Job Description
Role Type: Full-time
Location: US - Remote
Compensation: Salaried, Exempt
Experience: 15+ Years
Sponsorship Available: No
About FreeWorld:
The vision of FreeWorld is to provide every person coming out of incarceration with equitable access to multiple career fields that pay a living wage. We do that through our online platform that delivers wrap-around services that meet our students where they’re at, deep relationships with national educational providers, and partnerships with employers open to second chance talent.
Over the past 4 years, we have scaled our solution to 10 States, 30+ cities, and over 22,000 returning citizens with support from Foundations like Blue Meridian Partners, Gates Foundation, Crankstart, and Rippleworks.
Over the next 3 years, we will generate $100M+ in revenue, scale our solution sustainably to 15,000 returning citizens annually, expand into a second industry vertical, and prepare FreeWorld for a third party evaluation.
Job Description:
The Chief Growth Officer reports to the CEO and is a roll up your sleeves in builder role – part strategist, part closer, part entrepreneur. You’ll lead the charge in developing diverse revenue streams across philanthropy, government, and product-driven earned revenue that will allow FreeWorld to scale sustainably.
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Philanthropy: Institutions, Corporations, Major Gifts, and Government Grants
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Government: State/Federal contracts, SNAP E&T, WIOA, Legislative Appropriations
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Earned Income Revenue: Placement fees, SaaS
You’ll work directly with our CEO, CTO, and CPO to grow total annual revenue, build systems for forecasting and reporting, and lead a small but mighty team that scales as the org grows.
Reporting:
This role will report to Jason Wang (CEO).
Key Responsibilities
1. Revenue Strategy & Planning
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Serve on the Executive Team, shaping FreeWorld’s overall strategy and leading all revenue functions.
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Develop a clear, data-driven plan to grow total revenue year-over-year across all lanes.
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Build and manage the revenue forecast, working closely with Finance to align targets and cashflow.
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Design KPIs and dashboards that track progress toward philanthropic, government, and earned-income goals.
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Own the full revenue mix and strategy with autonomy and accountability, driving $30M in annual revenue by 2028.
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Shape high quality, high margin, scalable revenue streams – including monetizing tech assets and launching new product offerings in partnership with Product Engineering and Program
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Position FreeWorld as the go-to partner for criminal justice and workforce transformation and systems-level change
2. Philanthropy (60%)
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Lead cultivation and stewardship of major foundations, corporate philanthropy, and major gifts
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Oversee proposals, reports, and renewals; ensure all grant deliverables are met on time.
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Partner with the CEO on top-tier funder relationships.
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Manage a development associate or grant writer as the team grows.
3. Government Revenue (30%)
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Identify, pursue, and manage state/federal/local funding opportunities (SNAP E&T, WIOA, etc.).
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Work with internal stakeholders to build compliant budgets, track deliverables, and ensure reimbursement flow.
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Develop systems to manage RFP calendars, submissions, and reporting across multiple states.
4. Private Market / Earned Revenue (10%)
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Collaborate with our Program and Product Engineering team to strengthen FreeWorld’s employer placement models.
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Explore and test new earned-revenue pilots — e.g., workforce contracts, licensing, training fees.
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Establish pricing, tracking, and revenue recognition frameworks for these initiatives.
5. Systems & Team Leadership
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Build a high-performance revenue operations backbone (CRM, dashboards, forecasting).
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Hire and mentor team members across philanthropy, government, and earned revenue as growth allows.
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Instill a culture of performance, accountability, and mission-aligned results.
The Ideal Candidate
Experience
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15+ years in senior leadership roles across philanthropic fundraising, business development, or revenue leadership roles.
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Proven track record of raising or generating $15M+ annually across at least two revenue types.
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Strong strategic and operational skills — can design systems, not just execute.
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Demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects and delivering measurable growth.
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Familiarity with nonprofit financial management, restricted vs. unrestricted funds, and grant compliance.
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Track record of building high-performing teams, creating clarity, and executing toward big bets
Bonus Points
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Experience with workforce development, re-entry, or economic mobility programs.
