Overview of the African Library Project
The mission of theAfrican Library Project is to improve literacy in sub-Saharan Africa by creating libraries where there is little or no reading material.
We are a grassroots organization that recruits and matches volunteer book drive organizers in the U.S. and Canada (often Scout troops, schools, bar and bat mitzvahs, churches, seniors, companies, families, and others) with rural schools in Africa through a network of local partners in Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Swaziland. The book drive organizers collect and pack 1000 gently-used children’s books and raise about $500 to cover the cost of shipment. We supplement their collections by purchasing books written for African readers on HIV/AIDs and other health topics appropriate to locales where there often is no trained medical help. We coordinate all of the international book shipping such that one shipping container, holding books for 30-60 libraries, arrives annually per schedule agreed upon with our African partners.
The African schools that apply to receive the books for a library must commit to provide space, shelving, staff, and a committee of local leaders dedicated to the long-term success of the library. Our African partners vet the school applications, receive and process the books at port of entry including paying all fees for customs clearance, distribute them to the schools, and train teacher-librarians at each site using our manual onHow to Set Up and Run a Small Library in Africa as their curriculum.
Biannually, we organize a Summit in Africa in one of the countries where we work, where all of our partners come to cross-fertilize best practices emerging in small library development, and inspire one another to ensure that our libraries are used and sustained. The African Library Project is truly a partnership organization.
Since its inception in 2005, the African Library Project has shipped 1.8 million books to start or expand 1,718 libraries in eleven countries giving over 1.7 million young people access to English-language books and the joy of reading. Inspired by our work, the governments of Botswana and Swaziland have added the goal of establishing libraries for all schools in their five-year plans. In 2015, we started or improved 310 libraries with our partners.
Through our book drives, we engage over 6500 people every year. Our current annual operating budget is $285,000.
Job Description
ALP is currently transitioning from a Founder-led, all-volunteer staff to a paid Executive Director managing a set of enthusiastic volunteers.
Reporting to a dynamic and engaged Board of Directors, who also act as volunteer staff, the Executive Director (ED) will collaborate with the Board on strategic planning and lead implementation and evaluation. Each year we expect to grow the number of libraries to which we supply books. Sourcing books and volunteers for this moderate growth along with a significant increase in fundraising required to support the new staffing model are two challenges that the new ED will face. Additional challenges include finding and vetting new African partners, strengthening our IT systems to support our growth, and recruiting, training, and managing volunteers to run an efficient and effective organization.
Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
Manage all day-to-day administration and work with the Board of Directors and volunteer staff to assure the effective execution of programs, events, and general operations.
Actively recruit, engage, train, and energize ALP volunteers to support U.S. based programs, events, and operational needs.
Help recruit, orient, and support a strong Board of Directors.
Update the board regularly regarding the relevant work of the organization. Attend all board meetings (monthly, on the Peninsula). Coordinate with the Board Chair to set the board agendas. Serve as an ex-officio member of each committee; seek and build board involvement with strategic input.
Be a voice of ALP (along with ALP Founder Chris Bradshaw) through media interviews, presentations, informational interviews, newsletter articles, and networking with other NGOs/funders/learning organizations.
Partnership with Board of Directors
Support the Board’s leadership and effectiveness.
Bring recommendations on issues or changes to programs, services, or operations to the Board for their consideration and decision making.
Build strong relationships with the Board of Directors and its Committees based on partnership, mutual trust, respect, and open communication.
Develop and presents the annual financial plan for Board approval.
Ensure the Board is kept informed of the status of ALP’s programs and finances.
Ensure the Board has complete and timely information to support its decision making.
Strategically support Board recruitment.
Fundraising
In concert with the ALP board, develop and execute a fundraising plan to support program growth and the addition of paid staff, if that is decided upon as a goal. Optimize current fundraising activities (e.g. individual donor efforts, direct email campaigns, grants, sponsorships, and special events) and develop ideas for new sources of funds.
Serve as primary owner of our current bi-annual Harambee! fundraiser event.
Develop and strengthen relationships with donor community.
Identify grant opportunities in alignment with ALP’s mission and collaborate with our grant writer as needed to submit and follow up on grants.
Marketing and Communication (MarCom)
Work with the MarCom team to develop comprehensive communications plans and strategies to promote awareness, appreciation, and support for ALP
Work with the MarCom team to produce marketing materials for ALP (including press releases, flyers, direct mail pieces, e-blasts, social media, ALP web presence on other sites, and website communication).
Work with the MarCom team to actively develop marketing strategies to solicit a growing number of book drive organizers in the U.S.
Responsible for developing and promoting the ALP brand.
Ensure that the ALP website and social media channels are regularly updated.
Operations
Work with Operations committee to ensure smooth operations including book drive-to-library matching, shipping and warehouse logistics, supplemental books ordering, etc.
Work with Tech committee to ensure technology platform continues to be adequate to support the ALP mission. These currently include Salesforce, QuickBooks, Joomla, MailChimp, Form Assembly, Flickr, and Survey Monkey tools.
African Partners and Programming
Serve as primary organizer of biannual ALP African Partners Summit for ALP partners from all countries and teacher librarians (of the host country). Travel to and lead the ALP African Partners Summit (in odd-numbered years).
Work with the African Partner Committee to vet and develop new African partnerships and create MOUs for those partnerships. Vetting new African partnerships may require travel to Africa, preferably in conjunction with attending the biannual ALP African Partners Summit.
Work with the African Partner Committee to maintain and improve relationships and processes with existing African partners.
Finance
Work with ALP Treasurer to propose and obtain board approval for the annual budget.
Approve all expenses and supervise purchasing consistent with approved budget and policies.
Ensure taxes are filed properly and issue annual 1099s and W-2s.
The job description may be modified depending upon a candidate’s skillset and interests.
Required Skills and Experience
Passion for advancing literacy and love of reading in sub-Saharan African countries
Leadership prowess in a growth-oriented, mostly volunteer organization
Ability to inspire others to invest time and resources in ALP
A skilled, proven fundraiser who can engage and inspire supporters at all levels
Management expertise in both human and financial resources
Energy and capacity to serve as an articulate, passionate, effective spokesperson to the public, board, U.S. volunteers and African partners.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with volunteers, Board of Directors, and African partners
Excellence in written and oral communications
5 years experience of senior leadership and management with an organization with an annual budget of at least $200,000
Tech savvy – able to use ALP’s current technology and adopt new technologies as needed.
Preferred Skills
First-hand understanding of African education methods and institutions
Networks and contacts with organizations, individuals, companies, and groups that might share and support ALP’s vision
Non-profit management experience
Education requirement: Bachelor of Arts or Science
How to apply
• Please email your cover letter and resume to search@africanlibraryproject.org
• No phone calls, please.
Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed as received; applications will be accepted until the position is filled.