EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. Presents NATION BUILDING ORGANIZATION. Create a lasting model for Native nation building.

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1 Ballinger Leafblad is proud to present the following information on behalf of our client, The Bush Foundation and a retained search for the Native Nations Presents EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATION BUILDING ORGANIZATION Create a lasting model for Native nation building.

2 PRESENTING OUR CLIENT Native Nation Building Organization ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW The purpose of this new organization is to build long-term regional assets that promote, strengthen, and support Native nation governance. The organization will build on a body of Native nation building programs and grants focused on the core of good governance conceived of and carried out by the Bush Foundation and partners over the past five years. In 2014 the Bush Foundation set out to build a sustainable model to continue the work beyond its ten year commitment, add regional capacity to respond to increased demand, and bring other funders and partners into the work. A year of exploration and planning led to the Foundation s decision to create a stand-alone nonprofit organization whose purpose is to build long-term regional assets that promote, strengthen, and support tribal governance. The organization will seek to do this in four key ways: Inspire and celebrate Native nation building in the region. Build the human capital to lead and support tribes in their work. Work side-by-side with tribes to create and implement solutions. Provide a conduit for resources between tribes and funders. The organization will initially focus its work in three states Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota though it may eventually expand to serve a larger geographic footprint. The region includes 23 sovereign, politically distinct Native nations with unique governments, histories and challenges. 2

3 The will be immediately responsible for the start-up phase of operations, including establishing the office, hiring staff, transitioning programs from the Bush Foundation and developing new work where appropriate. While the Bush Foundation will fund the startup and contribute financially to the new organization, the will also be responsible for establishing and growing a base of other funders and revenue streams. The Bush Foundation has developed a business plan to guide the organization s guiding strategies and formation and is working to build a durable infrastructure to support its work. PRESENTING THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The position offers a unique and exciting challenge to build and shape a new organization that will have a long-lasting impact on Indian country in the region. This person will lead the organization through its start-up phase and must be a strategist and builder who will set the direction and vision of the organization. This person will be credible, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. This person must be experienced working in or with Native nations and creating programs or organizations. The ideal candidate will have sufficient familiarity with Indian Country history, politics, tribal communities, and ideally good governance as a means to nation building. This person will be a strong leader who is skilled in exercising diplomacy and inclusiveness while working effectively with diverse constituents. The ability to lead while considering the input and opinions of others and building trust with all constituents is very important. The candidate will be familiar with cultural protocols, have extensive experience working in Indian Country including building consensus among diverse tribal communities. The candidate will understand and embrace the role good governance can have in rebuilding Native nations while respecting the importance of Tribal sovereignty. The position requires excellent interpersonal skills since positive relationships with board members, tribal members and leaders, governmental agencies and donors are necessary for the organization to grow and achieve its goals. This includes the ability to listen and build consensus and buy-in from Indian Country and the general public at the same time. The ability to travel extensively and often particularly within Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota will be necessary. The will be recommended by a selection committee comprised of Bush Foundation representatives and members of the new organization s founding board of directors. The position will be hired by and be accountable to the board of directors of the new organization. THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: There are important start up activities for the new that will help get the new organization off the ground. Other leadership activities become important on an ongoing basis. 3

