Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (“the Foundation”) believes strong communities are built through knowledge and empowerment. With roots in Saint Paul since 1940 and partners across the state, the Foundation, Minnesota’s largest community foundation, serves as the partner of choice for thousands of donors, nonprofits and community organizations that are working to address some of the biggest problems facing Minnesota communities. Over the past several years, the Foundation grants, in partnership with its fundholders and its client foundation partners, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation, an average of $120MM annually to nonprofits who are working to meet the diverse community needs and making lasting impact across Saint Paul, the East Metro and Minnesota. The Foundation employs approximately 70 staff and the assets under management total $1.8B, making it the 13th largest community foundation in the country.

Guided by the aspirational vision of an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive, the Foundation has recently announced its new strategic plan and is resolutely focused on its strategic goals to:

Inspire generosity

Advocate for equity

Invest in community-led solutions

The Foundation’s values include:

We Listen

We Innovate and Learn

Community is our Compass

We Commit to Equity

We Nurture Philanthropy

The Foundation’s collaborative, innovative and equity-driven culture empowers staff to growprofessionally, and the culture continues to evolve by attracting and retaining new talent with valuable experiences and insight. For more information about the Foundation please visit: www.spmcf.org.

The President & CEO leads a broad philanthropic mandate across Minnesota and serves as the chief executive of the Foundation. In concert with the board, the President & CEO is responsible for implementing the Strategic Plan using the framework as a compass to develop and implement a course of action to address the most critical needs in the communities it serves.

The President & CEO is a highly visible leader as an advocate for the philanthropic work of the Foundation and to support collaboration among foundations and nonprofits to share resources and leadership skills to improve the lives of Minnesotans. The President & CEO is passionate about the shifting landscape for philanthropy and will originate and provide leadership to regional partnerships and collaborations to benefit the state and region. This person will understand that change is no longer an event to be managed, but a way of life for richly diverse communities working together to address their shared agendas and will inspire them to work together in new, innovative ways. The President & CEO will also serve as a strong internal leader, effectively managing the organization and making investments to further strengthen and mentor a team of highly engaged, committed and talented professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Vision

1. Inspires and engages all stakeholders in a vision for the Foundation that fulfills its mission and addresses evolving funding environment and program priorities.
2. Articulates the Foundation’s strategy, identifying opportunities and focusing the Foundation’s resources to achieve strategic goals.
3. Recommends to the Board and consistently manages to the Foundation’s strategic plan and performance measures.

External Relations

1. Authentically serves as a passionate advocate, compelling spokesperson and community and state-wide leader for the purpose of sharing the mission and increasing financial resources.
2. Stays engaged and current with the trends and changes in the community. Actively participates in community dialogue, serving in a convening or participant role.
3. Interacts with the media as needed to advance the goals of the Foundation and/or to inform reporting on philanthropic matters.
4. Actively partners and advocates with local, regional and state governments to advance the Foundation’s policy and advocacy initiatives.
5. Serves on select boards that represent the broad community, the sector, Foundation partners and/or personal interests, while ensuring that external board involvement effectively complements the mission and strategic direction of the Foundation.

Donor Relations and Fundraising

1. Develops and nurtures meaningful relationships with major individual, non-profit, philanthropic and corporate prospects and donors.
2. Partners with staff and board to ensure that the Foundation executes on opportunities for broadening and diversifying its fundraising reach.
3. Operates as spokesperson for SPMF’s management of endowments and other services.
4. Ensures that the Foundation’s philanthropic services program provides exceptional donor experiences and service.
5. Works to expand the donor base by finding innovative approaches to engage donors across all age groups and giving levels, with focused efforts to reach younger generations.
6. Creates opportunities for the Foundation to engage donors in community impact opportunities.

Fiscal Management

1. Oversees the development of annual and long-term financial plans for the Foundation in alignment with the Foundation’s strategic plan and priorities. Ensures the Organization meets budget goals, adjusting as necessary.
2. Provides strategic oversight of complex philanthropic assets, working closely with the Foundations’ investment team and the Investment Committee as needed to develop, adjust and monitor investment policy and strategies to support organizational goals and long-term viability.
3. Ensures that the investment portfolio performance is appropriately managed, and that the portfolio reflects the Foundation’s priorities.
4. Ensures the soundness of the organization’s financial structure, risk profile and practices.

Organization and People Leadership

1. In partnership with the Executive Leadership Team, establishes goals and performance criteria for the organization and its departments. Supports the ongoing effectiveness of staff and teams through performance management and development.
2. Serves as a champion for the Foundation’s culture, values, activities and goals in support of diversity, equity and inclusion, positioning the Foundation as an organization that attracts, retains and motivates a team of diverse and highly dedicated staff who are guided by a shared set of values and the clarity of a strategic plan.
3. Champions and embeds equity across the Foundation’s grantmaking, internal operations and external partnerships.

Board Relations and Governance

1. Serves as the primary liaison to the Board, keeping them informed of activities, financial status, issues and challenges.
2. Partners with the Chair of the Board to ensure effective board development and engaging, productive board meetings.
3. Engages the board in multi-year strategic planning and evaluates performance against measurable targets.
4. Works with board members to enhance their individual and collective knowledge, skill and ability to advance the Foundation’s mission and goals, including participating in fundraising and key community events.
5. Partners effectively with the Board on cultivation and orientation of Board members, maintaining Board best practices and keeping the Board informed on the operations of the organization and external factors.

The Foundation is seeking a seasoned leader who believes in the power of philanthropy to transform communities and is compelled by the mission and purpose of the Foundation to create an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive. The ideal candidate will be a bold, innovative leader who champions the Foundation’s values, leading in a way that is consistent with those values and creating an environment of excellence. They will be an effective leader of people, with the ability to develop others, represent the Foundation to a variety of audiences and work collaboratively with colleagues across the Foundation and the philanthropic sector. This person will be a systems thinker and a complex problem solver, who embraces community-informed methods in support of systems change.

To learn more, click here.

Base pay range for this position is $582,000 to $625,000 (commensurate with experience) annual full time exempt (no variable component). Excellent benefits include generous retirement contributions, professional development, PTO/holidays and more. Compensation outside of the posted range is nonnegotiable.