Executive Director

Job Description

Position: Executive Director

Company: Borderless Magazine NFP

Manager: Board of Directors

Status: Full-Time Exempt Employee

Location: Chicago with hybrid remote and in-person work, travel required

Compensation: $120,000 to $135,000 depending on experience, plus benefits

Application Due Date: Rolling

Approximate Start Date: June 15, 2026

Website: www.borderlessmag.org

Borderless Magazine is an award-winning, bilingual online news outlet that is reimagining immigration journalism for a more just and equitable future. Founded as a rapid-response media project in February 2017, Borderless has evolved into a nationally recognized, nonpartisan nonprofit organization that reports with and for Chicago’s diverse immigrant communities. 

Our history is rooted in the needs of our community, created by people who saw misinformation, fear, and harmful narratives shaping public life and refused to accept the status quo. That origin continues to guide our work: We report stories that honor immigrant expertise, illuminate injustice, and keep the public informed about issues that matter to Chicago’s future. Find out more at www.borderlessmag.org.

Position Overview

Borderless Magazine seeks a passionate, experienced, and visionary leader to join our team as Executive Director.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a financially sound organization with an experienced team, at a time when independent journalism focused on immigrant communities has never been more vital. The ideal candidate will help Borderless continue to build on these strengths and expand its presence and profile, both in Chicago and beyond.  

The Executive Director must uphold the highest ethical standards and embody Borderless Magazine's core values in all aspects of leadership — approaching work with humility and respect for human dignity, centering immigrant communities, demonstrating resilience, reporting fearlessly, and advancing equity. 

What You Would Be Doing

Organizational Leadership & Vision

• Work with the Board of Directors and staff to implement the 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and ensure the organization is achieving high impact

• In collaboration with the board and staff, ensure that the long-term vision for Borderless is clear and aligned with the organization's mission

• Inspire and guide the team, addressing both internal and external issues swiftly and effectively

• Model and promote the organization's values and culture, setting a high standard for ethical and effective behavior

• Report regularly to the Board of Directors with updates on budgeting, fundraising, staffing, and operations

Fundraising & Revenue Development

• Work closely with the Chief Development Officer, Finance and Admin Director, and the board to ensure all fundraising goals are met 

• Personally cultivate relationships with major individual donors, foundation leaders, and corporate partners

• Support the development team in opening up new revenue streams and inspiring current and potential donors to support Borderless’ future vision

Operations & Infrastructure

• Work closely with the board and the Finance and Admin Director to ensure compliance with all nonprofit regulations, tax laws, and employment laws

• Review and approve all contracts, legal matters, insurance coverage, and major expenditures

• Partner with the Finance and Admin Director and Board Treasurer to lead the organizational budgeting process and audit, and to ensure ongoing fiscal health and transparency

• Ensure overall organizational capacity meets current and future needs

• Hire and develop diverse teams and implement inclusive practices that reflect and honor the immigrant communities we serve

External Relations & Representation

• Act as a passionate advocate and evangelist for Borderless Magazine's mission and impact

• Champion the critical journalism Borderless produces through frequent media appearances, thought leadership, and public speaking

• Grow the organization's reputation as a national leader in community-driven journalism

• Keep the organization connected to trends, opportunities, and developments in journalism and immigrant communities

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships to grow revenue and brand awareness

Qualifications of our Ideal Candidate

• At least five years of management or leadership experience at a news or nonprofit organization

• Successful track record in nonprofit fundraising and public speaking

• Outstanding communication skills, including proven ability to handle challenging conversations with nuance and tact 

• Excellent organizational skills with proven ability to juggle multiple projects and responsibilities at once

• A confident and compassionate demeanor, able to connect and work collaboratively with diverse staff, funders, and partners

• Strong understanding of the journalism industry, including the business of journalism and the core principles of reporting and editing

• Strong understanding of how to run a nonprofit organization, including fundraising, managing an organizational budget, and working with a board of directors

We recognize that some strong candidates may not possess all the skills listed here, or may have other important skills that we haven’t listed. If that’s you, please apply and tell us about yourself and why you’d make a strong candidate for this role!

Key Attributes & Approach

• Spirit of possibilities: You firmly believe that we can do things we've never done before and can stretch ourselves to achieve incredible results. You maintain an optimistic outlook and always look for ways to make ideas work before assuming they won't.

