Director, Great Lakes Funders

Job title:

Director, Great Lakes Funders

Company

Flexibly Focused

Job description

Position SummaryGreat Lakes Funders, a philanthropic funder affinity group, is seeking its inaugural Director to support the group’s longstanding commitment to improve the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem for future generations.As the Great Lakes Funders’ only staff member, the Director will play a key role providing proactive, strategic guidance and program implementation to the Great Lakes region’s philanthropic community and applicable stakeholders. The ideal candidate will bring experience supporting and developing diverse networks; they will serve as a catalyst to spark philanthropic action and collaboration that enhances the Great Lakes for the benefit of people and communities that depend on them for water, recreation and commerce.The Director will be an employee of the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation and on long-term loan to Great Lakes Funders. This is a full-time, remote position with an estimated ~20% regional travel required.About Great Lakes FundersGreat Lakes Funders (GLF) is a unique bi-national network dedicated to enhancing the health and vitality of the Great Lakes. As a collaborative forum, GLF unites funders from across the region, providing a space to share information, explore common interests, align resources, and devise strategies to magnify both individual and collective impacts.The GLF network comprises fifty foundations that together contribute over $75 million annually to support initiatives focused on the Great Lakes and other critical water-related issues affecting people and nature in the United States and Canada. Members range from large regional and place-based funders to local community foundations and private family foundations.GLF members engage in sharing data, analyzing grantmaking trends, promoting best practices, and exploring co-investment opportunities. While GLF does not operate as a pooled fund nor directly make grants, collaborative efforts aim to foster meaningful advancements in a shared mission to protect and rejuvenate the Great Lakes region.Core Duties and ResponsibilitiesCultivate and Steward Prospective and Current Members

• Meet regularly with GLF members (both individually and in groups) to solicit input, get feedback and assess overall satisfaction with GLF
• Ensure that program offerings meet the needs of the different kinds of foundations involved in GLF (e.g. community foundations, place-based foundations, family foundations)
• Launch a targeted new member recruitment strategy for foundations in the U.S. and Canada
• Develop and execute an effective, consistent communications strategy, including website management, listserv operations, and a regular member newsletter

Strengthen the Impact and Relevance of the Network

• In partnership with GLF leadership and in service of the Steering Committee’s vision, develop a strategic plan, launch new programs, and facilitate member involvement that furthers the network’s mission and values
• Develop and implement education and engagement programs that deepen understanding and build capacity to address regional opportunities and challenges
• Develop and execute diverse program offerings that bring together members around shared issues of interest (e.g., work groups, affinity groups, webinars)
• As applicable, facilitate connectivity between GLF committees, work groups and affinity groups, and other initiatives
• Stay abreast of topical field issues and policies to support this work

Manage Operations and Support Fundraising

• Coordinate and implement approximately two in-person annual, multi-day meetings or retreats, including partnering with a meeting committee and overseeing (if/as applicable) event contractors
• Facilitate monthly GLF Steering Committee meetings, including meeting scheduling, preparation, and follow-up with Co-Chairs and members
• Manage GLF finances and accounting with the Steering Committee and in partnership with the Council of Michigan Foundation, GLF ’s fiscal sponsor
• Implement fundraising plans, including solicitation of contributions from GLF members and preparation of proposals and reports to sustain and grow the operations of the network
• Identify fundraising opportunities aligned with programmatic work and engage in efforts to secure and retain funding
• As applicable, serve as logistical point person for stakeholders including foundations in the United States and Canada, peer funder collaboratives, non-profit partners, Tribal and First Nations partners, and government agencies

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Proven experience with consensus-building and leading or supporting coalitions, collaboratives, member-based entities, and/or multi-organizational networks; strong facilitation and communications skills
• Servant leadership framework; knows when to lean in and out; has humility and confidence in balance
• Excellent listening and strategic thinking skills; identifies and executes upon opportunities for the community to have greater impact by working together
• Excellent program and project management skills, including proven experience managing diverse programs with overlapping timelines
• Willingness to engage in fundraising; a track record of successful fundraising is a plus
• Entrepreneurial experience, self-motivation, and a drive to meet and exceed goals; successful track record of serving in a new and/or remote role is a plus
• Very strong organization, attention to detail and analytical skills
• Personal passion for and knowledge of Great Lakes issues (preferred)
• At least 7 – 10+ years’ relevant professional experience

Compensation and Work EnvironmentThe salary range for this position is $125,000 – $145,000 and will be based on qualifications and experience. As an employee of the Erb Family Foundation, the Director is eligible for the Foundation’s comprehensive benefits, including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, and a generous 401K plan.This is a fully remote position; depending on the selected candidate’s location, shared office space may be available at a member’s work site.The Director will partner closely with GLF’s Steering Committee and will report to the Committee’s co-chairs and President of the Erb Family Foundation.About the Fred and Barbara Erb Family FoundationThe Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation has made more than $180 million in grants to improve the quality of life for residents in Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes region since launching its grantmaking in 2008. In 2024 it adopted its spenddown strategic plan that focuses on six grantmaking programs: Great Lakes, Arts + Culture, Alzheimer’s Research, Sustainable Business, Democracy, and Legacy.The Foundation’s grantmaking and way of working are guided by its values, which are: to make a lasting transformative difference; embrace possibility; work and learn in partnership; and pursue fairness and respect.The Foundation aims to inspire a new generation of leaders and philanthropic partners to pass on Fred and Barbara’s passions long after the Foundation is gone. In that spirit, the Foundation will support this new position on loan to the Great Lakes Funders to ensure there is a strong network of Great Lakes Funders that live beyond its spenddown to support nonprofit partners.Application ProcessThe Great Lakes Funders and the Erb Family Foundation have secured assistance from to support the search process. Interested parties are encouraged to apply by January 17, 2025; the search is rolling and will remain open until the position is filled. The process is completely confidential.We anticipate up to three rounds of virtual interviews and one in-person interview for final candidates. First-round interviews for this position will begin in January 2025 with an anticipated start date of April 2025.Please be prepared the upload the following with your application:

• A current resume
• A cover letter that speaks to your experience that prepares you for the role

Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Team:Great Lakes Funders is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and seeks to build a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. GLF strongly encourages applications from individuals who identify as a member of a traditionally marginalized and/or underrepresented community.Erb Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, citizenship status, and genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.Powered by JazzHR

Expected salary

Location

Michigan – Canada

Job date

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 08:14:35 GMT

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