Vice President of Community Investment & Partnerships

ABOUT EAST BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (EBCF)

Founded in 1928, EBCF is one of the nation’s first community foundations. Named the country’s “boldest” community foundation in 2019 by Inside Philanthropy, EBCF is committed to advancing an inclusive, fair, and just East Bay through four core program strategies:

• Arts and Culture for Social and Racial Justice: Storytelling, the arts, and cultural practices have always been important tools for survival, healing, and resistance. These creative expressions build community resilience and power and give voice, agency, and visibility to communities most harmed by oppression.

• Capacity Building with a Racial Equity Lens: EBCF is helping to strengthen organizations and the people who lead them, working to change systems in communities that have historically received little support. We want to ensure that organizations have the sustained investments and resources they need to eradicate systemic and institutional racism.

• Community Organizing, Power Building, and Movement Building: We believe that social movements led by communities most impacted by injustice are the most effective drivers of change. We resource BIPOC-led and serving power-building organizations.

• Fostering Inclusive Economic Models: We address racial and economic inequities in our region through work in three areas– entrepreneurship & business ownership as pathways to wealth building; workers’ rights and protections; and impact investing.

With a geographic focus on Alameda and Contra Costa counties, EBCF works so that everyone has the economic freedom to dream, heal, and belong. We advance our work through leadership, grantmaking, impact investing, and building solidarity between donors and community. We commit to deploying all our resources in service of our mission and pushing beyond industry norms to offer uniquely impactful opportunities for our fund advisers to build A Just East Bay for all. EBCF manages more than 500 funds, with total assets in excess of $600M.  These funds include donor-advised scholarships, field of interest, supporting organizations, and agency endowments.

Joining EBCF means a commitment to advancing racial equity and transforming political, social, and economic realities. We will do this by creating spaces that center joy and opportunities for dreaming and reimagining a future for all who call the East Bay home to have the freedom to thrive for generations to come.

For more information on the East Bay Community Foundation, please visit ebcf.org.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The role of Vice President of Community Investment & Partnerships (CIP) at EBCF demands a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven leader who will lead the CIP team toward realizing the Foundation’s vision of “A Just East Bay.” Central to the success of this position is the ability to orchestrate and guide a high-level growth strategy, drawing upon extensive experience and insight into the East Bay, non-profit landscape, systems change strategies, and impactful policy initiatives, all while viewing the impact through a comprehensive economic justice lens. Collaborative engagement and a deep understanding of organizing and movement building, economic development, sustainability, racial equity, and social justice are pivotal for advancing programs. This role entails overseeing and harmonizing the Foundation’s programmatic strategy, as well as identifying and nurturing resources. Moreover, it involves serving as a key figure within the Senior Leadership Team and the Program Committee of the Board of Directors. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

These are the areas of work assigned to the Vice President of Community Investment & Partnerships and we do not expect applicants to have experience in every area.

Programmatic Strategy, Planning, and Implementation 

• Provide strategic clarity, direction, and cohesion to the CIP team and Foundation regarding programmatic strategy, including grantmaking, capacity building, partnerships, and values-aligned investing.
• Develop and communicate a clear and compelling articulation and narrative of CIP’s work with internal and external audiences.
• Effectively communicate, refine, and unify the Foundation’s programmatic strategy to ensure alignment with EBCF’s mission and vision.
• Advocate for innovative approaches to enhance community well-being.
• Oversee the strategic areas and impact towards A Just East Bay.

Team Leadership 

• Offer strategic leadership to guide the team’s success and broaden its impact across the East Bay community.
• Inspire, coach, mentor, develop, and support the CIP team to ensure collective impact and seamless collaboration with other teams within EBCF.
• Model and foster a team culture of collaboration, trust, humility, continuous learning, and professional growth.
• Develop and assess new programmatic opportunities based on team capacity and potential for impact and innovation.

