President
- Employer
- George Family Foundation
- Location
- Minnesota, United States
- Salary
- $175,000.00 - $220,000.00
- Closing date
- Mar 6, 2021
View more
- Position Type
- Executive, Fundraising, Special Events, Programs, Community Outreach, Grant Administration, Grant Making, Other Programs, Program Administration and Management
- Fields
- Community Development, Environment, Health, Youth
- Employment Type
- Full Time
The George Family Foundation seeks an experienced nonprofit
executive to serve as its next
President. The President’s role is to provide leadership and
management oversight for the
development, coordination, and implementation of the organization’s
strategic vision and
grantmaking activities to ensure that the George Family Foundation
(GFF) and Next Generation Fund (NGF) mission and business goals are
achieved. The President provides the primary interface with
founders Penny and Bill George and with the other directors of the
Foundation and NGF advisors.
The President is appointed by and reports directly to the Board of
Directors, under the leadership of its Co-Chairs. The President
also works closely with investment advisors, the contracted CFO
services (currently CliftonLarsonAllen), other key vendors, and the
staff of the George Family office. The President hires and leads
GFF’s staff, consisting of one full-time program officer, one
full-time grants and administrative manager, and contracted
consultants providing financial, investment, and communications
support. Staff work from the George Family Foundation office
located in the lakes area of Minneapolis.
The Board of Directors of the Foundation expects to name a new
president by the fourth quarter of 2021, coinciding with the
retirement of the current president and allowing time for overlap
in order to facilitate a smooth transition of responsibility and a
seamless experience for grantees.
About the George Family Foundation
Penny and Bill George created the George Family Foundation in 1994
in order to give back to
the community that supported their personal and financial success.
The Foundation’s mission is to foster wholeness in mind, body,
spirit, and community by developing authentic leaders and
supporting transformative programs serving the common good. The
Foundation’s assets were valued at nearly $63 million at the end of
2020; grantmaking totaled $5.2 million.
The Foundation’s giving is focused in six major focus areas: Integrative Health & Healing; Authentic Leadership; Community; Environment; Spirituality & Mindfulness; and Youth Development.
In 2019, the Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary and published a timeline of benchmark activities in its annual report. The timeline notes significant grants made to support integrative health and healing, authentic leadership development, progressive spirituality and faith-based social justice efforts, culturally meaningful healing practices, and women’s health. The timeline also identifies key organizational development activities, such as the addition of family members to the Foundation’s Board, the hiring of professional management, and the development of the Next Generation Fund. The 2019 and prior years’ reports are available on the Foundation’s website: https://www.georgefamilyfoundation.org/resources/annual-reports.
The Foundation’s grants have been balanced between Minnesota
organizations and leading national organizations that enable it to
have significant impact in accomplishing its strategic
objectives.
About the opportunity
Having established professional management for the Foundation in
2010, GFF has since focused on strengthening its organizational
mission, values, and strategic impact as well as its grantmaking
processes and governance structure. The Foundation values
transparency to the public and has a strong track record of
information sharing through regular news releases, annual reports,
and a commitment to responsiveness to inquiries.
The next President will guide the Foundation strategically to
increase the long-term impact of its grantmaking. In 2021 Penny
George, who has chaired the Foundation since its inception in 1994,
is being joined as co-chair by Bill George. Over the coming decade,
next generation family members are expected to take on leadership
roles as Penny and Bill George reach a natural age for transition
to new roles. There will also be consideration of broadening board
membership to include directors from the community. The
Foundation’s corpus is expected to grow through ongoing giving from
the founders, as well as planned giving upon their deaths.
About the President’s responsibilities
The President is the organization’s principal leader and carries
responsibility across strategic, administrative, financial, and
philanthropic functions. The President represents the Foundation on
behalf of the Board, interfacing with many and varied public
constituencies as well as grantees, grantseekers, and the nonprofit
sector.
● Vision/strategic planning: Consistent with the mission of the
George Family Foundation, the President, in conjunction with the
Board of Directors and the Board Co-Chairs, develops strategies to
increase the Foundation’s impact in advancing the goals of its
focus impact areas that will be incorporated into its strategic
plan and long-term goals. This includes working with the extended
George family to prepare them for future involvement in the
Foundation.
● Grantmaking: The President, with assistance from the Program Officer and Grants and Administrative Manager, leads all grantmaking activities, and develops in-depth relationships with major grantees. This includes executing grantmaking strategies; overseeing proposal intake, review, financial analysis and staff comments; grant evaluation and interim reports; site visits; creation and execution of grant agreements; special project development and implementation; and preparing materials for Board review (two meetings per year), the annual July board retreat in Colorado, and any other board meetings or calls.
● Financial management and budgeting: The President is responsible
for managing the finances of the Foundation. This responsibility
includes preparing annual budgets, monthly and quarterly cash flow
reports and balance sheets, and regular tracking and reporting on
the financial health of the organization. The President works with
the Board Treasurer, CFO, and any contracted financial advisors or
auditors to ensure responsible reporting of the organization’s
financial activities and investment performance to its Board and
external stakeholders. The President is also responsible for the
accurate and timely distribution of authorized funds to
grantees.
