Executive Director

Founded in 2019 by the Ford Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation, the Disability & Philanthropy Forum is a
philanthropic-mobilizing organization created in response to calls
to action by the disability community to address gaps in disability
representation in philanthropy and funding. Now fiscally sponsored
by the Proteus Fund, the Forum has evolved to fill a void in the
philanthropic sector. The Forum mobilizes philanthropy to dismantle
ableism in the field by increasing funding for disability
inclusion, rights, and justice; amplifying the leadership of
disabled people in the philanthropic sector; and educating
philanthropic organizations on building a culture of
inclusion. 

 

The Disability & Philanthropy Forum fulfills its mission by
utilizing programmatic strategies of Learning,
Philanthropic Advocacy, and Peer
Networks. The mission is achieved through the Forum’s three
main strategies:

 

1. Building a learning ladder of programs and resources that help
   funders increase disability inclusion and deepen their commitment
   to disability rights and justice;
2. Advocating for disability rights and justice within
   philanthropy while building systems of accountability to monitor
   progress; and
3. Sustaining peer networks at all levels in philanthropy, from
   program and support staff to CEOs.

 

With the Forum’s support, philanthropic leaders and staff are
beginning to incorporate disability inclusion into their operations
and grantmaking and are transforming philanthropy through their
collective commitment. 

 

To learn more, please visit the Disability & Philanthropy
Forum’s website. 

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Disability & Philanthropy Forum seeks its next Executive
Director to carry forward the organization’s mission and strategic
plan and to usher the organization through a period of
transformation. The Forum’s next Executive Director will spearhead
the organization’s outreach to achieve greater levels of influence,
impact, and recognition in the philanthropic sector. The Executive
Director will play a critical role in elevating the Forum’s brand
as a leader and resource for disability inclusion in the
philanthropic sector and growing the organization into a
financially sustainable philanthropy-serving organization with
diverse sources of income within five years.

 

The Executive Director will provide sound fiscal leadership,
staff leadership and supervision, program and operational
oversight, and external relations. They will lead the charge to
advance disability inclusion across the philanthropy sector, build
paid organizational membership, and grow the network of Disability
Inclusion Pledge signatories. They will be responsible for working
with the Governance and Advisory Committees to establish and
realize strategic goals, foster relationships with Forum members
and external partners, and implement diversified fundraising
strategies.

 

The Executive Director must be a hands-on and collaborative
leader who is comfortable actualizing a highly visible role in the
disability and philanthropic communities. The Executive Director
will serve as the Forum’s preeminent ambassador who can combine
their profound knowledge of the philanthropic sector with their
experience in/knowledge of the disability community to bring the
philanthropic sector on a collective journey toward disability
inclusion, rights and ultimately, justice. The Executive Director
must be an extremely effective communicator who can represent the
Forum across various audiences and venues.

 

The search for the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s next
Executive Director is being conducted by LaCire. Application instructions can
be found in the To Apply section
of this document.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Outreach and Expansion

• Grow and maintain the Forum’s membership and peer networks by
  building meaningful and authentic relationships with foundation and
  philanthropy-serving organization (PSO) leaders, and professionals
  in philanthropic and grantmaking institutions. Maintain a
  responsive posture toward the interests and needs of current and
  future members.
• Nurture, expand, and serve as the primary liaison to the
  Forum’s key stakeholder groups, including the Forum’s founding peer
  network, the Presidents’ Council (which is currently composed of 17
  foundation CEOs), and others. Collaborate with the Presidents’
  Council Co-chairs and the Disability Inclusion Fund at Borealis
  Philanthropy to encourage and support Council members as donors,
  and to oversee planning for two annual meetings (one in-person and
  one virtual) focused on education and accountability.
• Cultivate the Forum’s work to uplift and support the efforts of
  Presidents’ Council members and Disability Inclusion Pledge
  signatories in advancing disability inclusion, rights, and
  justice.
• Works towards aligning Forum members and Peer Networks around
  key disability inclusion issues where the philanthropic community
  can have an impact. These issues include educational barriers,
  healthcare disparities, employment issues, disability and
  diversity, legal and policy gaps, and more.
• Advocate for philanthropy to engage in learning and collective
  action around issues identified by the disability community.
• Deftly maintain, cultivate, and leverage relationships with key
  decision-makers across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Expertly bring together diverse networks and communities, both
  within and outside the Forum’s network, and facilitate
  cross-pollination between various groups and identities.
• Grow and diversify the organization’s funding base through new
  and innovative partnerships and build robust, trusting
  relationships with key funders.
• Oversee the development of new organizational membership
  products and programming, ensuring they align with the Forum’s
  vision and core values, and ensure the continued offering of
  exceptional programs and services to Forum members.

