Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative

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1 Senior Advisor Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative Search conducted by: waldronhr.com

2 The Opportunity Philanthropy plays a critical role in improving people s lives around the world. Yet there s no doubt that in giving, just as in business, there is an opportunity to refine, enhance and innovate to deliver even greater results. The Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative was recently founded by Jeff and Tricia Raikes to understand thoughtful, intentional giving practices, bring individual donors together to learn from each other and align the most effective resources and partners to assist in their efforts. The Senior Advisor of the Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative (IDPI) is a newly created role that will provide strategic counsel and implement this new venture. Working closely with the Raikes Foundation s co-founders Jeff and Tricia Raikes, the Senior Advisor will engage with active philanthropists and thought leaders in the field of effective philanthropy to identify the most promising tools and develop new resources to help donors achieve the greatest social good through their giving. The Senior Advisor will advance, manage and refine this start-up effort utilizing his/her skills as both a big picture strategist and a hands-on tactician. A project of the Raikes Foundation, the initiative is based in their office in Seattle, WA, with the position reporting to the Foundation s Executive Director.

3 The Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative Over the past year, the Raikes Foundation has engaged in extensive outreach and research, conducted a scan of the effective philanthropy field, sought counsel from thought leaders and expert practitioners, and supported research to better understand the motivations and needs of individual donors. This work has confirmed that there are pockets of excellence in the field as well as opportunities to help it grow. By highlighting existing models for effective philanthropy, nurturing innovative new practices, and connecting these various efforts to increase access and adoption, the IDPI inspires high net worth donors to engage in impact-driven giving while also developing the skills to apply these practices. Through this effort, the Foundation s trustees hope to significantly increase the impact of the entire philanthropic sector. Principles of Impact-Driven Philanthropy The following definition inspired by previous work from the Donor Education Network and informed by research captures the core principles that guide philanthropists toward impact, whether they are deeply experienced or emerging practitioners. Impact-Driven Philanthropy is the practice of strategically using our time, talents and resources to make meaningful, measurable change. Guided by clear goals and strong values, impact-driven philanthropists have a passion for solving problems and a commitment to partnering with the people closest to the problems we aim to solve. While each person s journey is different, certain core principles can guide us to discover the strategies and solutions that will allow us to do the most good for the causes we care about: Clear, Sustained Focus. Focusing our giving on specific issues or places especially those where we have a personal connection can help drive our dollars to do the most good. When we invest in causes we re passionate about and stick with them, our work can achieve lasting impact. Research-Informed Strategy. Exploring the landscape is an important first step toward achieving impact. Research can help us understand the needs of the people we re hoping to help and the capacity of our potential partners, informing our strategy for making meaningful, measurable change. For those of us with limited time to commit to a cause, it can also help identify others who can help leverage our resources for maximum impact. Continuous Collaboration & Learning. Joining forces with others allows us to achieve greater impact than we could on our own especially when we collaborate closely with the heroes doing work on the ground. Productive partnerships are built on a foundation of mutual respect. They are sustained by clear communication, alignment of goals and methods, openness about challenges, and conscious striving for learning and improvement.

4 Key Priorities The Position The role of the Senior Advisor, Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative is to continue to shape the foundation s formative strategy and bring it to life through thoughtful execution. Preliminary planning has identified initial activities that will include using the voice of Jeff and Tricia Raikes, and other champions of impact-driven philanthropy, to raise visibility of the value of impact-driven philanthropy; continuing research into donor motivations and behavior; designing tools and resources that support donor needs; providing grants to strengthen the field of effective philanthropy; and, building partnerships with existing donor education providers and funders. Leadership & Strategy: Provide strategic leadership to guide the initiative during its start-up phase, building on significant learning from the initial planning period Partner with Jeff and Tricia Raikes to shape direction of the initiative, and engage in critical decisions Test concepts and implement ideas with the greatest potential for impact Solicit input and feedback from experts, partners and grantee stakeholders to shape priorities and continually improve them Translate learning and best practices into strategy and action Position the Raikes Foundation as a thought leader in the impact-driven philanthropy field through active engagement with key players, representing the initiative in relevant settings, serving as a subject matter expert and generating high impact opportunities for Jeff and Tricia Raikes, and other champions, to speak publicly

