Executive Director

About DI²

At the Democratizing Innovation Institute (DI²), we accelerate people launching real-world experiments to meet needs in their industries and communities, and for the planet. We democratize innovation – equipping organizations everywhere with the tools they need to promote bottom-up innovation and project-based learning, combined with the train-the-trainer methodology to make it happen. We support this with research and insights about what enables people to discover their powers, learn to use them, and connect with an alliance to bring them to the world. Which really means we unlock the potential of tens of thousands of hidden innovators by the end of the decade – and a million by 2035. This is no less than requisite to build systems that respond to their needs. 

The Opportunity

DI² is seeking a visionary, collaborative, hands-on Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and impact. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a bold and values-driven nonprofit changing who gets to shape the future.

As Executive Director, you’ll build new partnerships and bring our evolving tool kit and methodology to them and the people we serve. You’ll lead fundraising and business development; nurture a culture of trust, creativity, experimentation, and respect and collaboration across differences; and steward our work toward meaningful, measurable outcomes. You’ll work with the board and founders to create strategy and build an operation able to achieve our BHAG and make it normal for people facing broken systems to create experiments and build capacity to replace them. You’ll also promote thought leadership from within the global brain trust the institute represents, building awareness of the insights and practice innovations we develop through our experiments, research, and thinking. 

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Set and execute the organization’s long-term strategy in close collaboration with the Board of Directors and key advisors.
• Fundraising & Development: Lead fundraising efforts, grant writing, pitches, and proposal development and submission, cultivating relationships with mission-aligned funders, partners, and institutions.
• Program Impact: Oversee delivery and scaling of our tools, training programs, and innovation support initiatives. Ensure all offerings are rooted in DI²’s values and evidence-based approaches.
• Team Leadership & Culture: Foster a distributed, collaborative team culture that values transparency and reflection, and is equipped to achieve our goals.
• Operations & Financial Stewardship: Create systems needed for a new organization to succeed. Manage DI²’s financial health, operations, and compliance with clarity and accountability.
• Visibility & Advocacy: Represent DI² in public forums, media, and networks. Act as a thought leader in innovation for equity and civic empowerment.
• Partnership Building: Strengthen collaborations with nonprofits, community-based organizations, government bodies, and research institutions.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a leader who is as comfortable in visionary conversations as they are in day-to-day execution. Someone prepared to break wide open who gets to create the future on their terms, and leads with integrity, and brings both ambition and humility to the work.

Core Requirements

• The capacity to communicate compellingly, create buzz, and promote the thinking of the institute's brain trust, and advocate with a strong public presence
• The relationship-building skills to align major global people and organizations behind the institute’s mission and approach
• Deep alignment with DI²’s mission and values, and the capacity to bring it to a wide population by recruiting frontline organizations and building other key partnerships
• Entrepreneurial experience, including comfort with ambiguity and building something from the ground up, and experience drawing talent and resources to an emerging mission, and getting buy-in from key supporters
• Fundraising experience, including skill in lining up major funders and strength in writing proposals, securing grants, and financial management experience
• Skill in enabling a team of leaders, including founders of the institute and partner organizations, and the thinkers and tool creators in the institute’s brain trust and foundational alliance.

Preferred Experience

• Leadership experience in nonprofits, innovation ecosystems, social impact, or civic initiatives
• Familiarity with global, community-driven, or research-based contexts

Compensation and Scope

This position is ideal for someone who is prepared to dedicate themselves to building entrepreneurially from the ground up – and is in a position to work largely for future compensation. At least 30 hours per week commitment will be requisite, with a small base salary of $20,000 (scaled to cost of living where the ED is based) and more significant compensation as we raise funds successfully. 

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your application via LinkedIn or email us at info@democratizinginnovation.org.
• Priority will be given to applications received by September, 2nd 2025.
• For inquiries, contact us at info@democratizinginnovation.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.