 

Financial and Organizational Management

• Manage relationship with fiscal sponsor, Proteus Fund.
• Prepare the organization’s annual budget. Monitor monthly
  spending and review monthly financials with the Forum’s fiscal
  sponsor, Proteus Fund.
• Prepare, develop, edit, and submit grant proposals, reports,
  and other donor communications (including grant budgets) alongside
  the organization’s grant writing consultant. Work with staff to
  ensure timely grant spend down and to adjust plans accordingly, and
  work with Proteus Fund, consultants, and staff to ensure
  appropriate financial and narrative reporting.
• Develop and manage long-term revenue streams and business
  models to support programs, activities, operations, and new
  initiatives.
• Oversee all business and HR operations in coordination with the
  Proteus Fund. Develop, implement, and refine operational policies,
  procedures, practices, and guidelines as needed to customize them
  for the Forum.
• Serve as primary liaison to Governance and Advisory Committee
  and Presidents’ Council and prepare for their meetings, including
  developing agendas and overseeing meeting logistics, materials,
  presentations, and communications.

 

Advocacy and External Leadership

• Serve as the chief ambassador for the Forum and a notable
  “philanthropic mobilizer” who can rouse foundations and
  philanthropic leaders around the organization’s mission and
  purpose.
• Serve as a key thought leader in the philanthropic and
  disability communities who stays up to date on relevant policy and
  advocacy issues surrounding disability rights, inclusion, and
  justice. This leader will communicate and write publicly to make
  effective connections between disability inclusion, social change,
  and philanthropic priorities.
• Lead efforts to dismantle barriers to disability inclusion in
  philanthropy and beyond. Champion disability inclusion in all
  aspects of philanthropic operations and resource allocation.
• Analyze and develop strategic approaches to engage and partner
  with other philanthropy-serving organizations to lift up and
  amplify broader and intersecting priorities.
• Elevate the Disability & Philanthropy Forum into a
  recognized and respected institution for disability advocacy in the
  philanthropic sector.

 

Organizational and Staff Development

• Guide Forum staff in the development and implementation of work
  plans, ensuring their alignment with the organization’s existing
  strategic plan, priorities, and core values.
• Partner with Forum Committee members and staff to articulate
  and implement the vision for the Forum’s future, aligning with and
  building on the five-year strategic plan created in 2023.
• Inspire, lead, and manage a diverse and talented team of
  professionals in a virtual environment. Foster a positive culture
  of connectivity, inclusion, shared values, enthusiasm for the work,
  and high performance.
• Model self-care to avoid burnout and prioritize overall
  wellbeing and support Forum staff in doing the same.
• Mentor Forum staff and cultivate opportunities for professional
  development.
• Provide regular and thorough updates to the Governance and
  Advisory Committees as well as the Presidents’ Council on areas of
  success and needs for support.

 

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Strong candidates will bring excellent management and
operational skills, superb communications and relationship building
skills, experience with philanthropy, experience with disability
inclusion and advocacy, and a demonstrated ability to build a
dynamic team and organization during a pivotal growth
period. 

