President and CEO Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) Portland, OR Native Arts and Culture Foundation Mission Statement The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation advances equity and cultural knowledge, focusing on the power of arts and collaboration to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change with American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples in the United States. The Opportunity The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation seeks a charismatic and transformational leader to serve as its next President and CEO through an exciting phase of growth and visibility. The President and CEO will enter NACF at a critical period to develop, fundraise, and renovate the newly acquired building and scale the Foundation’s grant making strategy and its ability to rise to the occasion once again for Native arts and cultures, communities, and collective growth. This is a unique opportunity to lead an organization with a track record of success and meaningful impact in supporting Native artists as leaders and raising the visibility of Native artists and communities through grantmaking and programming. NACF values not just the work of Native Artists, but their sense of community, approaches to gathering, and art making. This is an exciting role for a visionary leader to drive investment and funding opportunities back into Native communities and cultivate true, lasting equity for Native artists. The President and CEO will position NACF for future success by continuing its strategic direction, including development and fundraising, setting a clear vision as a grantmaking and brick and mortar organization, and providing support for grantee organizations, artists, and community partners. In addition, the President and CEO will develop and lead NACF’s work locally, regionally, and nationally with community partners and other constituents. This individual will be excited and committed to completing NACF’s $25M Capital Campaign to further the organization’s programming initiatives. Reporting to the Board, the President and CEO will oversee all operational and administrative functions of an organization with over $22M in assets, an operating budget of $3.7M and a growing and passionate team of thirteen professionals. This individual will partner collaboratively with the Board and staff to develop strategies for implementing the organization’s mission and vision with a focus on building strong relationships with internal and external constituents. Centered around elevating Native voices and art, the President and CEO will ensure the Foundation is informed, engaged, and responsive to tribal and community issues. About Native Arts and Cultures Foundation The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation is a Native-led, 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization dedicated exclusively to the perpetuation of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian arts and cultures nationwide. Founded in 2007 with initial support from the Ford Foundation and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation (formerly Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians), NACF was created in response to a lack of direct support and robust grant options for Native artists and culture bearers. Now operating with a foundational endowment and recently acquired building, NACF provides critical grants, community space, and professional development programming for Native artists across the nation, including Hawai’i and Alaska. The Foundation’s work centers around five organizational core values of Courage, Generosity, Creativity, Respect, and Commitment that continue to inform NACF as it grows and evolves for the future. Since inception, NACF has provided financial and professional resources to hundreds of artists and culture bearers around the United States, plus partnering organizations working together to influence positive social, cultural, and environmental change by creating new work, advancing their careers, and raising their voices and impact. NACF continues to deepen cultural understanding and provide early career support to contemporary Native artists who offer profound contributions to intellectual inquiry and global dialogue and work at the thresholds of exploration in unfolding creative terrains. With the ongoing renovation of the recently gifted, historic, 40,000-square-foot Yale Union Laundry building in Portland, Oregon, NACF now offers community space for cultural production and arts presentations that can serve American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples locally and across the nation. As NACF grows through this next chapter, an active capital effort to renovate and enhance the Center will provide needed space to celebrate Native Arts and Culture and deepen the impact of creative Native artists across national and international communities. To learn more about the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF), please visit the https://www.nativeartsandcultures.org/. Candidate Profile The ideal candidate will be a values-aligned, culturally competent, and visionary leader with a track record of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit or philanthropic organization. Bringing fluency in Native cultures and an ability to deftly navigate Native communities, the President and CEO will build meaningful and authentic relationships with Native artists, tribes, community leaders, and elected officials to advance the Foundation and its work. A background in arts or program administration would be beneficial to the role as well as experience working in a museum and/or arts and culture environment. Leading with collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity, the President and CEO will utilize strong interpersonal, and relationship building skills to lead and work effectively alongside a range of personalities and leadership styles. Working from a place of partnership, this leader will deeply understand the nuances of fostering a collaborative culture and engage colleagues as equal partners to carry out the mission. Bringing a high degree of emotional intelligence, humility, and a sense of humor, this leader will approach their fundraising and community engagement work with an equity and inclusion lens. