St. Francis House is the largest day shelter in Massachusetts supporting people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, St. Francis House is open every single day, 365 days a year serving hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness. Their basic, rehabilitative, and housing services overlap and build on one another to provide their guests with continuous and comprehensive support.
Each year, more than 7,000 people cross St. Francis House's threshold and enter through its front doors. Many carry bags overstuffed with their only belongings; some clutch the wool blanket they were sleeping on just a couple of hours before. For others, the emotional and physical wounds of past and present trauma are less visible. There are many reasons why someone finds themself experiencing homelessness - domestic violence, childhood abuse, unemployment, chronic health conditions, mental health, and substance use disorders and, for everyone, a lack of affordable housing. Each person’s journey is uniquely their own and SFH recognizes that through its person-centered approach. From providing food and clothing to pathways to housing, all services are integrated and tailored to meet the needs of each unique person.
Regardless of the journey, SFH believes that homelessness is an experience, not an identity, and that recovery is possible for everyone.
St. Francis House is a nonsectarian registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They have been serving people experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984.
Leadership Spotlight:
Karen LaFrazia - President & CEO
KAREN LAFRAZIA
President & CEO
During her twenty-six years at St. Francis House, Karen LaFrazia has provided a guiding vision of growth for the agency and created a culture that fosters innovation and rewards creativity. Under her leadership, St. Francis House has grown to be a model of integrated programs and services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
In recent years, Ms. LaFrazia has led the expansion of St. Francis House’s permanent housing program to 102 units with the purchase of the former Boston Young Men’s Christian Union building at 48 Boylston Street in partnership with the Planning Office for Urban Affairs with another 126 units in production. The additional housing units bring much needed affordable housing in downtown Boston.
Ms. LaFrazia spearheaded the expansion of Next Step, the agency’s permanent supported housing program, and doubled the capacity of vocational rehabilitation services with the addition of individualized employment coaching in addition to the flagship Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program.
During her time at St. Francis House, Ms. LaFrazia played an integral role in the oversight of two successful Capital Campaigns and in 2019, launched the agency’s most ambitious philanthropic initiative, The Pathways Campaign, a $60 million dollar comprehensive philanthropic initiative to renovate the downtown shelter and expand behavioral health, employment, and housing services.
In 2008, Ms. LaFrazia was a recipient of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s Unsung Heroine Award, and in 2009 she was honored by the Boston University Alumni Association for “Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Social Work.” In 2012, she was the first recipient of HomeStart’s Partner Award.
Prior to joining St. Francis House, Ms. LaFrazia was the Statewide Director of Social Services with the Salvation Army in Massachusetts. She has also worked as a supervisor at a residential treatment facility for adolescents and was a founding member and president of the Somerville Homeless Coalition.
Ms. LaFrazia has a Bachelor’s degree in social work from Regis College and a Master’s degree in social work from Boston University. She also is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Regis College, in recognition of her commitment to social justice and service to ‘the dear neighbor’.
Guest Testimonials:
Steve Kelly
“I took advantage of everything St. Francis House had to offer, which was a lot. They helped me with housing, they helped me with my education, they helped me with food and clothing - basically all of my needs they helped me with, until I was able to fend for myself.”
“St Francis House has kept their word to me. They said they’d always have their door open, that they would help me. Everything they said they would do and be, they have done and have been. I wouldn’t be where I am today without St. Francis.”
“St. Francis has changed my life. I owe everything I have to St. Francis, because without them I would not be where I’m at, that I know. And I’m forever grateful for St. Francis House.”
Ursel H.
Ursel never had much of a chance. The sexual abuse began at 10. By 14, she had left home and landed where other girls like her found themselves in the early 1980s: the Combat Zone. Later on there were some good years in the next decade: her own apartment in Roxbury’s Academy homes; two children, and a job that she loved and was good at as a tenant organizer and later as a housing search specialist. But all this time Ursel was a self-described “functional addict”, - cocaine was her drug of choice.
And then an “angel” intervened. Despite Ursel’s protestations, her friend put her on a bus to go to a detox program, where a bed had just opened up. She completed detox and eventually heard about St. Francis House’s Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program (MAP) from another resident at her sober house.
Those things she wants out of life? She has accomplished many of them, beginning with repairing her relationship with her daughters, who now live with her. And she has meaningful work – as a case manager at a halfway house in Dorchester where every day she sees her younger self reflected in the faces of the women who live there. “I don’t want any of these women to go to the dark place I went to,” says Ursel. “I try to do for them what Chris at St. Francis House did for me the day I wanted to throw in the towel.”
Andrew M.
“I want to say one thing about homelessness: Homelessness is devastating. It’s devastating to the person, the family, the community… And for me, when I was homeless, it sometimes felt impossible – like I should just give up – I thought this CAN NOT GET ANY WORSE – but then it would.
Homelessness becomes almost like a full-time job. I can’t stress enough the importance of safe and stable housing.
Like so many others who end up at the front door of St. Francis House, I’ve been on quite a journey down this long and winding road called life – sometimes filled with pain and great challenges, but ultimately triumph.
Today, I have my own apartment and work as a housing specialist with Eliot Community Human Services, a human services agency – doing for others what St. Francis House did for me.
The Opportunity - Vice President of Philanthropy & External Affairs
St. Francis House is seeking a mission-driven, authentic, collaborative and motivating leader to serve as Vice President of Philanthropy & External Affairs. This seasoned fundraising leader will be a strategic partner to the CEO, the Executive Team and the board and will advance a development and marketing team, elevating all areas of best practice, engagement and innovation. The VP will be a nimble and empowering manager who thrives in a fast-paced and values-driven culture and who will also bring a commitment to building strong internal relationships with program leadership and colleagues across the organization.