4 Primary responsibilities include: Start Up Formulation of clear, concise organizational strategy, goals and objectives in concert with the Board of Directors and in alignment with the Bush Foundation s expectations and goals. Establishment of the first office, including selection and procurement of office location, hiring of initial staff, set-up of infrastructure including administrative and financial systems. Finalization of the founding Board of Directors and subsequent public charity (1023) filings. Ongoing Fundraising and Financial Development--Fundraising a base of support to supplement Bush Foundation contributions in early years and build a sustainable funding model for the organization. (Note that a Development Director position is budgeted for in the first full year of operations to support these efforts.) Relationship Management with External Stakeholders--Building relationships with Native leaders throughout the region and nationally. External Communications--Public speaking and media relations. Writing to persuade and inform constituents and the public. Strategic Planning--Working with the board and others to accomplish the mission. Providing overall organizational leadership including setting and implementing strategies. Staff Leadership and Development--Hiring, training, coaching and supervising staff and managing an office. Financial Planning and Management Budgeting and financial management. Ethical Leadership and Compliance Oversight Lead with high integrity and honesty. PROGRAM PLANS The following programs have been identified in the early planning process as high priority and high value for the new organization: 1. Inspire and celebrate native nation building in the region by acting as a champion for tribes demonstrating good governance. The organization would connect/convene people in order to strengthen local and regional governance and raise their profile within and outside of the region. Potential Deliverables: Host a signature annual Native nation building summit designed for a wide audience: native people, funders, tribal leaders, rebuilders, government officials, and media. Present annual excellence in Native nation building awards to tribal governments, individuals, and/or journalists covering nation building issues and efforts. Hold three geographic-specific, smaller-scale, practitioner-oriented gatherings each year. Employ a communications strategy to raise awareness of native nation building. 4

5 2. Build the human capital to lead and support tribes in their work by building on the success of the Native Nations Rebuilders talent development program and transitioning the operations of that program to the new organization while adding other programs, as needed, to build human capital and support tribes. Potential Deliverables: Run the Rebuilders program which includes: o Designing the program. o Marketing, recruiting, and selecting applicants. o Creating content, initially with Bush and NNI while building its own expertise and capacity. o Producing quarterly gatherings in partnership with resources like NNI. o Engaging alumni. Hire and train individuals with an interest in building a career as a native nation building consultant. Train individuals outside of the organization that consult with tribes on nation buildingrelated issues. 3. Work side-by-side with tribes to create and implement solutions by directly deliver training, consulting, and technical assistance to tribes with the ability to consult deeply in those issue areas beyond what Bush Foundation and NNI have been able to do historically. Potential Deliverables: Consult with tribes on nation building work which includes: Diagnosing and scoping needs and projects. Identifying and organizing resources which may be a combination of staff, trainees, and/or external experts in specific subject matters. Working with Tribes on the ground to solve problems and implement solutions. Produce and deliver on-site tribal council orientation sessions. Produce and deliver Governance Analysis of Native Nations sessions. Produce and deliver off-site, in-depth executive education sessions. 4. Provide a conduit for resources between tribes and funders by funding small governance projects itself and acting as a conduit through which people, tribes, and organizations in Indian Country can connect with philanthropic capital. Potential Deliverables: Find and collect dollars from funders to re-grant. 5

6 Educate funders about working in Indian Country and nation building issues through informal networking and in combination with core strategy number one. Make small, project-based grants of up to $100,000. THE DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Significant experience in management roles, ideally leading one or more of the following: a. Nonprofit organization b. Sovereign nation or Tribal entity c. Public or community organization 2. Working knowledge of nation building strategies; emphasis on good governance highly desired. 3. Proven success in fundraising with foundations, corporations and individuals. 4. Experience building and managing a staff team through an organizational growth period. 5. Master s degree or equivalent work experience. 6. Ability to plan and organize strategies. 7. Ability to create and sustain partnerships. 8. Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills. The will be a capable and thoughtful leader of people and will demonstrate the following characteristics: Strategic skills with demonstrated experience formulating and implementing strategies to serve a variety of stakeholders. Possess the courage to create along with the wisdom and the savvy to determine which initiatives merit implementation. Commitment to develop the professional skills of staff. Personal characteristics: team builder, service-oriented and committed to improvement. Exemplary communication skills, furthering their ability to bring together disparate teams, enhance collaboration and inclusion and foster a learning environment. Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated record of establishing effective working relationships with diverse populations and functions, both internal and external to the organization. A demonstrated ability to work with stakeholders to enhance and deepen the life experiences for all people. Demonstrated ability to work closely with a wide variety of partners, and funders, in addition to capably representing the institution on advisory boards, committees, and other policy formulating or recommending groups. 6

