Executive Director

January 13th, 2021
Executive Director

Executive Director

  • Full Time
  • Senior Level
  • Applications have closed
Job Category: Executive
Location: Manhattan
Job Sectors: Other
Salary Range:

The Board of the New York Foundation is seeking its next Executive Director to lead a profoundly impactful foundation recognized for its collaborative, catalytic, responsive funding aimed at building community power over time.

 

About the New York Foundation

The New York Foundation is a steadfast supporter of community organizing and advocacy. We believe that the resilience and vitality of New Yorkers is the city’s greatest resource, and we value the courage and experience of community groups and their leaders. In the ongoing struggle for equity, the Foundation supports grassroots initiatives that confront systemic barriers and inspire people to work toward a more just and inclusive city. Our grants support emerging and established organizations that use community organizing and advocacy as their primary approach. We also sustain the field of community organizing and advocacy by strengthening the capacity of organizations, and collaborate with others to amplify the value of grassroots organizations that build community and influence policy change.

Though our assets are modest, our footprint has grown as we have increased our involvement in collaborative initiatives, and played leadership roles in City and Statewide initiatives. Our work is grounded in a shared commitment to advancing equity, accessibility and respect for grantee expertise, supporting leadership and communities of color, and funding efforts that challenge structural inequities and oppression. The Foundation’s recent staff size was six and its grants budget was approximately $2.5M. Please explore our website to learn more about our history and grant-making.

About The Opportunity

Our new Executive Director is someone who is creative, adaptable and ready to take up the challenge of charting a path forward for the foundation with confidence, energy and bold vision.

Our ideal candidate is an open-minded, curious, strategic thinker and a passionate leader with a demonstrated commitment to community-based movements and organizations in New York City, to continue to grow the Foundation’s impact and presence through the following responsibilities:

 Organizational Development and Management

 Oversee long-range organizational planning, program development, and new strategic initiatives in an evolving local landscape

Lead a highly collaborative team, including hiring, managing, and developing staff, setting priorities and coordinating staff work, and managing personnel issues

 Cultivate a professional environment that upholds equity, dignity, respect, and diversity; emphasizes shared leadership and decision making; and embeds collaborative practices across program and operations    

 Work with the Foundation’s legal counsel and accountants to ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulation necessary to maintain our good standing

Resource Management

Manage the Foundation’s financial operations including developing annual administrative and grants budgets and approving and monitoring expenditures.

Work with the Board to understand and weigh current funding needs against the perpetuity of the Foundation.

Work closely with the Board Investment Committee to align the Foundation’s investment policy and practices with our values and mission, supervise the facilitation of transactions.

Grants Management

Carry out program work including evaluating and investigating grants, conducting site visits to current and prospective grantees, monitoring reports and managing grantee/grantor relationships

Maintain a deep understanding of critical issues affecting New York City and emerging community-based organizations

Maintain and enhance the Foundation’s uniquely accessible and agile grant-making approach, and our streamlined and transparent grants management operations

 Communications and External Relations

Provide leadership in the philanthropic field to represent the Foundation’s voice within the philanthropic and grantee community

Secure more support for grantees by amplifying the value of grassroots organizations, which are working to dismantle structural racism and advance equity through community building and influencing policy change, while holding philanthropy accountable    

 Maintain and build bold partnerships with mission- and values-aligned funders and other stakeholders to scale the Foundation’s impact, including leading and facilitating foundation networks, collaborative initiatives, and City and State-wide initiatives

Evangelize a grant-making approach across philanthropy that emphasizes transparency, accessibility, and respect for grantees as experts

Board Management

Serve as the key liaison to the Trustees, including managing and maintaining open communications, supporting the continued development of a diverse, engaged Board of Trustees, and working closely with the Chairperson and Committee Chairs to encourage and monitor Trustee involvement in fulfilling the Foundation’s mission and values

Report to the Trustees on matters of policy and performance, including producing materials necessary for Trustees to fulfill their fiduciary and programmatic responsibilities, and managing Board committees

Candidate Profile

Ideal candidates will bring the following preferred qualities and skills to the position of Executive Director:

Strategic Visioning: The Executive Director is an expansive, creative thinker ready to work with the Board and staff to envision and shape the Foundation’s work over the next five to ten years. In addition to possessing a deep knowledge of New York City and its neighborhoods, this leader will be grounded by experience with and knowledge of the City’s social justice ecosystem particularly those groups that use community organizing and advocacy as a core approach.

Leadership and Organizational Management: The Executive Director is a nimble, resourceful, collaborative leader with experience in organizational development, budget and fiscal management, and team leadership, and the ability to engage with a Board of Trustees and lead a self-motivated and passionate staff. This leader also possesses the management acumen and financial skills needed to direct the Foundation’s day-to-day operations, and engage in hands-on implementation while leveraging new opportunities.

Influencing and Relationship-Building: The Executive Director is a natural, intentional relationship-builder skilled at working collaboratively, facilitating consensus, and expanding influence across staff, the Board of Trustees, funders, grantees, and other community and government partners. They accomplish results while nurturing inclusive processes and transformative relationships, and communicate with integrity, diplomacy, and deep listening.

Compensation

The New York Foundation anticipates an annual base starting salary of at least $175,000 for the Executive Director position. The Foundation is committed to supporting the staff with a benefits package which presently includes health benefits, flexible spending account, and a 403b plan.  All benefits are subject to modification by the Foundation at any time.

 To Apply

Please submit all applications to  [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed as received and must include a cover letter describing your qualifications and your resume.

 New York Foundation’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity

We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We employ qualified people without regard to: race; color; religion; sex; national origin; age; ancestry; disability; sexual orientation; pregnancy or breastfeeding; veteran or military status; marital status; civil union or domestic partnership status; arrest record; citizenship; credit history; genetic information; gender identity or expression; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law.  

New York Foundation

  • 150 West 30th Street Suite 1401
  • New York, NY 10001
  • USA
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