RESOURCES

Press Release

Candidates should send inquiries email address to this emailaddress search@thepointfoundation.org

Supporting documents may be emailed to:
search@thepointfoundation.org

or mailed to:
The Point Foundation - Search Committee
Post Office Box 565
Genoa, NV 89411

The deadline for resume submission is March 31, 2006

2/21/06

Job Description: Executive Director

The Foundation

Founded in 2001, The Point Foundation has the distinction of being the first nationwide scholarship program to serve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, and young adults from LGBT families. To date, The Point Foundation has invested $3 million in scholarships and mentoring programs for its roster of 42 outstanding student Scholars attending US universities.  The Point Foundation is one of the fastest growing LGBT philanthropies in the nation.  In the fall of 2005, The Point Foundation was featured prominently in a Time magazine article on LGBT youth and one Point Scholar was featured on a recent episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. The foundation currently operates with a staff of six (which will be expanded in the future as noted below) and an annual operating budget in excess of $1.8 million.

Management Focus.

At this truly exciting time in the organization’s evolution and growth, The Point Foundation is seeking a dynamic and proven leader to guide the organization in the future.  Key areas of emphasis include the following areas: 

• Development of a new professional leadership team.

• Expansion and sophistication of the Foundation’s development initiatives.

• Enhancement of all Scholar programs: including selection, annual retreat, and mentoring.

Qualified candidates from both the not-for-profit sector and from for-profit industries are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in a number of areas, including but not limited to: experience as a management executive or at the senior staff level; leadership and supervision of staff; proven fundraising and development experience; budget management experience, with preference given to candidates who have managed a budget of $1 million or more. Additional qualifications will be identified below.

The job location is open for discussion and will be determined in consultation with the successful candidate.

Duties of the Executive Director

The Executive Director reports to The Point Foundation’s Board of Directors and will provide overall management of the Foundation’s programs and operations. The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring the financial growth and stability of the organization and will ensure that all programmatic and fundraising activities are aligned with the mission and strategic priorities of the Foundation. The Executive Director will also develop long-range strategic plans for the Foundation in consultation with the Board of Directors and Chair of the Board of Trustees. Additional specific responsibilities include:

Management and Supervision

Providing leadership and supervision to the organization’s professional staff—reporting to the Executive Director will be a Director of Administration, Director of Development, and Director of Scholar Programs; managing relationships with outside firms that provide the Foundation contracted services in the areas of development/fundraising and public relations; and recruiting new staff members and/or contractors to assist with development/fundraising, program management, and public relations, as necessary.

Fundraising and Development

Developing a comprehensive fundraising plan with the Director of Development; actively participating in the solicitation of donations, major gifts, and grants; assisting with the coordination of annual fundraising events in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, and in other fundraising markets as necessary; and overseeing the growth and development of an already established endowment fund. Travel will be extensive at times.

Budget, Finance and Audit

Managing the organization’s operating and program budgets; providing quarterly and annual budget reports; and assisting the Board of Directors and outside auditors, as necessary.

Organization and Governance

Serving on Foundation committees (e.g., trustee recruitment, finance and audit, strategic planning); directing additional activities of the Board of Trustees and other volunteers; completing regular reports on Foundation activities, events, and projects for the Board of Directors; and providing regular updates on Foundation activities and events for Trustees and other constituents.

Program Development

With the Director of Scholar Programs, overseeing the refinement of the Scholar selection process, the annual Scholar Retreat, and mentoring into a coherent program/service area; enhancing the usefulness of Lifeline, the Foundation newsletter, as communication and donor-relations tool; overseeing the development of potential new program areas, such as alumni involvement and new scholarship programs; and ensuring that the Foundation becomes networked with national organizations that provide support to LGBT college students. 

Communications and Visibility

Overseeing a comprehensive communications and media relations strategy to secure opportunities for Point Scholars to be featured in print and visual media and to increase the nationwide visibility of The Point Foundation as a philanthropic organization; as necessary, the Executive Director may also serve as the “face” of The Point Foundation to major donors, media contacts, and/or representatives from corporations or other foundations; overseeing the collection and archiving of magazine and newspaper articles and television appearances; and overseeing the maintenance of the Foundation’s website.  Responsibility also includes all media on behalf of the foundation.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have proven skills in staff, team and volunteer management, superior interpersonal communication skills, and experience with budget development and oversight—with a preference given to candidates to have managed budgets of $1 million or more. Strong project management skills are necessary. Other essential qualifications include a facility for sound judgment and informed decision-making; highly creative thinking, complimented by a commitment to strategic planning; strong writing and editing skills; excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and quality; and the ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Integrity, honesty, openness and a willingness to operate as a “team player” are essential personal characteristics.  An undergraduate degree is required; graduate and post graduate education and credentials are desirable.

Knowledge of the LGBT community and related social issues or policy matters will be critical to the selected candidate’s success. Additional desired qualifications include: an inclination to travel to support events and fundraising initiatives; experience working with nonprofit organizations and/or nonprofit boards; and demonstrated event-planning and advocacy skills.