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong fundraising skills and an interest in development. It would be beneficial if this leader is familiar and engaged with Portland/and or the Pacific Northwest community. Core Competencies The President and CEO of NACF will demonstrate many, though perhaps not all, of the following attributes and competencies: Passion for the Mission and Commitment to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The President and CEO will bring a deep appreciation and investment in the full breadth of Native art and artistic expression. Committed to NACF’s values, the President and CEO will possess a sincere passion for the mission and work of the organization and will successfully operationalize these values to advance NACF. In addition, the President and CEO will bring fluency and leadership related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access and a successful track record of building and sustaining professional environments that embrace authenticity, value wisdom of lived experience, and reflect the communities in which NACF serves. In addition, this leader will have a basic understanding and familiarity with tribal sovereignty. Possessing unquestionable integrity, this person will honor the history and legacy of NACF while continuing to advance the transformational work of the organization. Courageous and Transformational Leadership A forward-thinking President and CEO, this person will bring a vision and commitment for engaging tribal and indigenous communities negatively impacted by the colonization of resources, both financial and place-based, and will be able to boldly move the Foundation into its next chapter. The President and CEO will be a courageous and effective leader with executive experience in strategic planning, program leadership, revenue development, fundraising, and staff and budget management. This individual will successfully collaborate with staff and the Board of Directors to articulate the organization’s vision, develop strategy, and lead implementation. An open and inclusive leader, the President and CEO will nurture, inspire, and empower an effective and diverse team. The President and CEO will skillfully oversee complex projects, produce successful outcomes, and hold all departments accountable in a complex organization. This individual will bring experience leading an organization during a time of transformation and growth. Operational and Organizational Excellence Drawing upon previous operational leadership success, the President and CEO will drive staffing/structure, systems, programming, and capital improvements to execute the strategic vision of NACF. This leader will understand and implement nonprofit management best practices to ensure that overall day-to-day operations are streamlined and aligned with strategic goals. The President and CEO will be comfortable delegating authority and using systems designed for effective planning, evaluation, and accountability. This individual will ensure the Foundation follows sound fiscal management practices and will thoughtfully consider the impact of decisions, strategic initiatives, and programs on the organization before moving forward with decision making. Strong Communicator & Relationship Builder With excellent listening and communication skills, this leader will be an eloquent and compelling storyteller, effective in public speaking, and serving as a passionate advocate for NACF in the Native arts and culture landscape, in the City of Portland and nationally. A coalition builder, the President and CEO will be able to connect with a wide variety of constituents, including artists, funders, international art enthusiasts, tribal and community leaders, and elected officials. This inspirational leader will generate excitement and visibility for NACF with foundation partners, corporate sponsors, and Native and Indigenous communities, and individuals who benefit from the education, programming, and grant opportunities. The President and CEO will value clear, consistent, and transparent communication. A warm and approachable leader, this person will identify and build trusting relationships with internal staff, the Board of Directors, and external organizations to evaluate new opportunities to scale NACF’s impact. Fundraising & Revenue Development Expertise The President and CEO will draw upon fundraising acumen to broaden NACF’s base of philanthropic support, engage new constituents, and build long-term fundraising capacity. This individual will use proactive communication skills to build deep, sustainable partnerships with elected officials, foundation and corporate partners, and individual donors. Working with a diverse community of artists, organizations, consumers, and Board members to successfully articulate value proposition for both public and private investment in the Native arts. Partnering with the Director of Development, this leader will create and execute the Foundation’s annual development strategy and drive the successful completion of a capital campaign. Compensation & Benefits This is a full-time, 100% on-site position based in Portland, Oregon. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $170,000 - $195,000 with a generous benefits package. Contact Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Michelle Bonoan, Medelene Beasley, and Marisa Chock of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role, please https://talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/19370. If you have any questions, please email https://tinyurl.com/4eppzt3v. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential. Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email https://tinyurl.com/2xf3f73n. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process. Native Arts and Cultures Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. About Koya Partners Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. For more information about Koya Partners, visit https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/koya-partners/.