Bush Foundation - Community Network Vice President

8/10/2019 Bush Foundation - Community Network Vice President

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POSITION PROFILE

On behalf of our client, the Bush Foundation,

Chandler Group Executive Search is conducting a search for the position of

COMMUNITY NETWORK

VICE PRESIDENT

DON TAYLOR

[email protected]

(952) 471-5403

LINDSAY POLYAK

[email protected]

(612) 963-5879

CHRIS COHEN

[email protected]

(952) 471-5401
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Think bigger. Think differently.

THE ORGANIZATIONThe Bush Foundation (Foundation) is a private foundation based in St. Paul, MN

focused on investing in great ideas and the people who power them. The Foundation

was established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth, and today

works in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native

nations that share the same geography.

ThroughCommunity InnovationandLeadershipprograms, the Foundation invests in

individuals and organizations working on issues that are important to their

communities.

ThroughCommunications and Convenings,the Foundation shares stories of the peopleand organizations they invest in, and creates and supports events that inspire, equip and

connect people across the regions served.

The Foundation has two special focus areas Native NationsandEducationthrough

which the Foundation builds deep partnerships with individuals and organizations to

advance specific goals in the regions served.

Bush Foundation Values

The Bush Foundation is guided by five key values which drive programmatic and

operational decisions. These stated values are:
https://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/community-innovationhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/community-innovationhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/community-innovationhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/leadershiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/leadershiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/leadershiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/convenings-communicationshttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/native-nationshttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/native-nationshttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/native-nationshttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/educationhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/educationhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/educationhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/educationhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/native-nationshttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/convenings-communicationshttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/leadershiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/what-we-do/community-innovation


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Spread Optimism.

We encourage individuals and organizations to think bigger and think differently about

what is possible. We are positive and supportive in our internal and external

interactions.

Work Beyond Ourselves.

We actively seek opportunities to work in true collaboration with others to have more

impact. We are willing to both lead and follow. We candidly share what we learn with

others.

Everybody Matters.

We are a champion for both excellence and equity inside and out of the Foundation. We

have fair, open and inclusive processes. We work to raise overall quality of life while

also closing opportunity and achievement gaps.

Steward Well.

We demonstrate appreciation for the Foundations history and thoughtfully build on its

legacy. We hold ourselves to high standards of integrity and accountability and conduct

ourselves in a way we hope would make founders proud.

More Good. Every Year.

We are a true learning organization and work to be smarter and more effective every

year. We never lose sight of the reason we exist: to do the most possible good with the

resources left to the community by Archibald G. Bush.

To learn more about the Bush Foundation, please visit theirwebsite.
https://www.bushfoundation.org/https://www.bushfoundation.org/https://www.bushfoundation.org/https://www.bushfoundation.org/


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THE POSITION

The Bush Foundation seeks to fill the position of the Community Network Vice

President. The ideal candidate is an amazing manager of people, who has a deep interest

in, aptitude for and experience with fostering and supporting the success of talented and

creative individuals and teams. This person is a seasoned leader with significant

experience leading a complex organization or business units, including managing an

integrated marketing or communications strategy across business units or programs. In

addition, this leader must have a proven ability to forge strong connections in the

community and across sectors.

Responsibilities

Lead development of an integrated Community Network strategy that builds on

the strengths of the Leadership Programs Team, Community Innovation Team

and Communications Team and incorporates related work across the

Foundation.

Leadthe Community Network Team, providing strategic and operational

direction and management support for all team members.

Support the leaders of the three teams on a day to day basis so they can meet

their team goals and deliver on organizational strategic priorities.

Build effective working partnerships with related organizations and leaders

across the region, helping to link and grow existing formal and informal

networks.

Use data and evaluation to assess and grow the regional network and to review

and refine team strategies and programming.

Serve as an active member of the Management team.

Key Competencies and Qualifications:

Exemplary leadership skills, with a commitment to employee development, andan ability to encourage and bring out the best in others.

Demonstrated ability to quickly and authentically connect to people from a

variety of backgrounds and to show everyone that they matter.

Experience developing and leading execution of a strategy tied to individual

action or network action.

Knowledge or experience in managing an integrated marketing and

communications function.

