Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation: Where Giving Grows

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (“the Foundation”) believes strong communities are built through knowledge and empowerment. With roots in Saint Paul since 1940 and partners across the state, the Foundation represents Minnesota’s largest community foundation and the partner of choice for thousands of donors, nonprofits and community organizations that are working to address some of the biggest problems facing Minnesota communities. In 2023, the Foundation and its partners F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation granted over $100MM to nonprofits who are working to meet the diverse community needs and making lasting impact across the East Metro and Minnesota. The Foundation is resolutely focused on its strategic goals to inspire generosity, advocate for equity and invest in community-led solutions to make Minnesota better for all who call it home. The Foundation employs approximately 70 staff and the assets under management total $1.8B.

For more information about the Foundation please visit: www.spmcf.org.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Community Impact, the Managing Director serves as the chief relationship manager and provides oversight of F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation, the client foundations serviced by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. The Managing Director serves a key cross-functional role in aligning finance, investments, grantmaking, and governance services to meet stated client foundation needs and priorities in accordance with each client foundation’s annual agreement with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. The Managing Director is the direct liaison between client foundation boards and SPMF’s executive team.

Reports to: Vice President of Community Impact

Direct Reports: Client Foundations Manager

Other key relationships:
Board Chair, F. R. Bigelow Foundation
Board Chair, Mardag Foundation
Senior Director of Community Impact
Finance Team
Philanthropic Services Team
Investments Team

Position Location: St. Paul, Minnesota; all employees are expected to live within a commutable driving distance to the office. The hybrid working model provides flexibility for staff to work from the location that fits them best. In-office days include quarterly all-staff meetings and other collaborative business planning, committee and ad hoc meetings.

Compensation: $174,000 annual full-time exempt (no variable component).
Excellent benefits including generous retirement contributions, professional development, PTO/holidays and more.
Periodic travel to attend conferences and participate in organizational off-site meetings.

Key Responsibilities

Board Management

Lead strategy, governance, and board engagement work for client foundations. Know and understand each client foundation bylaws and governing policies, ensuring client activities align with all policies. In collaboration with the client board leadership, develop a pipeline of board members with skills, lived experiences, and perspectives necessary to support the mission and vision for the respective client foundation; develop strong 1:1 and group relationships within client boards to create a sense of cohesion and community for each board. Work closely with client foundation board chairs to develop client foundation strategy and annual work plans. Serve as the primary link between SPMF staff and client foundation boards. Manage board agendas to facilitate effective board meetings and/or retreats. Report and share information with the client foundation boards to ensure they are kept fully informed on the condition of the foundation and key factors influencing it. Coordinate with other SPMF executives to staff and facilitate committees and task forces of client foundations. Create and maintain the client foundation budgets, accomplishing financial objectives for both SPMF and client foundations through forecasting, planning, and analysis. Participate in client foundation committee and task force meetings to ensure alignment across functions and strategies.

Team Leadership

Lead and supervise staff as assigned, currently supervises the Client Foundation Manager. Through direct and indirect reporting relationships, ensure staff satisfaction, growth and retention while meeting the commitments of the Foundation. Supervise, manage, and/or coordinate consultants and partners. Participate as an active member in the Community Impact leadership team working to develop staff, create a collaborative and equitable culture, and ensure grantmaking and programmatic activities meet client goals and priorities.

Collaborative, Cross-Functional Leadership

Lead, partner, and/or collaborate with other departments to ensure alignment between client foundation priorities and SPMF strategies, operations, and resources. Coordinate cross-functional teams in service of client work. As needed, represent Client Foundations and or the Community Impact team in cross-functional, interdepartmental workgroups and committees that address organizational practices, policies, and protocols. Partner with Community Impact Leadership, Grants Team, Grants Administration, Finance, Investments, and others to implement strategic initiatives and grantmaking in alignment with Client Foundation goals and strategies.

Community Leadership & Special Projects

Participate in periodic external collaborative efforts as directed by the VP of Community Impact. Lead and/or participate in special projects to achieve Client Foundation and/or SPMF goals

Ideal Candidate Profile

The Foundation is seeking a collaborative leader who believes in the power of philanthropy to transform communities and is compelled by the mission and purpose of the Foundation. The ideal candidate will be energized by the opportunity to navigate complex organizations and develop strong relationships to support the client foundations to achieve their goals. They will be an effective leader of people, with the ability to develop others, represent the Foundation to a variety of audiences, and work collaboratively with colleagues across the Foundation.

As a leader at the Foundation, the Managing Director of Client Foundations is expected to demonstrate the following leadership competencies, skills, expertise and qualifications, and workstyle:

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Eight to ten years of demonstrated success with progressive experience in executive leadership, board management, and/or nonprofit/philanthropy organizational development. Proven experience and successful track record in strategy development and implementation as partner to boards and executive leaders. Outstanding judgment, strategic thinking, and project management skills; highly skilled at juggling multiple projects and priorities. History of and interest in thinking in new ways and successfully implementing projects from beginning to end. Excellence in time management, organization, and commitment to meeting and exceeding standards of excellence set for department and organization. Excellence in writing and verbal communication; ability to effectively communicate community impact to multiple audiences and stakeholders. Experience in performance planning, management and staff leadership aligned with strategy and performance outcomes. Confidence and competence in learning and using existing and new technologies. Demonstrated ability to effectively and proactively interact, communicate, and collaborate on multidisciplinary teams and with people from cultural backgrounds other than your own. Ability to successfully navigate and leverage available resources within a complex organizational structure that includes multiple governing bodies, client organizations, and cross-functional activities. Familiarity with dynamics and trends in family philanthropy, private independent philanthropy, and community philanthropy. Humility and ability to lead in a strong executive role without needing to be the face of the work done on behalf of clients. Ability to strike a balance between facilitative consensus building and decisive action orientation. Comfortability with complex organizational budgets and ability to present budgets in coordination with finance staff.

Work Style

Humble and empathetic with high emotional intelligence Excellent communicator, presents ideas effectively both verbally and in writing Proactive self-starter with effective management, organizational and time management skills. Ability to work with some degree of ambiguity as role evolves with the Foundation’s strategic growth plans. Demonstration of the Foundation’s core organizational values in performing all duties. A strong work ethic, clear demonstration of honesty and integrity, and the highest ethical standards are assumed

The Foundation’s DEI Commitment

The Foundation consistently works to make the community a stronger, more equitable place. To fulfill the mission, the Foundation understands that employing a diverse team of knowledgeable, passionate individuals who reflect our community is vital. To that end, the Foundation’s staff consistently works to ensure that recruiting activities and hiring plans align with their commitment to equitable hiring practices.

To Apply

The Foundation has partnered with Doran Leadership Partners to lead this search. Please send your resume and cover letter to jane.outar@doranleadership.com. Review of applications will begin immediately.

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Managing Director, Client Foundations