Partners For Sight
Executive Director
Partners For Sight, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55400
Dedicated to Improving the Lives of Blind and Visually Impaired PeopleReader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation (RDPFS) is dedicated to fostering the independence of people who are blind and visually impaired (BVI). Established in 1955 by DeWitt Wallace, the founder of The Reader’s Digest Association, RDPFS is a public charitable grant-making foundation in New York State with approximately $14 million in endowment assets and annual giving between $600k to $1MM. Through its grantmaking, RDPFS works towards making a difference in the lives of blind and visually impaired individuals. RDPFS partners with local and national organizations that assist, support, and train blind and visually impaired people. Its portfolio of carefully directed grants seeks to enrich the lives of thousands of visually impaired individuals, assisting them with their goal to become integrated, productive, fully accepted, and participating members of society. RDPFS believes success and improvement are driven by the close collaboration of the BVI community.In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation runs a print publishing business featuring large print with approximately 31,000 subscribers and approximately $1MM in revenue.Position
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is a full-time position that serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, leading the Foundation’s business and operations and is the primary spokesperson and advocate for the Foundation’s work, including public representation. The Executive Director is responsible for planning, implementing, supervising, reporting on, and measuring the success of all Foundation activities. The Executive Director is also responsible for identifying areas of unmet program needs for new grantmaking opportunities. The Executive Director works closely with a diverse group of stakeholders in the BVI and philanthropic communities to develop collaborations for programming, funding, awareness, and advocacy. The Executive Director will be the chief advocate for implementing the Foundation’s strategic plan and driving its desired outcomes for maximum impact.Responsibilities
Grantmaking Management and Community Relations (60%)Execute the Foundation’s grantmaking program for maximum impact, in partnership with the BoardServe as the chief ambassador of the Foundation – actively manage, showcase, and build the Foundation’s brand reputation throughout all we do, including grantmaking, marketing, website presence, and contributions to the communityMaintain and grow the Foundation’s reputation of impact beyond the dollars granted, and as a thought leader in the BVI communityEnsure alignment of grantmaking activities with Board priorities and strategic goalsCultivate relationships with current and potential grantees, key community groups, and other funders to maximize grant impacts and outcomesIdentify areas of unmet BVI community program need for new grantmaking opportunitiesDetermine and implement metrics for measuring program success and effectivenessReview expenses, target audience, and goals for the Foundation Bulletin to best support the Foundation mission and grantmaking and make recommendations to the BoardFoundation Management and Governance (30%)Ensure the Foundation has a long-term strategy which reflects its missionPartner with Board to refine strategic goals, ensuring ongoing alignment with priorities and long-term plansDevelop and implement plans to achieve financial sustainability goals via revenue generation, development, or other opportunities as appropriateImplement mechanisms for operational continuity including succession planningFoster a culture of engagement, with open and transparent collaborationKeep the Board informed on RDPFS activities and relevant issues in the philanthropic field, specifically in the fields of vision impairment and blindnessEducate the board to increase overall effectivenessChampion Nonprofit/Foundation Operational ExcellenceLead development of program, organizational, investment, and financial plansSeek and implement improvements in Foundation operations as appropriateRecommend policy and process improvements to enhance board efficiencySeek to create rewarding board member experiences and generate engagementMaintain compliance with all regulatory requirements and Foundation policiesOrganizational and Financial LeadershipLead all Foundation operational, financial, and personnel functionsEnsure compliance with all government and regulatory laws, regulations, and policiesLead annual financial budgeting and forecasting process in collaboration with the Treasurer and investment advisorsLead and execute annual audit compliance and reporting processesPublishing Business Operations Management (10%)Facilitate execution of Foundation’s publishing business to achieve maximum opportunity and impactOversee vendors managing the publishing operations including budgeting, new subscriber, renewal, and billing efforts, circulation, production, and customer serviceQualifications
Proven leadership experience in nonprofit management, with at least 7 years experience in nonprofit leadership and/or grant makingDemonstrated experience in defining, communicating, and implementing strategic plansStrong, demonstrated understanding of nonprofit governance practices and operationsExcellent financial management skills, including budgeting, reporting, analyzing, and communicating financial resultsDemonstrated experience with, or resourcefulness for learning, the introduction of development and fundraising programs to a nonprofitExcellent project and program management skillsAbility to influence a diverse group of stakeholders and personalitiesDemonstrated commitment to the mission and values of the FoundationExperience in the BVI ecosystem or as a lived member of the BVI community desirableAbility to use technology to increase depth and scale of nonprofit impact and advance the organization’s strategy, mission, and successDemonstrated technology proficiency including current office productivity and collaboration toolsLocation
We operate remotely. Candidates located in the Northeast US or adjacent time zones are preferred.How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your fit to the position to jobs@partnersforsight.org.RDPFS provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable equal employment opportunity affirmative action laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies or agencies thereof. RDPFS does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, age, or marital status.