Proven experience effectively managing cross-department or cross-organization

relationships, including leading people who do not report directly to them.

Experience working effectively with community organizations, as an employee

or volunteer.

Excellent listening and communication skills, including confidence in public

speaking.


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Knowledge and experience in building and using measurement frameworks to

demonstrate results and to further program impact.

Strong commitment to inclusion and creating opportunities for disadvantaged

and underrepresented communities.

Commitment to excellence and ability to set high standards for themselves and

for others, holding everyone accountable for success.

Excitement about the Foundations mission and belief in and embodiment oftheFoundationsvalues.

Working knowledge of the region in which the Foundationsprograms are

active.

Experience in philanthropy, grantmaking, and leadership development is a

bonus.

Working RelationshipsThe Community Network Vice President reports to the President of the Foundation and

will have four direct reports: the Communications Director, the Leadership Programs

Director and two Community Innovation Managers. This role is a member of the

management team at the Foundation and will help guide overall strategy and policy forthe organization. Important external stakeholders to this role include Bush Fellows and

Bush Fellows Alumni, grantees and grant-seeking organizations, community, non-profit

and business leaders.

THE COMMUNITY NETWORK TEAM

The Community Network Vice President will lead the Community Network Team and

coordinate efforts to inspire, equip and connect individuals and organizations in the

region to more effectively lead change. The Bush Foundation believes that, if done right,

their efforts to build connections and to share knowledge can create as much value for

the region as the grants that they give.

This is a new position, leading a newly created team of teams. The Community

Network Vice President will build connections and alignment among three talented

existing teams the Leadership Programs Team, the Community Innovation Team and

the Communications Team representing a broad array of excellent existing programs.

The Community Network Vice President will support these teams efforts to:

Invest directly in individuals and organizations working to improve the region.

Build connections among individuals and organizations working to improve the

region.

Share the stories and lessons of individuals and organizations working toimprove the region to inform and inspire the work of others.


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Leadership Programs Team

The Leadership Programs Team builds on the Foundations long history of leadership

development by connecting leaders with people and ideas through the Bush Fellowship

Program and Leadership Network Grants as well as work with alumni. All programs

seek to develop leaders who are better equipped and connected to effectively lead in

their communities.

Bush Fellowship Program

Each year, 24 individuals are selected to be Bush Fellows. Bush Fellows receive up to

$100,000 to grow their leadership skills, either by pursuing an academic degree or a self-

designed course of study and exploration. The program is very selective, with 632

applications in 2014.

The Bush Fellowship Program is one of the most flexible fellowship programs in the

country and attracts extraordinary people with extraordinary potential. There are

minimal requirements, other than periodic reporting and consultation with Foundation

staff. Optional professional development opportunities are also available.

Leadership Network Grants

Launched in 2014, Leadership Network Grants promote leadership development by

supporting other organizations that are developing leaders throughout the region. The

Leadership Network Grants Program strives to build capacity in and connections

between leadership hubs to create the strongest regional network of leaders in the

country.

Bush Fellows Alumni

There are nearly 3,000 alumni of past and present Fellowship programs, representing a

huge network opportunity that has yet to be realized. Alumni have become CEOs of

companies, Tony Award winners, leaders of Native nations, best-selling authors, andinfluencers in a wide range of fields, regionally and nationally. The Foundation does a

number of things to build connections to and connections among Bush Fellow alumni,

including making this a major focus of the Communications and Convenings work.


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Community Innovation Team

The Community Innovation Team is focused on inspiring and enabling communities to

create innovative solutions to the challenges they face. There are two programs within

Community Innovation to which non-profit organizations may apply: Community

Innovation Grants and the Bush Prize for Community Innovation. Through these

programs, the Community Innovation Team provides encouragement, support and

resources to communities striving to innovate throughout the region.

Community Innovation Grants

Community Innovation Grants support communities in the use of problem-solving

processes that lead to more effective, equitable and sustainable solutions. This program

was launched in 2013 and is thought of as civic R&D,allowing communities to

develop and test new solutions to community challenges. The larger objective of this

program is to encourage effective community problem-solving with the hope that the

experience of these grantees will be useful to leaders across the region. In 2014, the

Foundation awarded over $4.9 million in Community Innovation Grants to 34

organizations.

