Dear Friends of KIND,
I’m writing to let you know of a bittersweet decision I have made to offer my resignation as KIND’s Executive Director. KIND’s important work continues to evolve and I recognize the need for KIND’s leadership to evolve along with it, into its next iteration. My time at KIND will be drawing to a close in the coming months, as I prioritize time with my two very young children.
As key partners and advocates for KIND’s mission over the years, I wanted to provide you some detail to support a smooth and transparent transition process:
Estimated Timeline
- Now – 1/30/2025: New Executive Director (ED) Job Posting Open to Applicants.
- Please see and share the job posting here from Indeed.com.
- Now – February 2025: Candidate Screening, Interviews, Offer of Hire
- March -April 2026: New ED Onboarding with Current ED
- April – May 2025: New ED Takes the Reigns
New ED Search Details
- Search Committee: Current KIND board and staff + KIND’s long-time 3rd party consultant and expert nonprofit transition advisor, Hillary Frances of Flying Whale Strategies
- We have already realized a large, diverse candidate pool, yet are hopeful for community partnership in referring outstanding candidates to the job posting above.
- The ideal candidate description has been developed by board, staff, and stakeholders. It is best represented in the job posting above.
What You Can Expect from KIND Throughout the Leadership Transition
KIND’s board and leadership staff are committed to ensuring the following:
- Business as usual in 2025: KIND’s missional direction continues along its current path, with minimal change or disruption to our current services, programs, and staff team, as a new leader is onboarded.
- Continued partnership and collaboration: KIND will continue to prioritize collaborative, community-led models of care throughout and beyond a leadership transition.
- A Reimagining of Oral Health Care Delivery: Hiring new leadership that will build upon KIND’s legacy of missional innovation through demonstrated ability to guide stakeholder-informed strategic planning and execution, and exhibit a personal passion for increasing oral health outcomes and equity in our state, and beyond.
On a personal note: As I reflect on what we’ve achieved together for Colorado kids, and the exciting possibilities ahead for partnership with KIND, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for each of you. Thank you.
As KIND enters a new chapter, we acknowledge that change is a necessary and healthy part of growth, though not often easy. In this regard, I am full of hope, because if I know anything with certainty about the KIND team and board from my tenure here, it is that they are not afraid of “hard”. I know that they will continue to fiercely advocate for the needs of their communities and find new ways to serve, despite sometimes tragic and overwhelming challenges.
We have fondly come to recognize this internal resiliency as scrappiness. It has been one of the great honors of my life to guide this scrappy team of health equity warriors; and even more so, to learn from and be inspired by them, and by each of you. KIND is in good hands.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, thoughts, or ideas. I would love to hear from you.
-Ellie
P.S. If its been a minute since you connected with KIND or you simply need a smile today, here is an update in our latest annual report.
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