Posted on January 8, 2013

print

Executive Director

Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (commonly known as SV2 - http://www.sv2.org) is a high-impact, nonprofit giving circle – and the second largest venture philanthropy Partnership in the world. Our donors (“Partners”) are the leaders of SV2’s work and pool their skills, energy, ideas, and money to make a bigger, more meaningful difference than any one person could make alone. SV2’s nearly 200 Partners together decide which cutting‐edge, innovative nonprofits will receive SV2’s 3-year grants (“Grantees”) in the areas of Education, Environment, Health, and International Development.

Embracing the venture philanthropy model of leveraging financial, human and intellectual capital, the Partners select Grantees that have proven models and are at crucial inflection points in their organizational development, and Partners offer professional advising to help each Grantee build capacity and scale up, not just pay for current programs. Founded in 1998, SV2’s mission includes not only building the capacity of our Grantees, but also the philanthropic capacity of our Partners and through them our community to catalyze positive social impact. We pursue the latter half of our mission through Partner-led experiential grantmaking, Partner-driven speaker series, and Partner-focused training programs.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

SV2 seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial, hands-on Executive Director (ED) to lead the organization as we enter our 15th year, including managing all day-to-day operations of SV2 as well as interfacing with our nearly 200 Partners, supervising three full time staff members, SV2 Grantees, and diverse external stakeholders. ED responsibilities include working with board and governance, strategic planning and execution, membership and fundraising, donor education, grantmaking and Grantee impact, communications and external relations, and operations. All of this work is in service of our overall mission and goals – to both empower our Partners as philanthropists and create positive social/environmental impact in the Bay Area and beyond through experiential donor education, grantmaking, and “beyond the grant” support to Grantees – while also maintaining SV2’s own sustainability and organizational growth. The ED will work in Partnership with our board and staff in service of our Partners’ vision, education, and objectives.

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Board of Directors.

Board and Governance

• Create and manage policies, procedures and budgets in concert with Board of Directors
• Ensure that SV2 is in compliance with bylaws and all contractual responsibilities
• Assist with board development and provide necessary support to board members and committees
• Prepare and oversee quarterly board materials and co-lead board meeting

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Work with SV2 board to create and execute on strategic plan
• Create the annual plan, goals, indicators and monitoring to measure results in relation to the strategic plan

Membership and Fundraising

• Manage and grow relationships with our approximately 110 Partner units (nearly 200 individual Partners)
• Set and meet recruiting and retention targets annually in concert with Board of Directors, including (1) meet with and close prospective Partners, (2) develop and execute on recruiting events, (3) cultivate strong recruiting from amongst current Partnership, (4) lead annual membership renewal processes
• Set and meet targets for increased giving by current Partners and cultivation of additional major donors in concert with Board of Directors
• Evaluate opportunities to grow/expand SV2’s revenue model including membership structure/offerings, foundation funding, corporate Partnerships, etc.

Donor Education and Partner Events

• Work with SV2’s Director of Communications and Training to enhance and execute a variety of trainings and programming to increase donor knowledge of philanthropy and engagement in SV2 grantmaking and with Grantees
• Oversee content and execution of all events, including three all-Partner events per year: Annual Meeting (Fall), Holiday Party, and Spring Meeting

Grantmaking and Grantee Impact

• Work with SV2’s Director of Grantmaking and Grantee Impact and key Partner leaders on executing annual grant rounds, which includes: identifying grant round focus, proposal process, final Grantee selection, Grantee completion of Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT), development of grant agreements and annual Grantee work plans, fund allocations, and tracking of milestones and outcomes measurement, and engaging SV2 Partners as effective Lead Partners (relationship managers) and advisors to Grantees

Communications and External Relations

• Work with SV2’s Director of Communications and Training to cultivate local, national and global awareness of SV2 including on website, social media, in press, print pieces and in professional networks
• Oversee all internal and external messaging, including monthly communications to Partners, regular communications to Grantees and other stakeholders, Annual report, individual press releases and other communication efforts and projects as relevant
• Represent SV2 as a spokesperson in a variety of public forums

