, clean clothes, medical attention, and a safe place to sleep.
Sanctuary
Covenant House provides a safe haven from the hardships of homelessness. We recognize
the fundamental worth of every human being and create a safe setting where all youth – regardless of life experience or identity – are served without judgement.
Value Communication
Covenant House leads by example to demonstrate that
caring relationships are based on love, trust, respect, and honesty.
Structure
Covenant House provides the stability and structure necessary to build a positive future.
Choice
Covenant House fosters confidence; encouraging young people to believe in themselves and make informed choices for their lives.Today, Covenant House California serves more than 1,340 young people annually through the work of approximately 190 highly committed team members across sites in Southern California (Los Angeles and Anaheim) and Northern California (Oakland, Santa Clara, and Hayward), with an annual operating budget of $25 million. CHC's doors are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the past year, the organization reached 1,340 young people through its core programs and services, all provided at no cost to those served.
CHC takes a comprehensive approach to addressing youth homelessness, offering far more than shelter alone. Its signature housing programs are complemented by a robust suite of supportive services, including medical and mental health care, educational support, and pathways to employment. These services are designed to ensure that a young person's experience with homelessness is brief and nonrecurring. Across all sites, CHC strives to deliver a full continuum of care, either directly or through strong referral networks and partnerships. Multidisciplinary teams work collaboratively to create safe, inclusive, and outcomes-based environments that support young people in achieving lasting stability and independence.
Learn more about CHC at www.covenanthousecalifornia.org.
Current Landscape of Covenant House California
Covenant House California stands at a defining moment shaped by extraordinary scale, deep mission, and the power to change the trajectory of young lives across the state. As one of the largest entities in the Covenant House International federation, the organization operates with meaningful autonomy while benefiting from a global network of shared learning, best practices, and national leadership. Over the past decade, Covenant House California has experienced significant growth, expanding sites, beds, and services statewide and completing major capital investments that will soon open new doors for more young people. Having completed much of this critical work, the organization is ready to shape its next chapter, deepening cohesion and advancing long-term impact across California.
At the same time, CHC is navigating a complex and dynamic environment that calls for visionary, values-driven leadership. The organization benefits from a strong and talented executive leadership team, a respected reputation as a leader in youth homelessness, and a balanced public and private funding model, while also facing external funding uncertainty, ongoing organizational development, and the challenges of operating a multi-site statewide enterprise. Deeply community-centered, CHC is defined by a culture of love, accountability, and belonging, where staff show up every day to create safe and healing spaces for young people to rebuild trust and move toward independence. The next CEO will be called to honor this legacy while strengthening alignment, reinforcing consistent practices, supporting healthy accountability, and ensuring that staff across all sites feel connected to a shared purpose.
For a leader inspired by service, impact, and transformation, this role offers a rare opportunity to steward a deeply trusted organization into its next era and expand its impact for young people across California.
Leadership Opportunity
The next CEO of Covenant House California will lead through presence, purpose, and trust. With strong leadership in place across core functions, the CEO can focus on setting vision and direction, nurturing culture, and strengthening connection across the organization. An essential early priority will be to listen deeply and learn intentionally by spending time with staff, young people, and partners across sites, building an authentic understanding of the organization's heartbeat, history, and values. This role calls for a leader who is visible, kind, and genuinely relational, someone who finds meaning in walking alongside young people and staff while also bringing the sophistication required to guide a complex, statewide organization into its next stage of growth and evolution.
The CEO will serve as CHC's chief ambassador, inspiring confidence and shared purpose among staff, Board members, donors, and the broader community. Fundraising is central to the role and requires a leader with presence and energy, someone who draws people in and builds lasting relationships with major donors and funders. Equally important is a deep commitment to developing, mentoring, and retaining a diverse staff, investing in systems, learning, and leadership growth that allow people to thrive.
With programs spanning the state, the CEO must be comfortable traveling, maintaining a strong presence in Los Angeles and Orange County while building authentic connection in Northern California. Grounded in integrity and values, this leader will bring a clear understanding of how systemic inequities shape the lives of young people, particularly those from communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community. The CEO is a thoughtful visionary and steward who strengthens what is working, empowers others to lead, navigates alignment with Covenant House International, and keeps the well-being and potential of young people at the center of every decision.