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Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is a full-time position that serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, leading the Foundation’s business and operations and is the primary spokesperson and advocate for the Foundation’s work, including public representation. The Executive Director is responsible for planning, implementing, supervising, reporting on, and measuring the success of all Foundation activities. The Executive Director is also responsible for identifying areas of unmet program needs for new grantmaking opportunities. The Executive Director works closely with a diverse group of stakeholders in the BVI and philanthropic communities to develop collaborations for programming, funding, awareness, and advocacy. The Executive Director will be the chief advocate for implementing the Foundation’s strategic plan and driving its desired outcomes for maximum impact.Responsibilities
Grantmaking Management and Community Relations (60%)Execute the Foundation’s grantmaking program for maximum impact, in partnership with the BoardServe as the chief ambassador of the Foundation – actively manage, showcase, and build the Foundation’s brand reputation throughout all we do, including grantmaking, marketing, website presence, and contributions to the communityMaintain and grow the Foundation’s reputation of impact beyond the dollars granted, and as a thought leader in the BVI communityEnsure alignment of grantmaking activities with Board priorities and strategic goalsCultivate relationships with current and potential grantees, key community groups, and other funders to maximize grant impacts and outcomesIdentify areas of unmet BVI community program need for new grantmaking opportunitiesDetermine and implement metrics for measuring program success and effectivenessReview expenses, target audience, and goals for the Foundation Bulletin to best support the Foundation mission and grantmaking and make recommendations to the BoardFoundation Management and Governance (30%)Ensure the Foundation has a long-term strategy which reflects its missionPartner with Board to refine strategic goals, ensuring ongoing alignment with priorities and long-term plansDevelop and implement plans to achieve financial sustainability goals via revenue generation, development, or other opportunities as appropriateImplement mechanisms for operational continuity including succession planningFoster a culture of engagement, with open and transparent collaborationKeep the Board informed on RDPFS activities and relevant issues in the philanthropic field, specifically in the fields of vision impairment and blindnessEducate the board to increase overall effectivenessChampion Nonprofit/Foundation Operational ExcellenceLead development of program, organizational, investment, and financial plansSeek and implement improvements in Foundation operations as appropriateRecommend policy and process improvements to enhance board efficiencySeek to create rewarding board member experiences and generate engagementMaintain compliance with all regulatory requirements and Foundation policiesOrganizational and Financial LeadershipLead all Foundation operational, financial, and personnel functionsEnsure compliance with all government and regulatory laws, regulations, and policiesLead annual financial budgeting and forecasting process in collaboration with the Treasurer and investment advisorsLead and execute annual audit compliance and reporting processesPublishing Business Operations Management (10%)Facilitate execution of Foundation’s publishing business to achieve maximum opportunity and impactOversee vendors managing the publishing operations including budgeting, new subscriber, renewal, and billing efforts, circulation, production, and customer serviceQualifications
Proven leadership experience in nonprofit management, with at least 7 years experience in nonprofit leadership and/or grant makingDemonstrated experience in defining, communicating, and implementing strategic plansStrong, demonstrated understanding of nonprofit governance practices and operationsExcellent financial management skills, including budgeting, reporting, analyzing, and communicating financial resultsDemonstrated experience with, or resourcefulness for learning, the introduction of development and fundraising programs to a nonprofitExcellent project and program management skillsAbility to influence a diverse group of stakeholders and personalitiesDemonstrated commitment to the mission and values of the FoundationExperience in the BVI ecosystem or as a lived member of the BVI community desirableAbility to use technology to increase depth and scale of nonprofit impact and advance the organization’s strategy, mission, and successDemonstrated technology proficiency including current office productivity and collaboration toolsLocation
We operate remotely. Candidates located in the Northeast US or adjacent time zones are preferred.How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your fit to the position to jobs@partnersforsight.org.RDPFS provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable equal employment opportunity affirmative action laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies or agencies thereof. RDPFS does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, age, or marital status.
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