Vice President for Community

Ballinger | Leafblad is pleased to conduct the search for a Vice President for Community at the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls, Minnesota. 

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
The mission of the Initiative Foundation is to empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a lasting culture of generosity. For nearly four decades, this regional community foundation has been powering possible by responsively delivering programs, grants, loans, trainings, resources, and more to support the region's communities and individuals in imagining and building vital, resilient rural futures. The Foundation serves the St. Cloud area and Twin Cities metro ring counties, as well as the Brainerd Lakes area. Its full 14-county service region includes Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright counties, and the sovereign tribal nations of the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe, covering more than 12,000 square miles and including 750,000 residents. The region is richly diverse in its communities, environments, economies, assets, and people. 

The Foundation's 30-member staff is based out of the Little Falls office with a satellite office in St. Cloud and available working space with partner organizations across the region. Staff members enjoy the benefits of a hybrid work arrangement, with the full staff gathering in Little Falls on Mondays and working remotely and in community the remainder of the week. The Foundation is stable, growing, and funded through a wide range of private and public grants including an ongoing partnership with the McKnight Foundation. Additional program support and endowment donations come from corporations, local businesses, cities and counties, financial institutions, utilities and individuals. The Foundation meets the rigorous national standards established by the Council on Foundations, has received the platinum seal of transparency from GuideStar and is recognized for meeting standards for Accountability and Openness through the Minnesota Charities Review Council. Annual audits are consistently clean and well-managed.

HISTORY 
The Initiative Foundation was formed in 1986 during a time when Minnesota faced widespread financial hardships, high unemployment and shifting rural economies, severely impacting the farming, forestry and mining industries. A partnership of regional leaders and the McKnight Foundation created the Initiative Foundation as one of six Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs) serving rural Minnesota. Since its inception, the Initiative Foundation has awarded 10,675 grants totaling $71 million, made 1,243 loans totaling $69.7 million, and awarded 1,381 scholarships totaling $2 million. $523 million in outside capital investments has been leveraged. The collective business financing activity has helped to create or retain 14,860 jobs.

MISSION
To empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a lasting culture of generosity.

VALUES 
Civility: We practice listening, learning, and respect across perspectives to build our shared future. 
Localism: We are of and for the region we serve. 
Diversity: Advancing equity and inclusion strengthens our region.
Partnership: A shared vision among many partners achieves lasting change.

VISION 
Thriving Economy 
Vibrant Community 
Lasting Culture of Generosity

2024 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 

ECONOMY

• Entrepreneurship Support: Foster growth and sustainability of businesses by providing training, financing and technical assistance, with an emphasis on underserved communities and social enterprise ventures. 
• Workforce, Career Development: Tap under-utilized pools of talent at all points in people’s careers and support career exploration and skill development in high-demand fields. 
• Childcare Availability: Coordinate and innovate with partners to support quality, affordable and accessible child care. 

COMMUNITY 

• Nonprofit Capacity Building: Provide training, connections and support to nonprofit organizations and Partner Fund volunteers to enhance their impact throughout our region. 
• Nonprofit and Local Government Innovation: Use training, technical assistance and grant funding to support early-stage projects that strengthen communities.
• Workplace Best Practices: Model best practices through our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and by creating an organizational culture that supports workplace wellbeing and operational excellence.

GENEROSITY 

• Endowments & Legacy Giving: Grow endowments and legacy gifts through long-term relationships with generous donors and institutional funders. 
• Partner Funds: Refine and promote the Foundation’s unique Partner Fund value proposition to address unmet community needs and achieve lasting growth.
• Integrated Impact: Multiply impact by building connections across the Foundation’s programming and functions, and by exploring expansion into emerging opportunity areas.

PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES 

Childcare Solutions 
Access to quality, affordable childcare is critical. While employers seek skilled workers, many parents are unable to participate in the workforce due to lack of quality, affordable childcare. The Foundation convenes and supports partner organizations and communities across the region to plan and develop childcare options, provides resources like scholarships for childcare professionals to earn credentials, coordinates training and consulting for providers, educates the private sector on childcare options, and brings funding into the region.