Candidate Profile
The next CEO of Covenant House California will bring the clarity, discipline, and courage to define where CHC is going and how it will get there, aligning people, resources, and systems around shared priorities. The following leadership competencies reflect what it will take to inspire people, secure resources, and strengthen CHC's impact as part of a broader national movement to end youth homelessness.
Deep, Unmistakable Commitment to the CHC Mission and to Young People
The CEO must bring a deep, unmistakable commitment to the CHC mission and to the young people it serves, leading with heart, humility, and purpose. The mission is central to how this leader shows up, makes decisions, and sets strategy. Their vision for CHC is rooted first and foremost in the lived experiences, needs, and potential of young people, ensuring strategy never drifts from mission. This leader understands the realities young people face, including trauma, marginalization, and resilience, and leads with an equity-centered, trauma-informed approach rooted in dignity and respect. Comfortable in shelters and residential programs, they are present with youth and frontline staff and able to connect day-to-day realities to long-term vision and impact. They will lead without a savior complex and earn trust through authenticity, consistency, and genuine care for young people, staff, and partners.
Visionary, Strategic Leader with the Ability to Execute
CHC's next CEO is a visionary, strategic leader who defines a clear, compelling direction and carries it forward across a complex statewide organization. Looking beyond day-to-day operations, they identify emerging opportunities, risks, and long-term priorities while ensuring strategy remains grounded, realistic, and executable. They translate vision into action by setting disciplined priorities, making thoughtful tradeoffs, and aligning sites, functions, and teams. Communicating with clarity and confidence, they help staff, Board members, donors, and partners understand both where CHC is headed and their role in getting there, while using data, outcomes, and feedback to drive accountability, course correct as needed and strengthen impact over time.
Situational, Adaptive Leadership Across a Statewide Organization
CHC's statewide footprint and federated structure require a situational, adaptive leader who leads with flexibility, discernment, and calm authority across diverse sites, cultures, and stages of growth. This CEO recognizes each site's distinct rhythm and context, adjusting leadership accordingly while maintaining alignment with shared values, standards, and expectations. They hold a unified statewide vision while allowing for local expression, ensuring consistent outcomes without a one-size-fits-all approach. As a coach and mentor, they empower strong leaders, invest in emerging talent, and build organizational capacity through people, systems, and culture rather than personal control. Working in close partnership with Covenant House International, they balance local autonomy with collective accountability to strengthen impact across the network.
Transformational Fundraiser and External Ambassador
The CEO is a transformational fundraiser and CHC's primary external ambassador, responsible for securing the resources needed to sustain and grow the mission. They articulate a compelling, youth-centered vision that inspires confidence and investment, connecting donors and partners to both immediate impact and long-term change. Comfortable devoting 60% of their time to fundraising and external engagement, they bring a relationship-driven, non-transactional approach and are confident in cultivating and soliciting major and transformational gifts. Partnering closely with the Chief Development Officer to engage in communications, PR, and leveraging the strength of the Covenant House International federation, they represent CHC as part of a broader movement to end youth homelessness, engaging donors, public leaders, and national partners with credibility and purpose.
People-First, Trauma-Informed Culture Builder
As a people-first, trauma-informed culture builder, the CEO fosters an environment of trust, care, accountability, and belonging, understanding culture as a strategic asset essential to sustainable impact. Deeply personable, emotionally intelligent, and accessible, they lead with kindness, confidence, and steadiness, helping staff and young people feel supported through growth, change, and uncertainty. They prioritize staff wellness, development, and retention, recognizing the connection between employee wellbeing and frontline impact, and align culture with CHC values by balancing shared standards with respect for site-level differences, holding people accountable in ways that reinforce equity, dignity, and shared responsibility.
Strong Board Partner and Governance Leader
The CEO is a strong Board partner and governance leader, building a close, productive relationship with the Board Chair and trustees to strengthen Board effectiveness. They empower the Board as strategic thought partners by clearly communicating CHC's vision, priorities, and progress, creating the conditions for thoughtful, forward-looking governance. Bringing intention, transparency, and follow-through to Board development and engagement, they help trustees understand and embrace their role within a federated organization, aligning governance, fundraising, and accountability with both local and national expectations. By clarifying roles, expectations, and shared responsibility, they enable the Board to operate cohesively and strategically, positioning CHC for sustained impact as a trusted leader within the Covenant House International network.
