Hidden Leaf Foundation
Hidden Leaf Foundation seeks a relational, values-aligned, and emotionally intelligent leader to serve as its next Executive Director (ED). The ED will advance Hidden Leaf’s mission, which is to promote inner awareness within liberatory movements in order to advance a more just, ecologically healthy, and compassionate society. As a small and collaborative family foundation, the ED will report to a three- to four-member Board of Directors (which includes both family and independent members), lead a three-person staff team, and work closely with next generation family members as well as movement and institutional partners. The ED will bring understanding of the Foundation’s priorities as well as personal commitment to a path of inner awareness that enhances organizational and societal effectiveness. Openness to ongoing experimentation and learning alongside skills and desire to evolve grants, investments, infrastructure, and storytelling will bolster the ability to thrive in this role.
The Opportunity
Hidden Leaf is excited to engage an innovative, inspirational, and highly collaborative ED motivated to work as a true partner to a committed and supportive board; a dynamic and dedicated family; and a thoughtful and effective staff. The next ED will honor Hidden Leaf’s spirit and history, building upon strong relationships with grantees and partners. The ED will also bring wisdom, grace, skill, and rigor towards enhancing Hidden Leaf’s grantmaking, investing, convening, evaluation, storytelling, and advocacy for practices that strengthen organizations working toward a just and sustainable world. The ED will lead the Foundation toward increased capacity, visibility, and impact, while holding operational, financial, personnel, and programmatic oversight responsibilities.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Provide Institutional Leadership
- Ensure ongoing alignment with Hidden Leaf’s founding values and vision.
- Continue to center and strengthen a focus on transformative path and practice in Hidden Leaf’s way of working with staff, board, and key advisors as well as with grantee and funder partners.
- Guide strategy and program development, including an integrated capital approach to giving that centers personal, collective, and social transformation through sustained practice and attention to spirit.
- Develop strong, reflective, collaborative relationships with staff, board, advisors, grantees, and philanthropic and nonprofit leaders.
- Build Hidden Leaf’s profile by representing the Foundation at conferences and convenings and serving as a voice for movement-centered and values-aligned philanthropy.
- Deepen Hidden Leaf’s work in funder organizing particularly around transformative practice and aligned investing.
- Partner with the Board
- Partner with the board in assessment and evolution of strategy, making recommendations that help develop and set the next strategy.
- Oversee the staffing and management of board committees and working groups to inform Hidden Leaf’s work in a values-aligned manner.
- Work with the board to refine board structure and composition including continued engagement of independent community members.
- Determine Hidden Leaf’s capacity to continue giving at an 8% payout level and recommend the Foundation’s next strategic commitment.
- Partner with Staff to Plan, Design, and Oversee Impactful Grantmaking and Investments
- Review the impact of Hidden Leaf’s first commitment to a five-year grantmaking cycle.
- Ensure continued commitment to a trust-based philanthropic approach.
- Assess and adapt grantmaking and integrated capital priorities in keeping with Hidden Leaf’s evolving strategies.
- Refine guidelines and procedures ensuring they are responsive to grantee and field partners.
- Facilitate learning from Hidden Leaf’s initial community and deep impact investments.
- Develop the communications support to share the story of Hidden Leaf’s five-year grantmaking and integrated capital strategy.
- Map, Build, and Grow Funding for the Field of Transformative Change
- Assess, in partnership with key stakeholders, the current state of the field.
- Step more fully into Hidden Leaf’s role as a field builder and funder organizer.
- Lead Hidden Leaf’s philanthropic advocacy through compelling communications.
- Evolve and deepen Hidden Leaf’s communications strategy.
- Ensure Excellent Operational, Administrative, and Financial Management
- Manage and help develop Hidden Leaf’s virtual staff team.
- Assess staffing structure and capacity and identify opportunities for expansion.
- Oversee and professionalize Hidden Leaf’s financial, administrative, and grantmaking systems.
- Draft, manage, and monitor an annual budget of approximately $3.3 million.
- Manage investment portfolio logistics and maintain advisor relationships.
- Prepare for and lead the development of Hidden Leaf’s next grantmaking strategy.
The Ideal Executive Director
The successful candidate will bring their experience as a transformative nonprofit or philanthropic practitioner, strategist, and field-builder; a personal commitment to inner awareness; and previous experience applying practice within social change organizations and/or movements.
Core leadership attributes and characteristics desired include:
- Highly collaborative, inclusive, and relationship-oriented.
- Deeply focused on racial equity and justice.
- Authentically values-aligned with a passion for leading from the inside out.
- Emotionally intelligent with the ability to understand and navigate emotions.
- Inspirational and courageous with a desire to catalyze innovative thinking.
- Intrinsically curious and analytical.
- Highly adaptive and facilitative.
- Remarkably clear and focused in communication.
Core lived and professional experiences and expertise desired include:
- Understanding of and alignment with progressive philanthropy.
- Demonstrated commitment to transformative practice.
- Demonstrated hands-on leadership within social and environmental justice movements.
- Experience reporting to and working closely with a Board of Directors.
- Adept at engaging multiple perspectives and facilitating conversations.
- Aptitude for delivering clear, compelling messages.
- Aptitude for and comfort with organizational and grantmaking budget management.
The Location, Work Culture, Compensation & Benefits
The ED will work predominantly virtually from home or from a small office. The anticipated annual compensation range is $230,000 to $270,000, commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits provided to all staff include health, dental, and vision insurance; a retirement plan; generous paid time off; and a paid sabbatical of three months after five years.
The Application Process
Hidden Leaf is partnering with Walker & Associates Consulting to facilitate this search. To apply, email a thoughtful cover letter and resume to hiddenleaf@walkeraac.com by Friday, November 8, 2024, at 5:00 pm PT.
Hidden Leaf is an at-will equal opportunity employer that deeply values diversity, inclusivity, and kindness in the workplace.
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