Resource Identification, Development, and Utilization

• Lead and support efforts to identify and establish new partnerships and explore community investment opportunities to enhance EBCF’s financial resources.
• Allocate funds strategically to address community needs.
• Collaborate closely with the Development team on donor engagement, education, and mission-aligned grantmaking.
• Provide leadership and commitment to collaborative and trust-based grantmaking and ensure grantmaking is active, timely, responsive, and meets fund purposes and impact.
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with EBCF grantees, funders that support critical impact areas in the East Bay, and other key community-invested parties.
• Lead the development and management of the department budget.
• Collaborate with donors, fundholders, and partners to optimize resource utilization.
• Utilize our assets to advance equity, economic mobility, and social well-being.

Organizational Leadership

• Act as a liaison between the CIP team, the Senior Leadership Team, and the Program and Grants Committee of the Board of Directors.
• Serve as a compelling and inspiring spokesperson and representative of CIP’s collective efforts to foster internal understanding within the Foundation and enhance the external visibility of EBCF.
• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, serve as a change agent and leader within the Foundation to strengthen organizational and team culture.
• Serve as a vigilant steward of organizational resources.
• Perform other responsibilities as delegated.

CORE COMPETENCIES TO THRIVE IN THE ROLE

• Proven ability to conceive and implement transformative strategies, coupled with a strong dedication to our mission and a personal commitment to the bold, courageous pursuit of social justice, equity, and inclusion.
• Adaptable to and experience leading in a changing and dynamic organizational environment.
• Excellent team building and management, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills with the capabilities to influence and inspire others.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an excitement for fostering a strong and cohesive team culture.
• Exceptional self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and adeptness in cultivating and nurturing relationships internally and externally. 
• Adept at engaging multiple sectors and perspectives.
• Demonstrated understanding of challenges and opportunities to achieving racial justice in the United States and the East Bay.
• Ability to think and work intersectionally and with empathy, particularly regarding race, class, ability, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
• Commitment to personal and professional excellence, integrity, and high ethical standards.
• Proficient in fundraising and budgetary management.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically, innovatively, and collectively with a team.
• Exceptionally clear written and verbal communication skills.

CORE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES TO THRIVE IN THE ROLE

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant work experience inclusive of 10+ years in grantmaking and/or leading strategic community initiatives and collaborations, with a deep understanding of the role and history of philanthropy.
• Proven track record of successful supervision and management experience, with demonstrated success in leading teams. 
• Experience collaborating within coalitions spanning diverse movements and initiatives, adept at engaging multiple perspectives.
• Experience in and connection to the East Bay.
• Demonstrated strong passion for and a commitment to social change and equity. 
• Leadership experience in social justice, policy, and systems change, with a focus on racial and economic justice.
• Knowledge of regulations concerning lobbying and advocacy for public charities. 
• Strong commitment to personal and professional integrity and to upholding high ethical standards. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to thrive in a team environment. 

• Advanced degree, or experience in excess of the minimum, preferred.

LOCATION, ACCESSIBILITY & WORKING CONDITIONS

This is a fully remote position and requires applicants to work on a computer daily for long periods of time, and collaborate with colleagues and coalition partners through Zoom, email, and other digital platforms. MFN will provide a computer and other equipment needed to fulfill basic job responsibilities. This position will require applicants to travel for staff activities, fund development, speaking engagements, and other external roles.

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

EBCF is partnering with Walker & Associates Consulting – an Oakland-based Black- and woman-owned strategic management consulting and executive search firm promoting equitable community impact for 30 years – on this search. To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and list of three references (candidates will be notified in advance of any outreach to references) to [email protected] on or before 5:00 p.m. PT on September 27, 2024. A combined PDF is preferred. Use the subject: VP of CIP.

Questions or Nominations? Contact Jeannine N. Walker, President & CEO, at [email protected].

The East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) is an equal-opportunity employer with a commitment to racial justice and racial equity. EBCF does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law and is an employment-at-will organization. The Foundation welcomes and encourages people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and members of other historically disenfranchised groups to apply.