Executive Director (RF)

With professional roots in business and the tech industry and family roots in community and civic engagement, Tricia and Jeff Raikes’ values and commitment to improving community run deep. As they embarked on their own personal philanthropic journey, they were inspired by their three children and the belief that real change for the future rests with young people. Founded in 2002 and based in Seattle, the Raikes Foundation has been a leader in catalyzing systems-level change and influencing issues related to young people and impact-driven philanthropy. As living donors and trustees of the foundation, Tricia and Jeff Raikes are deeply committed to their philanthropic initiatives and actively engaged in the strategic direction of the foundation.

The Raikes Foundation has invested nearly $115 million in grants since its founding in 2002 and the Raikes have used their name and influence to leverage impact far beyond their dollars. This first phase of giving has evolved an innovative approach to philanthropy that is committed to equity, collaboration, systems transformation, learning, and advocacy. The Raikes’ approach, combined with the discipline to invest in programming with catalytic potential, has already led to significant contributions in areas related to youth homelessness and education, and has inspired the development of tools and technologies that will transform the work of philanthropy into the future. The Raikes’ commitment to a fresh approach to philanthropy has also attracted a team of exceptional leaders, each a significant contributor to the development of the foundation’s strategy and programming. Now at a pivotal moment, the foundation seeks a new Executive Director who will lead the next phase of impact and increased investment for the Raikes Foundation. The Executive Director will be a trusted advisor to the trustees in the further articulation, refinement, and execution of their philanthropic vision and will bring organizational leadership to the foundation that advances that vision.

Organizational Overview

The Raikes Foundation is grounded and disciplined by its commitment to impactful philanthropy. Tricia and Jeff Raikes were inspired early on by the catalytic potential of investing in youth and youth-serving systems and at the same time were excited about leveraging their resources and business acumen to support field alignment and innovation in philanthropy. In the first years of the foundation’s work, the Raikes articulated the foundation’s belief in the unlimited potential of young people and its commitment to work toward a just and inclusive society where all young people have the support they need to reach their full potential. This focus led to careful attention to the systemic barriers often impeding the potential of far too many, particularly low-income children and young people of color. The foundation’s work in education, youth homelessness, and expanded learning opportunities focuses on eliminating these barriers and works to change systems that have traditionally been, and continue to be, inequitable.

Opportunities and Challenges Facing the New Executive Director

With primary responsibility for overall organizational leadership, the Executive Director will work closely with the trustees, staff, and external stakeholders to advance the mission of the foundation and bring leadership in key areas. In the first 12-18 months, the new Executive Director can expect to engage in the following opportunities and challenges:

Build strong and trusting relationships with the trustees that help further refine and focus the foundation’s strategic direction.

The Executive Director will serve as a thought partner to the trustees in the ongoing development of the foundation’s strategy, approach, and philanthropic investments. S/he/they will contribute expertise in effective philanthropy and will provide ongoing counsel on emerging trends and opportunities, as well as ways to more deeply embed an equity lens into the foundation’s grantmaking strategies and partnerships with grantees and key stakeholders. The Executive Director will focus on impact and will support the robust dialogue of the trustees and staff in a culture of ongoing learning and intellectual rigor.

Ensure that the foundation’s philanthropic initiatives continue to align with and fulfill the trustees’ values and vision of impact with an integrated focus on equity and systems level change.

The Executive Director will partner with the senior team to develop, implement, and refine the Impact-Driven Philanthropy initiative in support of the broader field of philanthropy, and the foundation’s current focus areas of Education and Youth Homelessness, as well as future areas of focus. S/he/they will identify opportunities for integration and cross-learning between program areas, explore how the tools of technology and the private sector can be leveraged to advance the foundation goals, and will ensure proposed grantmaking, advocacy, and other investments advance the foundation’s strategic priorities and systems-level change. The Executive Director will also identify strategies to integrate and honor the voices of youth and those with lived experience in the systems and issues the foundation hopes to influence. Finally, the Executive Director will integrate and synergize effective approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), across the foundation and with grantees in close partnership with the organization’s new Director of DEI.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Vision, expertise, and leadership advancing the field of effective philanthropy, particularly in the development and implementation of practices and tools to keep equity at the center.
• A deep personal and professional commitment to social justice and equity with a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of the issues and challenges facing the populations the foundation serves; a servant leader with an authentic and grounded approach who conveys passion, humility, and a strong values orientation.
• Proven success in an externally facing leadership role, preferably in a nonprofit, philanthropic, or other mission-aligned organization.
• Experience leading a comparably sized staff and skill to collaborate across the foundation and with the family office.
• Ability to build trust quickly and be a thought partner in the development of the trustees’ vision for their philanthropic impact; organizational adeptness to translate that vision into priorities and goals and align resources effectively.
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a sophisticated understanding of the systemic, structural, and historical challenges that impact youth, especially youth of color and LGBTQ youth.
• Sophisticated understanding and experience achieving impact using philanthropic tools to affect change through policy/advocacy, influencing the field, and/or innovative grantmaking.
• Systems-level thinking and demonstrated experience leading advocacy and policy work at both the state and federal level in areas relevant to the foundation; experience building and supporting public and private partnerships to achieve greater impact.
• Proven track record of delivering regular and well-organized information to trustees in order to ensure alignment, strong organizational governance, operational excellence, and strategic focus; experience managing change, leading through growth and transition, and creating a shared vision.
• Exceptional communication skills, including communicating in a compelling, inspirational manner in a variety of settings.
• Experience leading teams with a high degree of emotional intelligence and trust; a leadership style that is driven by active inquiry and learning, an intellectual curiosity that seeks to creatively synthesize ideas and input from multiple sources, and the ability to recognize excellence.
• Proven ability to lead thoughtfully and intentionally, gathering input, acting on feedback, making appropriate yet at times difficult decisions, and demonstrating sound professional judgment; maturity, gravitas, and self-knowledge to know when to step into the spotlight and the humility and team orientation to know when to let others take the lead.
• Team orientation, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and sense of humor necessary to create an inclusive and equitable culture where staff are supported to maximize their full potential and share in the joy and passion of mission-driven work.
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred in a field related to the foundation’s work.

This search is being conducted with assistance from Katherine Jacobs, Carolyn Ho, Callie Carroll, and Chris Cannon of Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group (NPAG). Please send nominations and/or applications including cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume, and where you learned of the position to: RF-ED@nonprofitprofessionals.com

The Raikes Foundation’s ability to achieve its mission is enhanced by a diverse team, an inclusive culture and programmatic strategies that apply an equity lens. The foundation seeks candidates who possess the knowledge, skills, and lived experience that contribute to the diversity of our team and share a commitment to equity.

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