7 PRESENTING THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Note that while the initial strategic planning discussions have suggested that the new and the organization be based in Minneapolis-St Paul, this is not an absolute requirement. The board of directors will consider other locations and will consider candidates who wish to work and reside in a part of the region outside of the Minneapolis-St Paul area. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are a unique blend of small town and major cosmopolitan hub. Both urban cores boast a thriving business atmosphere. Minneapolis is the larger and more commercial of the two cities, and Saint Paul, as the state capital, is home to state government and has a more historical vibe. Outside of the central downtowns, however, both cities have many distinct neighborhoods, and many residents identify more with their individual neighborhood as well as with the larger city as a whole. The Minneapolis-St Paul area has a large Native community. Institutions such as the American Indian Center and a cultural corridor along Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis offer vibrant cultural and social opportunities including programs and events representing both current and the traditional arts. Both cities share a common root of being river towns, and the outdoors is still a major attraction for residents and tourists alike to this day. In addition to the mighty Mississippi River, there are over 100 lakes (over 900 including the suburbs), over 250 parks, and miles of biking and walking trails. Nearly every weekend in the summer there are several outdoor active events for participants and spectators--triathlons, biking races, running races, boat races, water skiing competitions and more. The active lifestyle of the Twin Cities residents doesn't lie dormant during the winter. There are miles of cross-country skiing trails, several downhill ski areas within an hour drive, ice skating, snowmobile riding, sledding, and--of course--ice fishing. 7

8 For those who prefer activity of the spectator variety, the Twin Cities are home to the major sports teams: Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx (current WNBA champions), Minnesota United FC (soccer), and Minnesota Swarm (lacrosse). There is also a minor league baseball team, the Saint Paul Saints. The Twin Cities have hosted the World Series, Super Bowl, NCAA Basketball Finals, the USGA U. S. Open, the PGA Championship, and the Special Olympics. In 2014, Target Field was the setting for baseball's All-Star Game, and, in 2018, the Super Bowl will be played in a newly built stadium. The University of Minnesota provides plenty of athletic entertainment as well. The newlyconstructed TCF Bank stadium brought football back outdoors and back to the campus. The women's basketball team was selected to play in the NCAA tournament, and the men's basketball team won the NIT tournament. The women s hockey team narrowly missed a WCHA three-peat in The volleyball team and wrestling squad are consistently ranked among the top ten in their respective sports. There are countless arts and culture offerings here. There are over 30 theatre venues, 10 dance companies, and 30 classical music groups in the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul alone. The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra has a reputation as one of the top orchestras in the world. Since the early 1960s, the Guthrie Theatre has staged A-plus shows from the classical to the contemporary. Popular national shows and performers also tour through the Twin Cities year round at stages in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul. 8

9 For the museumgoer, there are over 60 museums in the Twin Cities. The Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Children's Museum are highly interactive learning and fun experiences for people of all ages. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has a collection of over 100,000 pieces. The Walker Art Center has been called "possibly the best contemporary art museum in the U. S." by Newsweek, and has over 11,000 pieces. The area's Wiesman Art Museum is also a contemporary art destination and many smaller galleries feature new and established artist works. Beyond the outdoor, sports, entertainment, and culture, perhaps the biggest attraction for the Twin Cities is the lifestyle. Forbes hailed Minneapolis and Saint Paul as the nation's healthiest cities. USA Today named Saint Paul as North America's "Most Romantic City." The area has been recognized as having the nations best park system. The Twin Cities offer award-winning restaurants and casual dining in all types of cuisines. In addition to the popular Mall of America, there are plenty of unique shopping districts in both cities and in the suburbs. And--most importantly for some--no sales tax on clothing. THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE: Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. An excellent benefits package will be provided. This organization is an equal opportunity employer. BALLINGER LEAFBLAD INVITES YOU TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION: Marcia Ballinger, PhD Lars Leafblad, MBA Co-Founder Co-Founder marcia@ballingerleafblad.com lars@ballingerleafblad.com Civic Search. Reimagined. 9