5 Key Priorities - Continued Project Implementation: Oversee and coordinate the varied and multifaceted activities that comprise the initiative Identify and engage partners and advisors with mutual interests Support the launch of projects that will provide essential services to donors such as the development of a social enterprise that will offer a virtual gateway to curated resources and experiences for impact-driven donors Facilitate vetting of promising ideas presented by others in field Develop a portfolio of grants to strengthen the effective philanthropy field and maintain ongoing communication and monitoring relationship with grantees Learning and Knowledge Management: Develop measures to assess both program impact and lessons learned Build and maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date landscape scan of the players and activities in the impact- driven philanthropy field to stay apprised of trends and to identify opportunities that the initiative is positioned to address Facilitate learning sessions, site visits and other opportunities for Jeff and Tricia Raikes to deepen their knowledge, understanding and connection to the impact-driven philanthropy field Establish internal systems to capture knowledge and lessons learned Convene thought leaders and practitioners to share best practices Communications: In partnership with the foundation s communications team, develop communications that provide clear and concise articulation of the initiative s purpose and impact Create content for web and other communications channels Work closely with branding consultants to implement their recommendations Speak publicly to diverse audiences about the initiative Prepare written materials as needed for trustee speaking engagements and other public events Support the communications efforts of other leaders willing to use their voice as advocates for impact-driven philanthropy

6 Ideal Candidate The Raikes Foundation seeks a Senior Advisor with a passion for the impact that effective philanthropy can have on social change and a track record in the field as a practitioner. Your work in philanthropy positions you as a credible champion for the field and trusted leader of this initiative. You are an individual who approaches new ideas with humility, is open to learning from others and who favors collaboration. The ideal candidate enjoys wrestling with big ideas, translating them into action and executing on them. The ability to advance complex projects when information is imperfect, and the agility to adapt and change direction as needed, are your strong suits. You have worked closely with senior leaders as an advisor and thought partner and are comfortable engaging in ongoing give and take to achieve the best possible outcomes. You lead by influence and use that leadership to bring others to the table. You have the ability to be a spokesperson and the instincts to know when you should be out front and when to remain behind the scenes. Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to easily establish rapport and trust with Tricia and Jeff Raikes, existing and prospective partners as well as the diverse stakeholders engaged in the effective philanthropy field are critical to success in this role. You are a team player. You possess exceptional written and oral communications skills, and have an entrepreneurial spirit. Defining personal characteristics include humility, diplomacy, professionalism, graciousness and trustworthiness. A strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity, a sense of humor and an ability to map uncharted territory are essential. Given the foundation s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, candidates who are committed to advancing equity and who also possess knowledge, skills and experience that would enhance the foundation s ongoing equity work are highly desirable. Qualifications Candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in progressively responsible, hands-on leadership roles in philanthropy. Significant direct experience as a practitioner of impact-driven philanthropy in private or community foundations, corporate giving programs, donor education organizations or giving circles is required. An ability to work independently in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment while also seeking and providing opportunities to collaborate is critical. Experience in a business or start-up environment is strongly desired. A bachelor s degree is required; a relevant graduate degree is preferred.

7 To Be Considered Cover letters expressing your passion for the mission and the initiative, as well as your fit for the role should be addressed to Sarah Meyer. Please submit your resume and cover letter online at Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit materials no later than September 2, The search for the Senior Advisor for the Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative of the Raikes Foundation is being assisted by a team from Waldron: Sarah Meyer Search Director direct sarahm@waldronhr.com Lauren Pederson Senior Associate direct lauren@waldronhr.com

8 Waldron is honored to work with the Raikes Foundation in the search for a Senior Advisor for the Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative. We believe in and support the work of the Raikes Foundation and we are doing our best to recruit a talented team member who will accelerate this mission. As the consulting partner strategic leaders choose to help attract, engage, and inspire effective leaders, Waldron provides a unique combination of executive search, leadership development, and career transition services across sectors and industries. Our passion is helping people and organizations realize their full potential and increase their impact. Seattle Portland San Francisco waldronhr.com