The ideal candidate should possess:

• A profound understanding of, and demonstrated experience in,
  the disability community and a demonstrated commitment to advancing
  disability inclusion, rights, and justice.
• Visionary leadership in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and/or
  public service sectors. Experience with membership associations
  and/or private foundations is a plus.
• Exceptional communications, writing, and public speaking
  skills. Comfortable representing an organization to external
  audiences and amplifying an organization’s voice.
• Strong fundraising skills, including a proven track record of
  successfully driving revenue diversification.
• Strong internal management and operational skills, including
  financial and business acumen. Demonstrated experience in work
  planning and budgeting.
• Experience managing a dynamic and diverse team of people with
  disabilities and ensuring an accessible and safe workplace for all
  staff.
• Experience in long-term planning with an organization and
  operationalizing organizational visions.
• A proven track record of successfully collaborating with
  multiple teams and diverse stakeholders to achieve shared
  objectives.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience in disability advocacy and/or policy and a deep
  appreciation for the intersectionality of systems that impact
  disabled people.
• Experience hosting convenings/events to collaborate with
  stakeholders in the philanthropic field.
• A strong grasp of communications and social media, particularly
  as these tools are used to understand and engage with conversations
  going on in the disability community.
• Experience leading/working with a virtual team.
• Adept at navigating spaces that include collaborators with
  diverse backgrounds and identities and addressing equity with staff
  and the broader philanthropic community.
• Proficiency in additional languages other than spoken English
  (i.e. ASL, French, Haitian Creole, or Spanish.)

 

The Disability & Philanthropy Forum is committed to equal
employment opportunity and full accessibility of the candidate
selection process (please see more about our commitment to equity
below). Candidates who have lived disability experience and
identify as having a disability are welcome and highly encouraged
to apply for this position.

POSITION TYPE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is a full-time, exempt position with a work schedule of 40
hours per week. During the summer months, the Disability &
Philanthropy Forum operates on a reduced work schedule with
half-day Fridays.

This is largely a sedentary role requiring prolonged periods of
being at a desk and working on a computer. Standing is not
required.

 

This position typically requires an indoor setting, the use of
standard office equipment, such as computers and phones, and access
to a stable Wi-Fi network. The Disability & Philanthropy Forum
will provide a fixed monthly stipend for telecommunications
costs.

 

This position is fully remote. Typical core working hours are 9
a.m. – 5 p.m. Central Time (CT) or Eastern Time (ET), but there is
flexibility based on time zones and other needs.

 

Travel will be required for this position. The anticipated
travel schedule is approximately 40-50 days per year.

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

A comprehensive salary and benefits package will be provided,
including health, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plan
offerings; generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave; professional
development opportunities; and more.

The starting salary range offered for this position is $180,000
– $220,000 per year and is based on a variety of factors including,
but not limited to: geographic location, skill set, number of years
of previous/applicable experience, and Proteus Fund’s commitment to
ensuring pay equity within the organization. The recruiting team
will share more details regarding salary bands based on the factors
noted above.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY

The Disability & Philanthropy Forum and its fiscal sponsor
Proteus Fund are committed to diversity and equal opportunity
employment. The Disability & Philanthropy Forum and Proteus
Fund do not discriminate based on race, creed, color, ethnicity,
national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity
and expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability,
veteran status, military obligations, or marital status. This
policy applies to hiring, internal promotions, training,
opportunities for advancement, and terminations and applies to all
Disability & Philanthropy Forum and Proteus Fund employees,
volunteers, members, clients, and contractors.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

To maintain and safeguard staff’s health, well-being, and
safety, Proteus Fund requires all employees to be vaccinated prior
to their employment. Proof of the CDC-recommended level of COVID-19
vaccination is required as a condition of employment with Proteus
Fund. Exemptions will be considered for medical reasons and/or
religious beliefs.

 

 

 

TO APPLY

The Disability & Philanthropy Forum is partnering with Jamie
Albaum and Lauren Bell of LaCire to manage applications. To
apply for this position, please use the application form.

If you encounter any challenges accessing or using the online
form, please reach out to [email protected] and we will ensure
proper accommodations are provided.

Please note that only candidates who are selected to move
forward will be contacted. Candidates who are selected to move
forward will be contacted by the end of February 2024. The hiring
process will take place in three rounds during March and April
2024.

 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an
application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing,
or otherwise participating in the candidate selection process,
please direct your inquiries to our lead recruiter, Jamie Albaum,
at [email protected] or (504)
941-1086.