Chief Philanthropy Officer

 

FOUNDATION OVERVIEW

Founded in 2006 by Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, The Rees-Jones Foundation is a Christian faith-based private family foundation in Dallas, Texas that partners with non-profit organizations in North Texas and in international settings with the intent that the love of Christ is experienced in tangible ways by those who are disadvantaged or who are suffering spiritually, physically, or emotionally.

 

CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER

The Chief Philanthropy Officer is part of a Foundation team which is collaborative in its approach to grantmaking. The CPO is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, management, and execution of the Foundation’s grantmaking programs and will lead and coach a team of grant professionals, foster a culture of service to the communities we serve, and develop and lead grantmaking strategies that advance the Foundation’s donor intent and grant impact.  The person in this role is active in cultivating and maintaining strong, authentic relationships with grant seekers, and grantees to ensure effective communication of the Foundation’s strategic direction, processes, and expectations.

The ideal candidate will bring a faith perspective to the work with a relational mindset, strong administrative and project coordination skills, and the ability to navigate cultural and service concerns, particularly among our Christian faith-based grantee partners, with discernment and care. Because this position will not only represent the Foundation in interaction with our partners, but will also represent the Foundation’s values, compassion and empathy to grant applicants, government officials, other foundations and community leaders, excellent interpersonal skills, professional personal conduct and appearance will be very important in fulfilling the position. The Foundation is seeking candidates interested in a meaningful, long-term contribution to this work. The position is full time, based in the Dallas, Texas office.

 

 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

As a member of the Foundation’s Leadership Team, the Chief Philanthropy Officer has responsibility for the following scope of work:

 

• Strategic Leadership: Support the development and implementation of key strategies and priorities to advance the Foundation’s grant portfolios and our overall mission and donor intent objectives, thereby increasing the impact of priority funding areas in partnership with the agencies and constituencies served.

 

• Partner Stewardship: Represent the Foundation’s interests and communicate the objectives of the portfolios through highly relational engagement with key grantees, and related community stakeholders with the aim to build relationships with community leaders to further the Foundation’s mission and to identify partnership opportunities.

 

• Team Management: Provide guidance and support to team members in the development and execution of grantmaking strategies and initiatives, working with staff to establish clear goals that drive the achievement of measurable outcomes and impact through effective grantmaking practices.

 

• Professional Development Coordination: Encourage and facilitate learning across staff, identifying and planning opportunities for continuing professional development. Plan and coordinate convening of key stakeholders for learning and initiative development, and for community benefit.

 

• Grantmaking Process Direction: Review all incoming inquiries and provide leadership to the program staff in the analysis, review, and grant recommendation processes, ensuring alignment with Foundation’s donor intent and strategic priorities. Manage the scheduling of grant review dockets.

 

• Learning & Evaluation Alignment: Work with the Learning & Evaluation staff to assist in the intersection of grantmaking objectives with the process and tools for evaluation, and needs for staff and grant portfolio related learning. Help analyze evaluation results to assess and to develop strategies to improve the impact and effectiveness of the Foundation’s grantmaking and initiatives.

 

• Grant Administration Oversight: Lead the administration of application and award documentation from initial inquiry, through oversight of application materials, declinations/approvals, and through contract and reporting processes, working closely with the grants administration staff.

 

• Strategic Grant Application Review & Analysis: May at times review high-profile or strategically significant grant applications and be responsible for their analysis and recommendation.

 

• Operations & Budget Support: Assist the Leadership Team in short- and long-term organizational planning and in annual budget development and monitoring. Work with the President to review staff performance and staff needs.

 

• External Foundation Representation: Represent the Foundation at gatherings of potential or actual grantees or grantee groups for the purpose of communicating Foundation goodwill, or serving as an informed representative of the philanthropic community. These activities may not always be during regular working days or hours.

 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to the philanthropic goals, interests and culture of The Rees-Jones Foundation and its founders.
• Demonstrated experience defining strategy, setting direction for, and achieving the objectives of a strategically focused mission.
• Experience leading, organizing and coaching teams and facilitating project management.
• Minimum 7 years of combined, relevant experience in foundations, grantmaking and/or program leadership. Master’s level degree preferred in subject matter relative to business management, public policy or related leadership in non-profit work, etc.
• Superior analytical and deductive reasoning aptitude, especially the ability to organize and interpret data.
• Experience with operational business practices and general knowledge of financial accounting principles. Ability to read and understand financial statements.

 

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Superior verbal and written communication skills.

 

• Superior ability to discern the appropriate action or response in situations involving engagement in human relationships and concerns with people from all walks of life.

 

• Experience with and a special sensitivity to, the needs of people who are culturally, ethnically, racially, economically and ability diverse, with an ability to treat and communicate with grant applicants, philanthropic partners and all others with dignity, courtesy and respect.

 

• Ability to provide constructive feedback, deliver difficult news, and seek additional information as needed.

 

• The capability and temperament to deal with varied tasks simultaneously and to schedule and perform work efficiently and promptly.

 

• The capacity to accept sensitive information with the willingness and ability to hold such information confidentially within the Foundation.

 

• A team spirit, curiosity, resourcefulness, service-oriented mindset and dedication to lifelong learning, with a serving nature and a sense of humor.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This is a senior level position within the foundation with salary and benefits commensurate with the leadership competency of the candidate. The Rees-Jones Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical insurance, generous paid time off and a 401(k) plan with employer contribution.

 

To apply, send resume, cover letter, and personal statement to apply@rees-jonesfoundation.org