● Personnel management: The President is responsible for hiring and
providing leadership to the GFF staff with the goal of maintaining
a cooperative and professional working relationship with staff of
the George Family Office and part-time and contracted employees and
Foundation advisors. Since the Foundation’s intention is to
maintain a very small staff, the President is personally involved
in all aspects of the Foundation.
● Board relations: The President keeps the Board and NGF advisors
fully informed of all matters affecting the George Family
Foundation and provides administrative support to the Board and to
the NGF. The President oversees compliance with local, state, and
federal laws necessary to keep the Foundation in good standing and
maintaining its legal status.
● Board Secretary: The President serves as the Secretary of the
Board of Directors and the NGF (ex-officio) and performs or
properly delegates and oversees the performance of the following
duties: attend all meetings of the Board and NGF and record all
votes and the minutes of all proceedings of the Board; perform like
duties for any committee of the Board when required; give notice of
all meetings of the Board, as required; and perform such other
duties as may be prescribed by the Board or the Board
Co-Chairs.
● Public relations and website: The President is responsible for
the development and execution of annual public relations and
website activities, supported by other Foundation staff and outside
communications consultants. The President is also responsible for
overseeing content development and editorial functions for the
annual report.
● Events and convenings: The President provides primary oversight for all Foundation events, meetings, and convenings. With the Board Co-Chairs, the President determines annual event and convening goals, including those that the Foundation sponsors and those in which GFF participates. The President provides leadership to GFF staff and consultants in executing all GFF events, meetings, and convenings.
● Community relations: The President is the primary voice and
representative of the George Family Foundation. The President is
expected to be knowledgeable about and involved in the regional and
national philanthropic and nonprofit community, particularly in the
key funding areas of the Foundation.
Qualifications sought
The Board of Directors of the Foundation seeks first and foremost a candidate who is aligned with GFF’s mission and values and who has both strong strategic and operational leadership abilities. The President should have the ability to work closely with George family members as well as the experience, public presence, and empathy to lead a philanthropic organization.
The successful candidate is most likely to be a mid-career
individual, with 15 or more years of leadership experience in the
non-profit sector in a field related to one of the Foundation’s six
focus areas. Such experience will ideally include not only staff
roles with increasing responsibility, but also in at least one role
as board member. Direct philanthropic experience is ideal, as is
knowledge of philanthropic practices and processes.
In addition, the Foundation seeks candidates who have:
● Experience facilitating and participating in visioning, strategic
planning, and organizational processes that enable the Foundation
to increase the impact and effectiveness of its grantmaking, while
demonstrating leadership in its target areas.
● Experience energizing and inspiring colleagues, and in leading
with integrity, purpose, and a concern for colleagues’
wellbeing.
● Experience writing for, speaking to, and presenting before boards
of directors, external constituents, and media representatives.
● Experience with investment policy, the regulatory environment for
foundation endowment management, non-profit accounting processes
and requirements, and the development and management of operating
budgets.
The Foundation has developed a list of personal qualities sought in
the President:
● Understands the nature of a first-generation family foundation
and the family’s desire to be primary in determining funding
strategies;
● Impervious to the tendency in philanthropy for staff to amass and
leverage their power from having the ability to give money
away;
● A sound strategist who focuses on outcomes and impact and sees
possibilities in the face of obstacles;
● Agility in adapting to rapidly changing conditions;
● Willingness to roll up one’s sleeves and do what’s necessary to
work with a small staff on a collaborative basis;
● Analytically strong and able to come to conclusions in an
appropriately timely manner;
● Holds people and organizations accountable in a positive way;
diplomatic with backbone;
● A continuous learner, humble in admitting error;
● Seeks engagement with grantees, stays close to leadership, keeps
current on what may be changing in their spheres of influence;
● Open to critique, seeks input; adept at addressing interpersonal
conflict;
● Gracious and respectful, sense of humor is a bonus.
Compensation and benefits
The salary range for the position is $175,000 to $220,0001 for full-time work. The Foundation provides generous benefits.
How to begin the application process
Candidates are encouraged to send a letter of interest to Sarah Lutman, Principal, 8 Bridges Workshop, at sarah@8bridgesworkshop.com. Candidates should share their relevant experience and describe the reasons for their interest in this particular position at this time in their working life. Board members want to know why you seek the position, how your experiences have prepared you to succeed in the role, how the role aligns with your personal purpose, and why the timing feels right for you to lead the Foundation at this point in your career.
The selection process will include preliminary screening by the
Search Committee and 8 Bridges Workshop, preliminary telephone or
Zoom interviews with 8 Bridges, reference checking, and finalist
interviews with individual board members. The process will also
include submission of writing and work samples and a psychological
assessment.
Please submit your letter of interest no later than 5:00 PM Central
Time on Monday, March 15, 2021.
For more information about the George Family Foundation, please
visit the website at georgefamilyfoundation.org.
This position announcement and links to GFF news and information is
available on the 8 Bridges Workshop website at www.8bridgesworkshop.com/george-family-foundation
All applications will be kept
confidential.
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