CCF Announces Executive Transition
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Board of Trustees of Common Counsel Foundation is pleased to inform you that CCF’s Chief Executive Officer, Ron Rowell, has been elected as a Trustee of the Foundation effective July 1, 2012. At the same time, Ron has announced his retirement effective January 1, 2013 and the Foundation has begun the search for its next CEO. We are excited that Ron will continue his involvement and relationship with the Foundation and that he is assisting the board and staff with the transition to new staff leadership.
Ron came into the Foundation three years ago at a significant time in its history. Under his leadership the Foundation has:
• Strengthened its internal policies, controls, and procedures;
• Initiated annual financial audits;
• Attracted five new donor advised funds with assets over $4 million and three mission-alligned fiscally-sponsored projects: the Kindle Project, Nafsi ya Jamii, an urban farm and retreat/renewal center in Oakland; and RoadMAP capacity-building consultants;
• Raised $260,000 from outside foundations to support operations and program;
• Engaged RBC Wealth Management to manage its funds;
• Established an Investment Advisory Committee and developed an Investment Policy Statement;
• Increased CCF’s visibility in the field by encouraging and supporting staff to engage in collaborations at national and regional levels and by participating himself in such collaborations, and
• Initiated the Native Americans Rising Project, a partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy, to conduct a national scan of grassroots organizing in Native America and to begin to build a fund to support and strengthen those efforts.
The trustees have established a Transition Committee being led by board treasurer Dan Ringer-Barwick. The position description is provided below.
CCF hopes to select its new CEO no later than November 1st with an anticipated start date of January 1st. DEADLINE for applications is AUGUST 31, 2012. Applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by mail to:
Search Committee
Common Counsel Foundation
405 Fourteenth St., Suite 809
Oakland, CA 94612
We anticipate a smooth transition, and look forward to Ron’s continuing contributions to CCF’s mission. If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to call (510.530.2448) or email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Warm regards,
Patricia St. Onge, President
Board of Trustees
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Chief Executive Officer
Common Counsel Foundation
Job Location
CCF offices in downtown Oakland, California.
Job Summary
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the overall management of the Foundation. The CEO reports to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The position is 80% FTE.
Job Duties and Essential Functions
Strategy and managerial oversight (10%)
The CEO is responsible for managing the financial and human resources of the Foundation on a day-to-day basis, and for insuring that those resources are being used to the Foundation’s greatest benefit. In work areas in which the CEO is not directly involved—i.e., grant-making and other program—the CEO acts as a manager and works through other staff. The CEO is responsible for hiring, firing, and performance evaluations of all staff. The CEO works closely with the staff and trustees to develop and supervise a vision and strategy for achieving CCF’s mission. The CEO also, and very importantly, sets the culture of the organization and must be thoughtful about how best to motivate both staff and board and to create a welcoming environment for donors and grantees.
General administration (5%)
The CEO assures that the Foundation is compliant in every way with all laws and regulations governing public foundations. The CEO also convenes the Investment Advisory Committee twice a year to review the Foundation’s investment strategy and is the primary liaison with the investment manager, in collaboration with the Board Treasurer and the Finance Manager. The CEO also assures that the Foundation adequately addresses legal and environmental risks by monitoring activities and maintaining adequate insurance coverage.
Donor development (50%)
A major responsibility of the CEO is to bring in new donors, new small foundations, and external funds from other foundations to grow resources for progressive social movements. This requires that the CEO be present and engaged in a wide variety of arenas where the CEO is likely to meet potential donors; the CEO will spend a good part of his or her time on this function. He/she must be able to recognize and seize opportunities when they arise.
Donor relations (10%)
As the leader of the CCF staff team, the CEO participates with program officers in understanding each member foundation’s philanthropic goals and seeks at all times to help them achieve those goals in whatever way possible. The CEO meets at least once a year with each family foundation to seek feedback and is often present at each trustees meeting in accordance with the wishes of that foundation. The CEO is expected to keep the constituent foundations apprised of CCF’s progress and to be available to discuss any concerns that constituent foundation trustees may have. The CEO is also the principal contact for individual donors who do not contract for program officer services.
Communications, Outreach, and Marketing (25%)
The CEO engages with philanthropic associations and affinity groups such as Northern California Grantmakers, the Association of Small Foundations, Council on Foundations, the Bay Area Justice Funders Network, Neighborhood Funders Group, and the Joint Affinity Groups members. The responsibility for increasing the visibility of CCF, although shared with other staff and board members, is a primary responsibility of its CEO. The CEO is also responsible for managing and supervising all external and internal communications. The CEO is expected, to the extent possible, to submit articles for publication that highlight the work of CCF. The CEO also supervises the Foundation’s website and its content.
Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge:
• Laws and regulations that govern public foundations and private family foundations, especially IRS rules. Familiarity with such components of a public foundation as donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, supporting organizations and their different types, IRS form 990, and such IRS concepts as the “tipping point” that can move a public foundation into private-foundation status.
• Pricing strategies for philanthropic products, and the public-foundation marketplace, in order to be able to position CCF where it needs to be to attract its target donor audience.
• State and local laws and regulations governing human resources and all other aspects of operations.
• Basic knowledge of investment strategy, especially as it is unique to foundations, in order to engage responsibly with the investments advisor, Investment Advisory Committee, and Finance and Audit Committee.
• How the nonprofit sector functions and its challenges.
• Public policy affecting philanthropy and nonprofits. Public policy related to progressive social movements.
• Familiarity with wage and salary surveys of the field and best practices in foundation governance.
Skills
• Outstanding “people skills.” Philanthropy is above all else a relationship business. A certain warmth and an ability to engage people you don’t know in conversation are fundamental. These skills are also necessary for other aspects of foundation management.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Analytical skills for problem solving.
• Comfort with and knowledge of technology and how it might be used more effectively it in all aspects of the Foundation’s work. Familiarity and ease working with Microsoft Office software on a Mac platform. Experience using social-networking tools in support of progressive missions.
• Managerial nonprofit fund accounting. Ability to read and understand financial statements and engage professionally with the finance manager, board treasurer, and auditor.
• Human-resources management, motivation, and team building.
Abilities
• Absolute comfort working with a wide variety of people of different ethnicities, colors, cultures, social classes, gender identities, sexual orientations, spiritual beliefs, and different abilities.
• Knowledge of languages other than English a plus.
• Ability to travel for work.
Education
• Master’s level degree or higher from an accredited institution. On a case-by- case basis, 15+ years of experience may be considered with a bachelor’s degree in lieu of an advanced degree.
Experience
• Evidence of a commitment to and experience in movements for social, environmental, or economic justice over the course of a career, including volunteer work.
• At least ten years as executive or high-level management in nonprofit agencies/foundations, e.g. Executive Director, Director of Programs, or Director of Philanthropic or Donor Services.
• Nonprofit board volunteer experience helpful, but not required.
Salary range: $75,000 - $85,000 DOE (@80% time)
Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance. Generous vacation benefits. Sabbatical after five years’ service.
Application deadline: AUGUST 31, 2012
Email cover letter and resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or send by mail to:
Search Committee
Common Counsel Foundation
405 Fourteenth St., Suite 809
Oakland, CA 94612