Operations

• Perform all day-to-day operations of SV2 in conjunction with three other full time staff members (Director of Communications and Training, Director of Grantmaking and Grantee Impact, and Administrative Assistant) as well as members of the Board of Directors and a variety of Partner leaders
• Prudently direct financial resources and manage all financials within budget guidelines and according to current laws, regulations and bylaws
• Work regularly with bookkeeper to ensure accurate and timely monthly financial reports, and communicate with Board of Directors on all financial matters per bylaws
• Manage and motivate the staff team, including staff development, coaching, performance management, compensation and benefits
• Ensure that personnel policies are adhered to in employment practices and partner with Board of Directors regarding implementation (and any changes over time) of such policies
• Work with SV2 Board of Directors and staff on any future hiring of staff and/or interns
• Continuously enhance and execute on effective knowledge management
• Oversee and connect evaluation efforts across the many aspects of SV2’s work
• Maintain key relationships with staff and Partners in the Social Venture Partners Network (www.svpi.org)
• Ensure that SV2 has the appropriate systems, physical space, technology and other resources to operate efficiently and effectively

Special Projects

In Fall 2013, there will be two special projects for the Executive Director to oversee together with staff, Partners, and colleagues from the Social Venture Partners network:

• SV2’s 15th Annual Meeting (Fall, date TBD)
• Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) Annual Conference to be held in Palo Alto, CA on October 17-19, 2013

In Winter 2014, there will be one special project for the Executive Director to Partner together with staff from Stanford PACS, SV2, SVP Seattle, New Profit, and SPVI: International Venture Philanthropy Summit: A Second Decade of High Impact – Hosted by Stanford PACS and co-chaired by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen (SV2 Founder), Paul Shoemaker (SVP Seattle ED) and Vanessa Kirsh (New Profit Founder/ED) – the first summit was held in 2004 by the same co-chairs at Stanford.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of five years of experience of demonstrated leadership or equivalent in nonprofit fundraising, grantmaking and/or volunteer management required
• Demonstrated success leading and working effectively in busy, collaborative, non-hierarchical environments
• Ability to plan and think strategically while also executing effectively on tactics and operations, and the ability to make trade-offs with end goals in mind
• Able to work independently, take initiative and participate as an effective team member
• Passionate about leadership in service of our Partner-led and driven model
• Excellent written communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to facilitate, engage, motivate and inspire a wide range of audiences
• Build and motivate teams of staff and volunteers (donors)
• Strong financial and analytical skills, including building budgets, preparing board reports, overseeing monthly closes and financial scenario planning
• Impeccable organizational skills, with outstanding attention to detail
• Work with diverse people and groups and in multicultural environments
• Work with and be responsive to the needs of experienced donors
• Work evenings and weekends as required for meetings, special events, etc.
• Passion for community involvement and philanthropy
• Infectious enthusiasm, entrepreneurial spirit, strong charisma, organizational savvy, diplomacy and outstanding interpersonal skills
• Excellent judgment, flexibility, good humor, and humility
• Outcomes-based grantmaking and/or venture philanthropy experience preferred as well
• Four-year college degree required; advanced degree in business, public policy, or related disciplines highly preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to spend extended hours at the computer. This position requires travel a few times per year with advance notice for conferences and key meetings, as well as all evening and weekend events planned by the SV2 Partnership.

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS: $110,000 to $130,000, commensurate with experience. In addition, SV2 offers excellent benefits, including health & dental insurance, an employer-sponsored health spending account, a 403b retirement plan (with company matching contributions), and paid holidays and vacation/sick days.

Application Instructions

APPLICATION DEADLINE – January 14, 2013 at 12:00 pm(No phone inquiries please)

To apply in confidence, please emailSV2EDJob@gmail.com no later than Monday, January 14, 2013 at 12:00 pm (earlier submissions welcome and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis) and must include:

A cover letter indicating where you saw the job posting or from whom you heard about the opening, explanation as to why you are interested and how you see your qualifications fitting the position description and your recent salary history. (Please title the file with your full name – i.e., Pat Smith cover letter.)

Your resume. (Please title the file with your full name – i.e., Pat Smith resume.)

If possible, please pdf your cover letter followed by your resume in one document and title the file with your full name – i.e., Pat Smith cover letter & resume).

Following initial resume and cover letter screening by the SV2 Board of Directors Executive Search Committee, the hiring process will consist of multiple interviews with Partners and staff, and for finalists will include a writing and presentation exercise as well.

SV2 is an equal opportunity employer.

JOB-START TIMEFRAME

We seek to have the successful candidate in place as soon as possible and no later than March 2013.

Please forward this opportunity widely to anyone you think might be a strong fit for the position.