Executive Director (part-time) - West Foundation

Spano Pratt•Manitowoc, WI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive of the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) private philanthropic organization founded in 1957 and based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The Foundation owns and operates West of the Lake Gardens, a 6-acre historic garden open to the public, and has distributed grants to Manitowoc-area nonprofits throughout its distinguished history. The Executive Director translates the Board’s strategic intent into vision- and mission-aligned programs, grounded in the Foundation’s core values, sound financial stewardship, and measurable community impact. This is a hands-on executive role requiring a sophisticated blend of strategic leadership, governance partnership, philanthropic expertise, and authentic community engagement. The ED manages a small professional team. The ED also monitors grant applications for completeness and provides them to the Board for decision-making, oversees operations of the Gardens and serves as the Foundation’s principal external representative, including with governmental, regulatory, and community stakeholder entities. The ED is expected to support the Board in cultivating meaningful partnerships with local government and civic institutions in service of Manitowoc-area residents. The ED shares responsibility with the Office Manager for implementing the Foundation’s operating policies, procedures, and Board decisions, leading strategically while the Office Manager leads tactically.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum 7–10 years of progressive senior leadership experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven sector
Demonstrated success managing multi-million-dollar budgets and financial operations in not-for-profit or for-profit contexts
Proven track record in staff leadership: hiring, coaching, performance management, and team development
3–5 years of operational experience spanning human resources, finance, technology, and administration
Meaningful experience working with or serving on a Board of Directors in a governance-partnership model
Familiarity and understanding of Manitowoc community and the Lakeshore is required

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MPA, MBA, Nonprofit Management, or equivalent) strongly preferred
Experience in foundation grantmaking, private foundation regulations, or philanthropy strongly preferred
Experience with historic property management, public gardens, or cultural assets a plus

Responsibilities

Serve as the chief steward of the Foundation’s vision, mission, and values, ensuring all programs, grantmaking, and operations advance the founders’ charitable purposes
Guard against mission drift; keep the founders’ priorities of maintaining the Gardens, supporting arts, culture, education, and human services in Manitowoc central to all decisions
Monitor trends in philanthropy, community needs, and the social sector; bring forward well-researched, data-informed strategic recommendations to the Board as warranted
Lead and facilitate the annual strategic planning cycle in collaboration with the Board; translate approved plans into actionable goals with measurable outcomes and clear accountability for staff and self
Serve as a trusted partner and primary advisor to the Board of Directors; support the Board Chair in preparing focused, action-oriented agendas aligned with strategic priorities
Keep the Board fully and transparently informed on financial performance, program outcomes, operational issues, and external developments at every regular meeting
Facilitate clear, appropriate separation between governance (Board) and management (ED); proactively reinforce roles and prevent boundary confusion
Support the Board in committee development, new member orientation, and Board member effectiveness
Ensure annual execution of required governance processes, including conflict-of-interest disclosures, Board self-evaluation, and ED performance review
Oversee the full grantmaking lifecycle: community outreach, application administration, proposal review, due diligence, funding recommendations to the Board, grant agreements, and post-grant impact assessment
Strengthen and formalize grant processes, including incorporating grantee voice, community-needs alignment, and equity considerations into evaluation criteria
Oversee West of the Lake Gardens operations — maintenance, staffing, public programming, capital improvements, and event planning — in accordance with the founders’ intent and sound property management principles
Establish and maintain robust administrative systems: technology infrastructure, records management, grant management software, HR processes, and document retention policy
Set a forward-looking technology vision for the Foundation; implement tools that improve efficiency, transparency, and stakeholder engagement
Evaluate and steward physical assets and capital resources; develop and present multi-year capital plans to the Board as needed
Develop and manage the annual operating and grants budget in close collaboration with the Board Treasurer and Finance Committee, subject to full Board approval
Provide accurate and timely financial reporting to the Board at each meeting; proactively communicate analysis of data
Implement and enforce strong internal financial controls; oversee bookkeeping, payroll, and the annual independent audit; present the audit report to the Board
Work with the Board and investment advisors to implement and monitor the Foundation’s Investment Policy Statement; regularly report on endowment performance and long-term sustainability
Ensure accurate and timely filing of IRS Form 990-PF and all required federal, state, and local filings; maintain full compliance with private foundation rules (IRC §§4940–4945)
Monitor the Foundation’s payout rate and spending policy in relation to investment performance and grant commitments; advise the Board on sustainability and impact tradeoffs
Recruit, develop, supervise, and retain a high-performing, mission-aligned team; conduct regular performance evaluations tied to clear expectations, organizational values, and measurable goals
Assess the current staffing model and recommend structural changes to the Board as needed
Model and reinforce the Foundation’s core values of Stewardship, Integrity, and Community Well-Being
Maintain current, accurate job descriptions, equitable compensation structures, and legally compliant HR policies
Foster an inclusive, respectful workplace culture; implement and enforce anti-harassment and antidiscrimination policies consistently
Uphold the Foundation’s Whistleblower Policy; ensure zero tolerance for retaliation against any individual who raises concerns in good faith
Build leadership capacity within the team; develop and maintain a written, board-reviewed emergency succession plan for the ED position and other key roles
Serve as the Foundation’s principal external representative and spokesperson; articulate the Foundation’s vision, mission, history, values, and community impact to diverse audiences
Build and sustain authentic, trust-based relationships with grantees, community leaders, civic officials, peer foundations, and regional and national philanthropic networks
Actively solicit and incorporate community stakeholder perspectives — including from nonprofits, local government, and residents — to ensure grantmaking remains responsive to evolving community needs
Identify and develop strategic partnerships and co-investment opportunities with local government, schools, healthcare systems, and other funders
Maintain appropriate, visible engagement in the Manitowoc community; represent the Foundation professionally at public events and in media within boundaries appropriate for a 501(c)(3) private foundation
Develop and regularly communicate a compelling, accessible narrative of the Foundation’s community impact; steward the Foundation’s reputation with care and consistency
Ensure full compliance with IRS private foundation regulations, the Foundation’s Bylaws, Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Policy, Whistleblower Policy, and all applicable Wisconsin statutes to include applicable employment laws
Proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate organizational risks — including operating cost escalation, succession risk, investment volatility, and community demand exceeding resources — and present risk mitigation strategies to the Board
Maintain appropriate and current insurance coverage (Directors & Officers liability, commercial property, general liability, employment practices liability) and conduct periodic coverage reviews with the Board
Enforce the Foundation’s Code of Conduct obligations for directors and officers: duties of care, loyalty, and obedience; conflict-of-interest compliance; and confidentiality obligations
Lead by example on ethical standards; communicate the Foundation’s values consistently and address any violations promptly, fairly, and decisively
Ensure the Foundation’s public disclosure obligations are met, including timely public availability of Form 990-PF as required by IRC §6104