The Bush Prize for Community Innovation

The Bush Prize for Community Innovation honors and supports innovative

organizations with a track record of making great ideas happen. Winners receive a

package of recognition, including a flexible grant of 25% of the organizations last fiscal

year budget, up to $500,000. These are organizations believed to be excellent models for

others. The Bush Prize began in 2013, with nine inaugural winners selected.


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Communications Team

The Communications Team works to maximize the impact of the Foundations

investments by amplifying, linking and promoting the great ideas and people theyve

invested in. The teams main prioritiesare to refine and maintain the Foundations

website, to create and deliver amazing events and materials that introduce and connect

leaders in this region to each other and to lift up the projects and people that the

Foundation has invested in through a proactive media relations strategy.

b Magazine

In 2014, the Foundations annual report was reimagined as an alumni magazine,

designed to showcase the work of and build connections among current and past Bush

Fellows, Rebuilders (see Native Nations, below) and grantees.

Events

In 2014, the Foundation implemented a new, large annual event called bushCONNECT,

designed in partnership with more than 30 other organizations. This event brings

together leadership hubs from around the region along with Bush Foundation grantees

and current and past Bush Fellows and Rebuilders. In essence, it is a physical expression

of the Foundations Network strategy. New annual events were also launched in NorthDakota and South Dakota in 2014, in conjunction with OTA events (see below). The goal

of these events is to bring together current and former grantees, Bush Fellows and

Rebuilders with-in each state.

OTA/Pollen

The Foundation has recently embarked on major funding partnerships with two

grassroots network efforts, OTA and Pollen, and is working as close collaborators on

content. OTA (based in Sioux Falls, SD) operates successful in-person networking events

and Pollen (based in the Twin Cities) is extremely effective at online networking with

over 8,000 members. Recent examples of collaboration include holding events in North

Dakota and South Dakota in conjunction with OTA events, as well as offering a

womens networking breakfast series in conjunction with Pollen.


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Outreach

Work is underway toward an annual regional tour that will serve as outreach across all

Bush Foundation programs as well as a listening opportunity to better inform about the

Foundations work.

Event Sponsorships

The Foundation sponsors external events that advance the Community Network Teams

goals and/or raise visibility of the Foundation programs. A new, open process for this

funding was rolled out in 2014, with $600,000 awarded in grants.

Website

In 2014, Bush Foundationswebsite was redesigned with a goal of simplicity and clarity,

while acting as a stronger tool to inspire, equip and connect leaders. New features

include searchable profiles of past and current Bush Fellows, as well as learning logs for

Bush Fellows and grantees to publicly share their progress and lessons learned

(currently in development).

Social Media/e-Communications

The Foundation is currently active on Facebook and Twitter, and is also in the midst ofdeveloping a new approach to e-communications, with quarterly news digests that

complement the annual b Magazine.

Media Relations

The Foundation has ambitious goals for building stronger relationships with key media

outlets in the region, and utilizing these relationships to share the amazing work that

Foundation-supported individuals and organizations are doing. The ability to get media

attention for partners doing great work is a core strategy for how the Foundation

supports partners efforts, as well as how leaders are informed and inspired.


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ADDITIONAL FOUNDATION PROGRAMS & TEAMS

In addition to guiding the three teams that make up the Community Network Team, the

Community Network Vice President will also be responsible for ensuring that the work

of the Community Network Team integrates with and amplifies related work across the

Foundation, including:

Native Nations TeamThe Native Nations Team is working to spread the understanding and practice of

nation-building strategies in the 23 tribes in the region. Bush Foundation is regularly

hosting or facilitating meetings of tribal leaders within and across tribes by providing

technical assistance that links the tribes to experts in governance and community-

building. One of the teams core strategies is theNative Nation Rebuilders Program a

leadership program for members of the 23 tribes who are committed to learning about

and spreading nation building strategies. Though the Native Nations Rebuilders

Program is not managed by the Leadership Programs Team, it is a core leadership

program for the Foundation and a significant element of the Community Network Team

strategy.