Operationally Grounded, Policy-Savvy Executive Leader
The CEO brings operationally grounded, policy-savvy leadership, ensuring vision is supported by strong infrastructure, sound financial stewardship, and effective systems within a complex, regulated environment. With strong executive judgment, ideally informed by experience in residential or direct-care settings, they anticipate challenges and mitigate risks before they escalate. Fluent in federal, state, county, and city funding and policy environments, they remain attentive to regulatory and compliance requirements and, in partnership with Covenant House International, uphold federation standards while strengthening systems, sharing best practices, and ensuring quality, consistency, and long-term organizational health across all sites.
Key Responsibilities
People and Culture
· Build, inspire, lead, and support effective teams at all levels across all sites, from a talented, mission-aligned, and effective executive leadership team to committed, well-equipped front-line staff
· In close partnership with the Senior Vice President, People and Culture, create and maintain an inclusive culture of trust, accountability, and transparency that reflects CHC's Values and prioritizes the dignity, voice, and agency of the young people served
· Build and maintain an organizational culture that celebrates the richness of the human experience and encompasses a variety of backgrounds, identities, and perspectives where everyone can participate and contribute to the attainment of the mission
· Lead the recruitment and coaching of team members, providing opportunities for staff's professional development
· Partner with Covenant House CEOs across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America to share best practice and expertise
Programs and Services
· Serve and engage thoughtfully with youth experiencing homelessness, trauma, and/or hardship across the state of California demonstrating absolute respect and unconditional love
· In close partnership with the Chief Program Officer and regional Senior Vice Presidents, Programs, lead, provide strategic direction to, and support CHC's programs and services
· Ensure the highest standards of care, safety, and effectiveness in CHC programs, aligned with and as a champion of CHI's Program Model
· Ensure that programs and services keep youth safe, continuously improving outcomes for youth, and advance the mission to end youth homelessness
Fundraising
· Foster long-term engagement and financial support of CHC's mission and growth across the state as chief fundraiser
· Provide strategic direction to and support the fundraising team, ensuring that fundraising goals are achieved
· In close partnership with the Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President, Strategy and Administration; personally engage with major donors, key stakeholders, and potential funding partners to cultivate and steward donors
· Cultivate funds from both public and private sources and utilize financing to contribute to CHC's revenue portfolio
· Nurture the Board's involvement leveraging their networks, expertise, and resources to support fundraising goals
· Collaborate with CHI to promote and jointly implement fundraising efforts that will sustain and grow CHC's programs
Governance
· Ensure CHC has efficient and effective governance systems, including a strong and engaged Board of Directors, and is transparent and receptive to oversight and governance by the Board and CHI
· Partner with the Board of Directors to execute on the organization's existing strategic plan and, at the appropriate time, craft a new plan with deep responsiveness to youth needs that builds on CHC's work across the state
· Maintain and develop effective systems to institutionalize performance management and data-informed decision making; optimize financial processes; and enhance information technology performance
Finances
· In close partnership with the Chief Operating and Finance Officer (COFO), understand and manage CHC's finances across revenue and expenses; budget and actuals; profit and loss; cash flow; assets and liabilities; and short -and long-term projections and planning and empower others to understand, work within, and develop budgets annually
· In close partnership with the COFO and CHI's Senior Vice President, Housing and Development, oversee management of capital improvement projects
· Ensure CHC maintains financial stability and strength and avoids deficits
· Safeguard, verify, and maintain the accountability of CHC's assets and oversee the formation of the annual budget, in partnership with the COFO
· Report successes and challenges in a way that fosters trust and collaboration
External Relations and Advocacy
· Represent CHC in the media, with funders, and in public policy settings to elevate the voices of youth and secure critical partnerships
· Serve as a compelling spokesperson for CHC's vision, strategy, and programs among staff, volunteers, donors, key stakeholders, and the community at large
· Serve as CHC's primary ambassador within the broader California community
· Develop and nurture relationships with key government officials, donors, and external constituencies that further CHC's mission
· Support CHC's advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $300,000 – $330,000 with a generous benefits package.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at CHC_CEO@dsgco.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Covenant House California is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's https://www.dsgco.com/industry/nonprofit-and-social-impact/">website.
To apply, visit: https://www.dsgco.com/search/22845-chc-ceo/
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