• Strategist's mind: You quickly grasp the subtleties of complex issues and identify patterns in challenges. You don't stop at diagnosing problems; you come up with insightful, pragmatic, equitable, and sustainable ways to produce positive change.

• Coaching and modeling: You make it your mission to develop others. You delegate skillfully and take the time to offer useful and actionable feedback. Because you lead by example (with our values as your north star), you inspire and motivate others to take action and meet goals. You hold the team accountable in ways that foster growth in individuals and our impact, and ensure that people feel appreciated.

• Highly driven and compassionate: You can motivate and support a growing team in this multifaceted role.

Success Metrics

Performance in this role will be evaluated based on:

• Achievement of annual fundraising goals and diversification of revenue streams

• Successful execution of strategic plan milestones and organizational growth objectives

• Staff retention, satisfaction, and professional development outcomes

• Financial health indicators, including budget management and reserves growth

• Demonstrated impact metrics from program evaluation and community reach

• Strength of community partnerships and stakeholder relationships

Time Expectations

Borderless Magazine operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The majority of the Executive Director’s work will occur during these hours; however, the director will occasionally need to work evenings or weekends to meet with partners, attend events, or address urgent matters. Out-of-state travel is required approximately six times per year.

Location

The Executive Director must live in the Chicago area. We will consider non-Chicago candidates if they are willing to relocate to Chicago. The Executive Director will be expected to work in person at Borderless’ office in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood at least twice a week.

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $120,000 to $135,000, depending on experience. This is a good-faith estimate of what we anticipate offering for this position. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishments, and location. Borderless is committed to paying its staff equitably.

Benefits

• Subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance for themselves and their spouse/children

• 25 days of vacation accrued per year

• 10 days of sick/mental wellness days

• 10 paid holidays plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s off

• Six weeks of paid family leave, plus additional subsidized leave available through short-term disability insurance

• The opportunity to invest in Borderless’ 403(b) retirement plan

• A one-month paid sabbatical for personal enrichment after working full-time at Borderless for five years

Borderless Magazine's Core Values

People-Centered: We approach our coworkers and the people we interview, train, and mentor with humility and an appreciation of their innate human dignity. We never deceive each other or the people who entrust us with their stories.

Community First: We are deeply connected to immigrant community members. We prioritize the expertise, desires, and needs of immigrants and those who care about them.

Resilience: We see strength and power in each other and uplift one another in everything we do. We see suffering in the world, but find ways to take care of each other — and ourselves — as we serve our community.

Fearlessness: We bravely report the truth of our communities. We are not beholden to political or financial interests. We hold ourselves and others accountable as we help build a more just future.

Equity: We strive to create spaces and opportunities for people who do not traditionally have power or a platform in the journalism industry, particularly BIPOC and immigrant community members.

How to Apply:

• Send us your resume

• Answer the following questions:

1) Why do you want to be Borderless Magazine’s executive director? We know that if you are applying, you believe in and support Borderless Magazine’s mission. Please use this space to share a bit more about what draws you to this work and how you would approach leading and fundraising for an immigration-focused news organization.

2) Please provide one example of your fundraising experience. How much money was raised, and what was the approach to building community support? Use this answer to share with us how you work and think.

3) Please provide one example of a time you navigated stakeholder pressure, reputational risk, or political sensitivity (in journalism or a mission-driven organization). Use this answer to share with us how you work and think.

4) Anything else: What else do we need to know about you and your hopes for this position that can't be contained in your above answers and resume?

We will review applications as we receive them, and will consider candidates as long as the posting remains live on our site. 

Questions? Send an email to board@borderlessmag.org. No phone calls, please.

Job Requirements

Qualifications of our Ideal Candidate

• At least five years of management or leadership experience at a news or nonprofit organization

• Successful track record in nonprofit fundraising and public speaking

• Outstanding communication skills, including proven ability to handle challenging conversations with nuance and tact 

• Excellent organizational skills with proven ability to juggle multiple projects and responsibilities at once

• A confident and compassionate demeanor, able to connect and work collaboratively with diverse staff, funders, and partners

• Strong understanding of the journalism industry, including the business of journalism and the core principles of reporting and editing

• Strong understanding of how to run a nonprofit organization, including fundraising, managing an organizational budget, and working with a board of directors

We recognize that some strong candidates may not possess all the skills listed here, or may have other important skills that we haven’t listed. If that’s you, please apply and tell us about yourself and why you’d make a strong candidate for this role!

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