Education

In 2009, the Foundation implemented a 10-year, $40 million initiative to transform

teacher preparation in the region through deep partnerships with 14 higher education

institutions. In 2014, the Foundation launched the Education Ecosystem Grant Program

to provide operating support to key education organizations that provide data, public

policy advocacy and/or share best practices to support the education initiative and work

of other education reform efforts. In 2015, the Foundation will begin adding new major

education initiatives to the portfolio, guided by a goal of increasing post-secondary

success for students of all backgrounds. The Community Network should ensure that

the education grantees benefit from and contribute to the Foundations overall networkbuilding work.

Internal Leadership Development

In 2013, a new position was created to focus on internal people development. The

Foundation offers collective professional development opportunities plus generous

allocations for individual professional development, including participation in the

leadership programs of other organizations. In addition, the Foundation recently

launched theRon McKinley Philanthropy Fellows Program,in partnership with

Minnesota Council on Foundations, to bring the Bush Foundations longstanding

commitment to leadership development into the heart of the Foundationsphilanthropic

operations. The program is designed to attract professionals to philanthropy from

communities that are underrepresented in foundation leadership, with a current

emphasis on racial diversity. In January 2014, the first cohort of four Ron McKinley
https://www.bushfoundation.org/fellowships/native-nation-rebuilders-programhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/fellowships/native-nation-rebuilders-programhttps://www.bushfoundation.org/fellowships/ron-mckinley-philanthropy-fellowshiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/fellowships/ron-mckinley-philanthropy-fellowshiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/fellowships/ron-mckinley-philanthropy-fellowshiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/fellowships/ron-mckinley-philanthropy-fellowshiphttps://www.bushfoundation.org/fellowships/native-nation-rebuilders-program


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Fellows joined the Bush Foundation, with two new Ron McKinley Fellows arriving in

January 2015.

Strategy and Learning Team

The Strategy and Learning Team at the Foundation works across the organization to

ensure that each team has strategies in place to learn from the investments they are

making in communities and to share those learnings in ways that will benefit a broader

audience. Toward this end, in 2014, this team launched theBush Learning Papers,

consisting of staff-authored reflections on lessons learned. Bush Learning Papers will be

published and released quarterly.

Finance and Program Operations Team

The Finance and Program Operations Team is integral to all Foundation work. Finance

is responsible for the Foundation fiscal budgets and all aspects of the Foundation

financials including investments and payout. Program Operations is responsible for the

due diligence and grantmaking processes, with overall management of the core

grantmaking data system. In 2015, this team will spearhead the transition from the

current database to SalesForce. This shift will integrate grantmaking with improvedCustomer Relationship Management (CRM) functionality,increasing organizational

capacity to track and manage relationships.
https://www.bushfoundation.org/learning/bush-papershttps://www.bushfoundation.org/learning/bush-papershttps://www.bushfoundation.org/learning/bush-papers


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ABOUT CHANDLER GROUP EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Chandler Group Executive Search is a unique retained executive search firm committed

to providing a better experience for clients, candidates and their families.

With an experienced team of leaders from many different industry sectors, we conduct

senior executive searches for clients in non-profit, education, healthcare, financial

services, technology and manufacturing. We are locally and nationally recognized as atop-ranked search firm by several publications.

Our unique approach is based upon several core values and best practices that are

applauded by our clients:

We consider each search a unique experience rather than a transaction. We value

long-term relationships and consider ourselves as true partners with our clients

and candidates.

We work in teams. By combining our expertise and challenging one another, we

deliver better solutions to our clients and ensure responsiveness to both clients

and candidates. Cultural fit is as important as skills and experience. We spend significant time

upfront in the process understanding clients cultures and values. This is

carefully matched with the style, career needs and experience of the candidates

as well as the needs of their families.

We are committed to diversity and all its aspects which stems from our belief in

the inherent richness of diversity of perspectives, experience and thought.

We provide newly placed executives with a guided process for integration into

the new organization to facilitate an effective and supported start-up through the

assignment of an independent, professional executive coach.

To learn more about this position or to submit your resume, contact Don Taylor,Lindsay Polyak or Chris Cohen (contact information can be found on the cover page).

All inquiries will remain confidential.

Documents

Bush Foundation - Community Network Vice President