Nonprofit Grantmaking and Capacity 
Building Nonprofits, city and county governments, and public school districts deliver critical programs and services across the region, and are the centers of support for many communities. The Foundation provides grants to nonprofits and local units of governments to pilot innovative programs, explore new ideas, and support operations. The Foundation delivers free and lowcost trainings throughout the year for nonprofit leaders, staff and boards to level up their skills and make their work more effective, and provides a cohort learning program for BIPOC-led and serving organizations. The Foundation advocates for and coordinates the delivery of outside resources for nonprofits, ranging from intermediary grantmaking to in-region trainings.

Economic Development 
The Foundation advocates for and brings capital, grants and resources into the region and puts them to work in communities to revitalize downtowns, develop skilled workforces, create quality jobs accessible to all, and support efforts to develop and keep homegrown talent. In recent years the Foundation has directed more than $4.5 million in targeted investments to six communities’ downtowns, made grants across the region for workforce and career exploration, and partnered with regional economic development organizations on regional initiatives.

Renewable Energy and Community Resiliency 
The Foundation works with partners on community planning, renewable energy projects and quality jobs. For nearly a decade, the Foundation has worked with the city of Becker and Sherburne County on the economic transition resulting from the decommissioning of the Sherco coal-burning plant, one of the country’s largest. Last year the Foundation coordinated a series of studies and grants to fund solar panels for area food shelves. This year the Foundation launched a workforce program for tribal members to develop in-demand clean energy workforce skills. The Foundation is pursuing new initiatives ranging from delivering technical assistance to small communities seeking federal funds, to convening local and regional local government leaders interested in collaborative community-based projects.

Community Initiatives 
In recent years the Foundation has stepped back into work it previously invested in to build healthy communities, including rural leadership training, neighborhood engagement and community planning. This year the Foundation delivered a special grant round and series of events supporting community-based solutions for social isolation and connection, and piloted a new version of its Healthy Neighborhood Partnership Program.

Disaster Relief 
The Foundation attracts outside resources and coordinates local giving to aid in recovery when disaster strikes. The Foundation is part of a national coalition of funders, Philanthropic Preparedness, Resilience and Emergency Partnerships, (PPREP) through The Funders Network. During the first years of the pandemic, the Foundation quickly mobilized to become a critical intermediary in delivering state and federal resources – providing more than $24 million in relief funding to small businesses, communities and nonprofits.

POSITION PROFILE
VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNITY
The purpose of this position is to lead the Foundation’s community, economic development, and nonprofit programs. Leads the Foundation’s grantmaking. Sets the strategy and vision for the Foundation’s community-building portfolio, and leads program development, evaluation, and strategic planning. Builds strategic partnerships and strong relationships, and serves as the public face of the Foundation’s community work by rooting in community, participating in regional, state and national networks, and serving as a strong voice for equitable rural funding and resources. Collaborates closely with leaders, communities and key partners to identify needs, convene around issues, and facilitate collaborations to maximize collective impact and bring in outside resources. Encourages staff engagement and strong culture by supporting organizational initiatives such as wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the staff alliance. Has a strong commitment to the vision, mission and values of the Foundation, which is essential as we work together to serve the communities of central Minnesota.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The Vice President reports to the President. Reporting to the Vice President for Community are: Nonprofit Academy Program Officer, Childcare Solutions Program Officer and Program Specialist. 

Supervisory responsibilities include: leading teams; setting workplans and priorities at a high level that provides direction while encouraging individual leadership and agency among team members; and coaching and mentoring direct reports. Supervisors guide and document performance management and development, hold direct reports accountable to the policies and procedures of the organization, and ensure their team members are healthy, focused and supported in their work and professional growth.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Strategy and Leadership (40%)

• Leads the strategy, design, coordination, review and evaluation of community programs. 
• Supervises and supports the growth of direct reports within each program area. 
• Leads the development of strategic plans, annual workplans, and budgets in collaboration with program staff. 
• Supports grantwriting and development for community programs and activities. 
• Guides evaluation, impact measurement, and storytelling for all community programs and activities.
• Facilitates cross-program coordination. 
• Ensures programs are positioned for collaborative regional impact; shifts and reimagines programming in response to community needs and priorities.