The Vice President of Philanthropy & External Affairs will have the opportunity to advance an agency-wide culture of philanthropy and rebuild a high-performing development team. As a member of the Executive Team, the VP will play a role in defining the strategic direction of SFH and will be inspired to be engaged in overarching organizational goals and programs.
The successful candidate will consider themselves a “servant leader”, will be a supportive manager who holds themselves and their team accountable, and will prioritize collaboration, transparency and communication. This is an exciting opportunity for a non-profit leader inspired to make a tangible difference in the lives of Boston’s most vulnerable population.
Key Responsibilities:
Develop and implement strategies to build on St. Francis House’s highly successful fundraising track record by ensuring diverse revenue streams, including individual major gifts, foundations and corporations, annual fund, planned giving, events and all fundraising opportunities, as appropriate.
Oversee the creation of the annual development and marketing department plan of work that will optimize brand development and drive fundraising growth year-over-year. The plan will include fundraising goals, metrics, donor engagement, and next generation funding.
Develop and meet short- and long-term fundraising goals, based on the organization's plans and revenue needs, in concert with executive leadership.
In partnership with the finance department and other executive staff, provide revenue projections to support the annual organizational budget as well as develop and manage the departmental budget.
Guide and mobilize the CEO and Board of Directors as funding influencers, drawing out their individual abilities to be fundraising ambassadors engaging with external investors.
Serve as a member of SFH's Executive Team helping to develop long term strategies for growth and make organizational decisions at the highest level.
Invest in, educate and develop talent and skills within the department and advance a values-driven culture -that positions SFH for success
Nurture and build a sustainable future for the organization by engaging with the Board of Directors, leading the Development Committee, and serving on the Marketing, Governance, and Finance Committees.
Leverage and expand opportunities for the Board to fully engage in philanthropic activities to increase unrestricted resources to support innovative program expansion.
Generate increased revenue from both existing donors as well as maintaining and growing a robust pipeline of prospective donors.
Lead and monitor donor database usage, departmental metrics, and impact areas for applications and reporting.
Actively manage a select portfolio of SFH’s highest net worth individuals including members of the Board of Directors.
Partner with senior colleagues and team leaders to ensure consistent application of SFH’s messaging in all communications.
Serve as one of SFH’s spokespeople in one-on-one meetings, media opportunities, and more.
Ensure timely delivery of impact and financial reports to partners and funders.
Key Skills:
Commitment to high-quality supervision and staff support that provides appropriate recognition and constructive feedback, ensures clarity, fosters professional development, and ensures accountability.
Highly collaborative and excited about working in teams to deliver on a larger agency-wide vision.
Proven ability to both give and receive feedback, to build consensus among team members, and to recognize and capitalize on individual and collective strengths.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them with appropriate.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Ability to function well in a fast-paced and stressful environment.
Basic understanding of and commitment to taking a person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed approach.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Familiarity with and ability to interact with fundraising CRM.
Qualifications:
Demonstrated success in setting and executing a best-in-practice, comprehensive fundraising and marketing strategy.
Demonstrated interest in SFH's social justice mission.
Creative thinker with an understanding and command of best practices and entrepreneurial ideas.
Minimum 10 years of progressive development experience, including strategic direction, team leadership, and board relations.
Demonstrated success building philanthropic relationships and/or revenue partnerships and securing gifts at 6- and 7- figure levels.
Experience leveraging corporate, foundation, and institutional relationships to access new sources of support.
Proven ability to engage stakeholders in volunteer leadership and philanthropy.
Experience managing a team of development and marketing staff, including hiring and retaining high-performing fundraisers.
Strong management skills that include the ability to motivate, influence, and hold staff accountable to high standards and goals.
Experience building donor base from non-built-in constituency.
Familiarity with Boston’s philanthropic community preferred.
Understanding of trauma-informed care and experience working in a social service organization is preferred but not required.
St. Francis House is entering the final year of its Pathways Campaign, having achieved $57.2M of its $60M goal. Approximately 80% of philanthropy has come from individual donors and 20% from foundations and corporations. SFH is proud of two transformative gifts of $9.5M and $4M.
Campaign resources will support current programming, new and enhanced programming and capital improvements. For more details, please see the Case for Support document (attached).
Annually, philanthropy has grown from $6.6M in FY 18 to $16.6M in FY 23. During the pandemic, philanthropy to St. Francis House surged and engages 14,000-18,000 donors annually.
St. Francis House has an endowment of $380,000.
SFH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where all staff can reach their fullest potential. SFH welcomes – everyone who have lived experience of homelessness and/or recovery, and those who have faced historic barriers to competitive employment, in particular Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and those who are multi-lingual or multi-cultural and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these duties.
Applications & Nominations
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
Contact Information:
To explore this opportunity further, please send your resume in confidence to:
Wendy Wilsker has dedicated her entire career to the non-profit sector, serving in leadership roles within charitable organizations and working alongside them as an executive recruiter and consultant. She excels at identifying the unique challenges and opportunities non-profits face, and partners with senior leadership to build successful organizational structures, teams and advancement programs.
Lisa Vuona has decades of experience in executive search and human resource management, primarily in the non-profit, healthcare and education sectors. She is distinguished by her track record and network, and by her approach, which combines the strategic power of data with a finely tuned ability to understand the client’s organization and identify high-caliber leaders who fit the culture.
St. Francis House, Boston - Case for Support (PDF)