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Working knowledge of government grant systems (e.g., SNAP E&T, WIOA, State Legislative Appropriations).
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Background in both philanthropy and earned-revenue models.
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Prior startup or scaling-stage experience (you thrive in ambiguity).
Traits That Win Here
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Builder Mindset: You create clarity from chaos and like being the first one to the problem.
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Closer Energy: You turn relationships into results.
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Operator Discipline: You track data, hold people accountable, and hit deadlines.
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Mission Alignment: You care deeply about impact, not just income.
Why This Role Matters
FreeWorld is at an inflection point — proven impact, strong funder support, and huge national opportunity.
You’ll be the person who turns that momentum into sustained, diversified revenue.
If you’re hungry to build, comfortable in the gray, and ready to create a system that will outlast you, this is your shot.
Compensation and Benefits
FreeWorld offers a competitive total rewards package that aligns with nonprofit organizations of similar size and scope. Compensation is benchmarked to industry standards and based on experience, internal equity, and role responsibility. The salary range for this position is $180,000–$200,000 base pay, with an additional $20k in incentive bonuses based on meeting revenue milestones. In addition to base compensation, FreeWorld provides a robust and comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being, professional growth, and financial stability:
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Fully remote work environment with schedule flexibility
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Collaborative, values-driven culture built on honesty, trust, and transparency
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Annual, company-sponsored in-person staff retreat focused on connection, learning, and celebration
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Meaningful work creating life-changing impact for returning citizens across the country
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Medical, dental, and vision insurance with supplemental and pet coverage options
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Company-paid short-term and long-term disability, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and a $10,000 life and AD&D policy
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Quarterly wellness stipend and paid phone/internet stipend
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401(k) plan and high-yield savings account options to support financial health and stability
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Paid professional development opportunities and learning stipends
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Access to the Working Advantage Employee Discount Program, offering savings on travel, entertainment, retail, and more
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Unlimited paid time off and at least 14 paid holidays each year
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12–16 weeks of paid parental leave for all new parents
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Two-week paid winter break at the end of each calendar year
At FreeWorld, our people are our greatest asset. We are building a team that feels valued, supported, and empowered to bring their best selves to work daily because changing lives begins with caring for ourselves.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Resume: include your full professional history and relevant accomplishments
- LinkedIn: provide your LinkedIn profile URL in the correct field
- Cover Letter: in ONE (1) page, tell us:
- Why you are interested in FreeWorld and this role
- How your experience and skills align with the responsibilities of the position
- What motivates you about our mission and the work ahead
- 2-3 Writing Samples: Provide 2–3 samples that demonstrate your writing and communication skills. These could include:
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A grant proposal or narrative section
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A donor outreach email
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A stewardship or impact report segment
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Any other fundraising or external-facing writing
Use the "Attach another file" button to upload PDF/DOC files (max 5MB each). You may redact identifying or confidential information as needed, but the samples must be your own original work.
Hiring Process
Our hiring process is designed to be transparent, equitable, and reflective of FreeWorld’s values. We want candidates to experience the same honesty, respect, and collaboration that define how we work every day. While specific steps may vary by role, the general process includes:
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Application Review
Submit your application and cover letter after reviewing our [FreeWorld Culture FAQ] and [FreeWorld Company Values]. We review every submission carefully to identify alignment with our mission, experience, and values.
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Initial Screening
Selected candidates will be invited to a brief, 15-minute introductory Zoom call to learn more about the role and share their interest in FreeWorld.
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Role-Specific Task
Candidates complete a short project or submit a relevant work sample that reflects key aspects of the position. This helps us understand your approach and gives you a preview of the work you’d be doing.
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Hiring Manager Interview
A one-on-one Zoom conversation with the hiring manager to discuss your background, skills, and career goals, as well as how you would contribute to FreeWorld’s mission.
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Team Interviews
A series of 45-minute interviews with key team members to explore collaboration, alignment, and how your experience and working style complement the team.
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Reference Checks
We connect with a few of your past colleagues or supervisors to learn more about your work and professional impact.
If all goes well, we’ll move forward with an offer and begin welcoming you to the FreeWorld team.