Executive Director

Helping Hearts is a newly launched national nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring dignity and connection to those carrying unattended grief. Founded by David Kessler, Helping Hearts was created to address the critical gaps in grief support that private-sector models cannot fill, including volunteer mobilization, policy advocacy, conferences, scholarships, and community-based healing initiatives. Helping Hearts will focus on advocacy for grieving families, grief education and workforce development, volunteer training, community-building through conferences, scholarship programs, and direct grief support services.

Helping Hearts exists to restore dignity and connection to those carrying unattended grief by providing compassionate support, educating communities in grief care, and advocating for the rights of children and families affected by death. The organization envisions a compassionate world where every loss is honored, every griever is seen, and no heart heals alone

Headquartered in Los Angeles (Studio City), Helping Hearts is designed to be a national organization, with leadership based in Los Angeles.

The Executive Director (ED) is the founding operational leader of Helping Hearts. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working in close partnership with Founder David Kessler, the ED will build the organization’s infrastructure, operational systems, and early program strategy from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to shape a national nonprofit at inception. The ED must be entrepreneurial, operationally strong, and comfortable creating organizational structures. The ED will establish policies, systems, governance practices, and staffing plans while collaborating with the Founder and Board to prioritize early program initiatives.

The ideal candidate is both a builder and a strategist, someone who thrives in startup environments, brings strong nonprofit governance and compliance expertise, and can translate vision into operational reality. The ED must demonstrate sensitivity to grief and loss while maintaining professional boundaries and leadership focus.

This role requires an external-facing leader capable of cultivating partnerships and strengthening philanthropic relationships. The ED must be comfortable supporting the development strategy and engaging aligned funders and collaborators in partnership with the Founder and Board.

Foundational Leadership & Organizational Build

Serve as the first full-time executive leader, building Helping Hearts’ operational foundation from inception.

Establish organizational policies, procedures, governance systems, and compliance infrastructure.

Develop and implement a phased initial strategic plan aligned with the organization’s mission and early growth goals.

Partner closely with the Founder and Board to clarify priorities, decision-making frameworks, and role boundaries.

Build initial staffing structure and oversee future hiring as growth allows.

Strategic Planning & Program Launch

Evaluate and prioritize early program offerings, including grief education, volunteer training, conferences, advocacy initiatives, and pilot direct support services.

Develop implementation timelines and operational plans for launch within the first six months.

Establish evaluation and quality assurance frameworks to inform scalability and long-term sustainability.

Explore feasibility and phased development of a grief support hotline.

Financial Management & Growth

Oversee financial management of initial funding and build multi-year financial projections.

Ensure strong fiscal controls, reporting systems, and nonprofit compliance.

Support development of diversified revenue streams in partnership with the Founder and Board.

Engage aligned institutional funders and philanthropic partners to support early program growth.

External Relations & Advocacy

Represent Helping Hearts as a credible national voice in grief care, advocacy, and community education.

Cultivate partnerships with schools, legal aid organizations, policymakers, and community-based organizations.

Advance key advocacy priorities, including equitable access to survivor benefits and systemic support for bereaved children.

Support development of honorary board engagement and public-facing visibility strategies.

Board & Founder Partnership

Maintain strong, transparent communication with the Board of Directors.

Partner with the Founder in aligning organizational vision, public positioning, and strategic priorities.

Prepare board materials, financial reports, and strategic updates.

Support board development, including recruitment of additional members.

A minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible nonprofit leadership experience.

Demonstrated experience building or leading organizations, programs, or departments in early-stage or growth environments.

Strong knowledge of nonprofit governance, compliance, financial oversight, and infrastructure development.

Proven ability to establish systems, processes, and operational frameworks from inception.

Experience collaborating with founders or visionary leaders in mission-driven environments.

Demonstrated success in partnership development and external relationship management.

Fundraising experience is valued.

Sensitivity to grief and loss, with professional maturity.

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, public administration, social work, public policy, or related field preferred.

Los Angeles–based candidates strongly preferred; national candidates considered for exceptional fit.