Summary
Description
About the Minnesota Council on Foundations
Minnesota Council on Foundations, a community of grantmakers, actively works to strengthen and expand philanthropy and improve the vitality and health of our communities. The Council is a regional membership association of family and private foundations, community and other public foundations, and corporate foundations and giving programs. As one of the 30+ regional associations of grantmakers in the United States, MCF is one of the oldest, largest, and most robust.
MCF’s 170 members represent grantmaking organizations throughout the state, providing millions of dollars and non-financial resources to nonprofits annually. MCF members represent three-quarters of Minnesota’s private sector grantmaking; members award more than $1 billion annually. MCF crafts programs and services to meet member needs, designed through engagement and collaboration with its networks, members, committees, partners, and stakeholders. MCF provides crucial public information about philanthropic sector activities and priorities for the region’s nonprofit sector, policymakers, media, and the public; collaborates with organizations such as the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits to support philanthropic and nonprofit public policy initiatives; and partners with its membership as a leading voice for the sector across multiple constituencies.
MCF strives to be a forward-thinking, learning organization committed to expanding collective knowledge of effective philanthropic practices. Members of MCF are asked to affirm that they accept the spirit of the Principles for Philanthropy and commit to a path of learning and organizational growth, appropriate to their community context. These principles are collectively developed and periodically renewed by the membership. MCF is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its own work and the work of its members.
MCF convenes its members regularly for briefings, peer and issue-based networks, and for the annual conference. These meetings build relationships across the sector, join grantmakers in common cause, and provide professional development opportunities for grantmaking staff. The Community Foundations Network, Climate Donor Table, and Learning and Evaluation Network are just a few examples of this work.
MCF frequently collaborates with member foundations and partners to address emerging community needs. Examples of recent pooled-funding initiatives include:
- The Minnesota Democracy Expansion Fund, a statewide fund open to organizations doing voter engagement work in communities throughout Minnesota;
- Press Forward Minnesota, a statewide fund that aims to invest in and re-center local journalism as a force for community cohesion, civic participation, and government accountability, with a focus on racial equity;
- The Supporting Equitable Recovery via Intermediary Capacity Enhancements (SERVICE) Fund, which provided flexible funding to support intermediaries that are re-granting federal, state, and/or county funds for COVID relief and recovery efforts in Minnesota
MCF’s annual reports and financial statements are available on the organization’s website.
About the opportunity
MCF’s new president will join the organization at a time when the opportunity to build public awareness around the critical role of philanthropy and nonprofits in fostering civil society is urgent and expansive. MCF’s next leader will be in a position to amplify the voices of the charitable sector and to protect and advance the policy environment that enables charitable work to flourish. MCF seeks its next President from a position of organizational strength and vitality, and after a period of successful rebuilding. Membership has grown significantly during the past five years; the operating budget is healthy; and, for the last several years, MCF has increased net assets and reserves consistently above the organization’s goal.
The President provides overall leadership for the organization, driving strategy development and overseeing the execution of initiatives aligned with MCF’s mission, vision, strategic framework, and organizational health. This includes overseeing key functions related to members, partnerships, governance, and staff. The President maintains strong relationships across multiple sectors, builds bridges between the field of philanthropy and community partners, offers support and mentoring to the staff team, and collaborates closely with the board of directors as a strategic partner. The President serves as a voice for Minnesota’s philanthropic community, and is actively involved in philanthropic and nonprofit policy discussions, both at the local and national level.
The MCF board of directors has formed a Search Committee that is actively participating in the search process, and will be engaged in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of the finalist. The Search Committee plans to present the final candidate for Board approval by June 30, 2025.
About the responsibilities
The President fosters a positive, inclusive, and supportive organizational culture. The President ensures that the work of MCF leads the sector while remaining proactively attentive to the varying needs of its member organizations, board and committee members, and staff.
Organizational Strength and Strategy
- Develop and execute strategies aligned with MCF’s mission and strategic framework
- Ensure MCF’s organizational and financial health
- Implement inclusive governance practices to support the board and committees
Community Engagement and Impact
- Build strong relationships with members, enhancing MCF’s relevance and reputation in Minnesota’s philanthropic community
- Support members in sharing insights, resources, and tools, and encouraging adaptation to community needs
- Foster a culture that celebrates diversity and learns from conflict
Strategic Community Partnerships
- Engage external partners to advance philanthropy and public policy in the interest of MCF members
- Promote cross-sector collaboration, especially among philanthropic, nonprofit, and government sectors, to maximize collaboration and partnership for community impact
- Participate in state and national conversations about the future of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, and sharing learnings and information with members and partners
Incorporate Core Organizational Commitments into MCF’s Culture and Work
- Uphold and demonstrate the Principles for Philanthropy within MCF and the broader field of philanthropy
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of issues facing the field of philanthropy to inform interactions with members and the public
- Provide commitment, leadership, and resources to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism throughout MCF, including its policies, culture, practices, programs, governance, partnerships, and role in the community
Leadership and Team Development
- Lead, inspire, coach, and support MCF’s staff, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture 3
- Ensure that MCF is a competitive employer in terms of compensation, benefits, and workplace culture
- Supervise key roles: Vice President of Member Services; Vice President of Policy and Partnerships; Director of Equity and Belonging; Finance and Administration Manager; Governance and Operations Manager
- Foster a culture of learning, growth, and succession planning within the staff and board
MCF has a hybrid work environment with an office in St. Paul where all staff gather twice monthly. Staff are also expected to be present for in-person meetings and events with MCF members and the community. When in-person attendance is not required, staff are welcome to work at the MCF office or another place of their choice.
Qualifications sought
The MCF President is a leader in Minnesota’s nonprofit and philanthropic sector and the position requires an individual with experience in nonprofit management and leadership, knowledge of the state of Minnesota’s philanthropic sector, and a history of positive and productive relationships with MCF’s constituencies.
The Search Committee is looking for an individual with:
- At least ten years experience in nonprofit management, philanthropy, and/or membership organizations
- Experience managing a highly engaged, functional and committed Board of Directors
- Supervisory experience, especially with teams composed of different generations and levels of experience
- Understanding of the unique nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem that exists in Minnesota
- Background or strong interest in public policy as it pertains to philanthropy and nonprofits, and the ability to promote public policy positions both internally and externally
- Strong DEI orientation with the capability to voice support of and manage organizational practices relating to DEI efforts and programming
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
The successful candidate will be highly relational in their leadership style, with strong listening skills, an approach that draws on the expertise and experience of members and staff, and the ability to mobilize members and partners to develop actions and responses that serve the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
Compensation and benefits
The starting salary range for this position is $200,000 – $225,000. MCF’s benefits are detailed in the attached document.
The application process
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Sarah Lutman, Principal, 8 Bridges Workshop (MCFsearch@8bridgesworkshop.com). Applications will be handled in confidence.
- The selection process will include preliminary review and interviewing by Sarah Lutman and Enrique Olivarez at 8 Bridges Workshop and may include telephone or Zoom interviews; reference checking; and semi-finalist and finalist in-person interviews. The process will also include submission of writing and work samples from past positions.
- Please submit your application no later than 5:00 PM Central Time on May 7, 2025.
- For more information about the Minnesota Council on Foundations, please visit the website at https://www.mcf.org
MCF is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring individuals who contribute to the cultural diversity of their workplace.
