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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
George Family Foundation
Posted Aug. 29, 2008

Organization background:
The George Family Foundation is a private foundation committed to strategic grantmaking in areas that further human development — spiritual, intellectual, physical and psychological. Our grants support leaders and organizations that are transformative in impacting their fields. The George Family Foundation office is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn more at www.georgefamilyfoundation.org.

Position overview:
The Executive Director will report to and work closely with the President as well as the board of directors of the George Family Foundation. The Executive Director is responsible for leading, directing and managing the organization in a manner consistent with the mission, vision and values of the foundation, and doing so in a fiscally responsible and ethically sound manner.

Working in concert with the president and the board of directors, the Executive Director will engage in envisioning the future of the organization, setting the strategic direction of its grantmaking activities and initiatives, and leading the effort to identify funding opportunities. This individual will be involved in all activities regarding grants, foundation operations, and administration. The Executive Director will assess ongoing staffing, systems and support need.

Key accountabilities:

Working with the board of directors to ensure that the George Family Foundation has a clear mission, vision and direction, including the formulation of strategic plans.
Overseeing the design, administration and evaluation of comprehensive programs that will achieve the stated goals and objectives of The George Family Foundation.
Representing the George Family Foundation in the Twin Cities community and, where appropriate, nationally.
Assuring that the foundation and its mission are properly presented to its various publics.
Establishing collaborative relationships with other funding partners to support the goals of the foundation.
Working with the next generation of George family members to ensure that they are prepared for future leadership of the foundation.

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position is an experienced philanthropy leader with an active curiosity and passion for the foundation’s focus areas: integrative medicine, leadership development, education opportunity, spirituality and social justice.

The successful candidate will be a person of integrity and stature in the community, with proven leadership and grantmaking experience, exemplary business and/or nonprofit management skills, and a commitment to the mission, values and goals of the George Family Foundation.

A bachelor’s degree is required with a master’s degree preferred. Knowledge and experience with strategic philanthropy and grantmaking are key qualifications for the position. Other essential skills and experience include:

Big picture, innovative thinker — ability to think strategically and creatively about achieving the George Family Foundation’s goals.
A proven track record in a professional philanthropic environment. Experience in leading, building and growing an organization is desirable.
Process expertise, such as strategic planning, family foundation development, program evaluation, and/or nonprofit due diligence.
Highly developed skills in leadership, communication, management, negotiation, and advocacy.
Exemplary interpersonal skills including the ability, savvy, and credibility to engage and interact with key leaders from the community’s business, government, nonprofit organizations, foundations and other target audiences.
Excellent oral and written communication skills including public speaking ability.
Ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize complex information and produce a written document that is clear and compelling.
The willingness, presence, and ability to be The George Family Foundation’s face to the public, which includes being an effective communicator, a persuasive influencer, and a good listener.
The willingness to work in a hands-on way, multi-task, and see complex projections through to completion with limited staff support.

Compensation:
The salary and benefits for this position are commensurate with experience and competitive with similar foundations.

To apply:
KeyStone Search is conducting a retained search. Contact:

Marcia Ballinger, Principal
marciab@keystonesearch.com

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