Visionary Leadership with Bill Strickland

" The only problem with poor people is that they are poor."
-Bill Strickland

I was excited, but not surprised when I saw one of my favorite people in the world as a featured speaker on TED Talks. Bill Strickland is the kind of visionary leader that I think all of us strive to be but the amazing thing about him is that his vision is so basic that it makes it seem downright crazy. Bill believes that by treating people with respect and kindness anyone can achieve great things. This means that by filling your community center with fresh flowers and gourmet food you will be able to teach an illiterate single mother how to be a pharmacy technician. It sounds crazy but he has done this and so much more for many, many years. I had the great privilege of visiting the Manchester Craftsman Guild (his nonprofit) during a Council on Foundations conference in Pittsburgh. I believe that visiting his center has changed the way that I approach program officer work and has made me encourage my grantees to reach so much higher than I ever would have in the past. Please take a half an hour to view his TED Talk, I promise it will be the most useful half an hour that you spend all week.

When home and work collide

Today is a big day for me at work. I have a huge project that is nearing completion and we have a grant round that just started, so I have a lot of research to do on the grant applicants. So what am I doing on this busy Monday morning? I am sitting at home watching the Bratz movie. Is it because pre-teen movies based on sexist dolls is my idea of a good time? No, it is because my daughter is home with a painful case of strep throat and I am not willing to make feminist arguments while she is crying because drinking water hurts her throat. When my daughter was younger, I hated these sick days because I felt like everything I was working on at the office was collapsing while I was sitting at home doing nothing. As I have grown older and wiser, I have figured out that parenting my kids, especially while they are sick is not doing nothing.
Sick time isn't something that can be figured out in Outlook, when it happens, my priority has to be getting myself or the kids healthy so that when I get back to work my head can be completely in the game. I've learned to always make sure that I have work at home that I can do, that my computer is configured to check my office email, and that I have a great team of people that keep the ball rolling when I'm out. I'd love to post more but I am missing a movie about friendship and the dangers of school cliques.

Here's to your health and the joys of parenthood!

Job Posting- Executive Director (location flexible)

The Grants Managers Network (GMN) provides a forum to exchange information about grants management and its relevance to efficient and effective grant making. GMN has more than 1,100 members nationwide representing 750+ private, community and corporate foundations. Twelve regional groups also support members--principally through periodic convenings--to discuss legal, technological, financial and other professional topics of mutual interest.

GMN enjoyed rapid membership growth in its first sixteen years of existence. The organization’s activities have also grown considerably, both in scope and complexity, as it has expanded the support it provides to members and become a national voice for the sector. As a result, GMN is now seeking a full-time Executive Director, working in close partnership with the Board of Directors, to represent the institution and manage the organization’s activities.

Position Summary

The Executive Director will be responsible for executing the major objectives of the institution, as articulated by the Board. He or she will provide leadership and oversight to all of GMN’s activities, represent GMN to its constituencies, and serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson for interactions with the philanthropic and nonprofit communities, regulatory bodies, funders, and general public. He or she will be responsible for advocating on behalf of and ensuring the ongoing delivery of quality services to GMN’s members in a cost-effective, responsible manner; establishing and implementing organizational policies and procedures; raising sufficient funds to support the organization’s activities; identifying staffing needs and managing personnel and contractual relationships; and, analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of GMN’s operations.

Location and Compensation

The office location will be determined by the selection of the Executive Director. Once a final candidate is chosen, the Board and Executive Director will explore options for leasing space from a local foundation or nonprofit. A comprehensive salary and benefits package will be offered commensurate with salary requirements and experience. More here.

Job Posting- Manager, Professional Development & e-Learning (MN)

Minnesota Council on Foundations is one of the oldest regional membership associations of grantmakers in the country. Its mission is to strengthen and expand philanthropy. Members include family and private independent foundations, community and other public foundations, and corporate foundations and giving programs. With a $1.2 million annual budget, the Council is committed to providing service to its members and providing leadership in the field.

The Council is seeking a manager for its Professional Development activities. Reporting to the Vice President of Member Services, the individual selected for the position will work with Council staff and members to assess the professional development needs of its members, identify emerging issues and trends and plan, develop, implement and evaluate high quality learning opportunities. These tasks bring the Manager, Professional Development and e-Learning into on-going direct contact with representatives of the Council’s member organizations. This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week); the position qualifies for employment benefits. More here.

Job Posting- Vice President of Community Investment (FL)

Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice seeks an exceptional candidate to fill the position of vice president for community investment. This position’s primary roles are to create and implement the key strategies for achieving the Foundation’s vision of a vital nonprofit community and to serve as a convener and a catalyst on emerging regional issues, thereby driving the growth of endowed philanthropy. More here.