Partnerships and Relationships (30%)

• Maintains national, state and regional partnerships and relationships that benefit the region and community programming. 
• Promotes community and Foundation work by speaking, presenting and representing in regional and state conferences, networks and events. 
• Represents the Foundation on boards and coalitions. 
• Serves as a convener, facilitator and coalition leader as needed to strengthen relationships and move work forward. 
• Ensures the Foundation’s community work is visible, supported, and easy to access

Grantmaking Strategy and Leadership (15%)

• Leads the staff grants team by providing guidance, support and strategy. 
• Facilitates annual review of grantmaking priorities and impact and ensures input from communities and nonprofits. 
• Develops relationships with state and national funders to advocate for and support increased grantmaking to Central Minnesota nonprofits.

Resources and Special Initiatives (10%)

• Provides mentorship, information and resource referral to communities and organizations for current community and economic development priorities. 
• Develops strong information networks (grant search programs, email newsletters) to collect and share resources. 
• Pilots programming and supports development for special projects and new priority areas.

Other Duties (5%)

• Serves as the liaison for the community portfolio to the Board of Trustees and participates in all board meetings. 
• Carries out other duties as assigned by the President.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

What You Bring

• Strong organizational leadership and management abilities 
• Deep knowledge and experience with community and economic development 
• Experience with nonprofit programming and grantmaking 
• Experience managing people and budgets 
• Proven success in navigating the complex social, cultural and political conditions of rural communities 
• Ability to identify, plug into and shape relationships, networks and fields 
• Understanding of the range and applications of tools, support and resources that support communities and nonprofits 
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience in community-based organizing preferred 
• Excellent organizational, writing and verbal communication skills 
• Ability to work independently and within teams 
• Ability to plan, manage and execute multiple intersecting projects, priorities and deadlines

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree and five years’ experience or Bachelor’s degree and seven years’ experience in community/economic development, nonprofit leadership, or related fields - or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience. 
• Experience with grant management and administration, community organizing, rural economic development, facilitation of volunteers and private sector. 
• Position requires a valid driver’s license and insurance coverage or access to reliable transportation. 
• Travel to regional and state locations is required.

Who You Are
Community-centered – You believe deeply in the power of rural communities to imagine and build their futures. 
Engager - Enthusiastic networker and connector; approach all relationships with generosity and care. 
Collaborator – Natural joy for including people and building partnerships; a belief that the best work is done together. 
Relational Leader - You are effective at developing relationships with a breadth of individuals building networks and activating them for impact. 
Strategist – Designer and executor of durable, responsive programs and grantmaking with clear goals and outcomes.
Culture-builder - You show up, support, and create positive culture in ways genuine to you. 
Organizational leader – A strong contributor offering thoughtful ideas and solutions for organizational work and issues. 
Learner - Regularly deepen your knowledge and skills to better serve the region’s people and communities. 
Teambuilder – Driven to lead internal and community teams in ways that build relationships and advance the work. 
Communicator – Accessible and responsive; committed to communicating with intention, clarity and care. 
Builder - Meet people and communities where they’re at to guide achievable solutions; generate and lead new responses and ideas to address the region’s complex challenges.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The salary range for this position is $100,000-$125,000. Compensation includes participation in the comprehensive benefits plan.

TO APPLY
Inquiries may be directed to Damon Shoholm, damon@ballingerleafblad.com or Lars Leafblad, lars@ballingerleafblad.com

Applications will be accepted until November 1, 2024. There will be an immediate and ongoing review of candidates, so we encourage and appreciate early applications. All inquiries will remain confidential.