Executive Director

The Executive Director Position and Opportunity

GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville invites interest in this rare opportunity for a proven nonprofit leader to guide one of the premier Down Syndrome Achievement Centers in the country. Ranked in the Top 5 of more than 60 locations, the Nashville Playhouse, located in Brentwood, TN, is a flagship known for innovation, community integration, transformative programs, and as a center of excellence. This is a full-time (onsite) position with competitive salary and benefits.

• Mission
  :
  To change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.
• Purpose
  :
  To change lives through the consistent delivery of free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community.
• Vision
  :
  To see a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted and embraced in their families, schools, and communities.
• Promise
  : A lifetime commitment to our families.

GiGi’s Nashville operates on a unique 100% community-funded model.

• Commitment to Accessibility: All programs are provided free of charge to families of children and adults of all ages.
• Economic Reality: While free to families, their services are not free to provide. The annual operating budget is 100% reliant on community generosity, with no government funding.
• Revenue Evolution: Typically, 75% of annual income is generated during their signature “I Have a Voice” Gala hosted each March and through an annual Golf Benefit. The new Executive Director will leverage these successful events and scale financial support from individuals, organizations, and foundations.

Following a recent facility expansion and entering a 2026 fiscal year with an $852,000 operating budget, GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville is poised for a new era of local and regional impact. The incoming Executive Director will inherit a high-performing organization, passionate team, successful programs, and lead a strategic transition toward diversified, sustainable philanthropic growth. GiGi’s Playhouse is more than a center; it is a global movement.

Its mission is to increase positive awareness of Down syndrome through high-impact, research-based programs.

• National Excellence: Established in 2013 as the 16th Playhouse, GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville has become a national leader in the GiGi’s network.
• Innovative Infrastructure: A recently completed expansion has grown the facility to 6,000 square feet, allowing for expanded programs, therapy and career-skills training.
• Strategic Clinical Partnerships: Through its partnership with Belmont University, graduate-level OT and PT students provide onsite services, ensuring clinical excellence at no cost to the families or the organization.

At GiGi’s, they don’t strive for perfection; they strive for "Best of All." This is a continuous, positive drive to do a little more than the day before.

• For Participants:
  Reaching new milestones in speech, physical strength, and career skills.
• For Staff:
  Delivering excellence in every program and donor interaction.
• For Leadership:
  Pushing the boundaries of what community support can achieve for the Down syndrome community.

The Nashville Executive Director is the chief ambassador for Generation G in Middle Tennessee. This isn t just a slogan; it is a conscious decision to be better every day. PLEDGE: "I accept you as you are. I choose to be better every day by being accepting, being generous, and being kind."

• Championing a world where individuals are seen for their abilities, not their diagnosis.
• Inspiring the community to give their time, talent, and treasure to fuel their 100% community-funded model.
• Leading with empathy and courageously challenging the status quo to foster a culture of inclusion.

Reporting to a highly engaged and influential Board of Managers, the Executive Director will serve as the primary external ambassador and organizational leader for GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville.

• Development & Stewardship: Architect and…