Chief Executive Officer

GREATER CLARK FOUNDATION

Chief Executive Officer

Winchester, Kentucky

BACKGROUND

The Greater Clark Foundation, originally known as the Clark Regional Foundation for Health, is a health conversion foundation created during the sale of Clark Regional Medical Center in 2010. The Greater Clark Foundation (GCF) provides aspirational leadership by inspiring vision and action for a compelling future. GCF acts as a catalyst, connector and convener to create the conditions in which all people can thrive.

At the nexus of two storied regions in Kentucky – where Appalachia meets the Bluegrass - GCF aspires to build on these legacies toward a region rich in opportunities for all.

GCF’s work is rooted in a set of core beliefs:

• We believe the fate of all people is woven together. We have an obligation to create a society that enables collective well-being and produces equitable power, access, opportunities, and outcomes, regardless of the social conditions one is born into. Historical imbalances of power have led to disproportionate outcomes based on a variety of social factors including race, gender, social class and geography. We define equity as the full inclusion of all people into a society in which everyone can participate and prosper.
• We believe it is possible to unlearn the systems, forces and habits that have produced disproportionate and unjust outcomes. Our integrity as community builders requires us to look deep within ourselves, our communities, our nation and our world to reconcile truthfully and realistically the systems of power that prevent people from reaching their full potential.
• We believe institutional philanthropy should be a force for good in an increasingly complex world. For this reason, GCF invests in strengthening underlying community conditions and social determinants of health.
• We believe GCF’s strength lies not only in our endowment, but in our relationships, actions and influence. For this reason, GCF will use all the tools available to achieve our aims.
• We believe in the abundant capacity of people to create communities they cherish. For this reason, GCF favors investments in people over projects.
• We believe in leading with love. The word philanthropy means “love of humanity.” Love, rightly understood, is expressed both as care for one another and as courageous action to correct injustice, including dismantling systems of injustice.

GCF invests in strengthening underlying community conditions and social determinants of health. GCF’s work is informed by taking a broad and high-level view of how to impact community health. Its belief is that attention should first be paid to the ways in which active civic engagement influences health policy and ultimately drives the delivery of programs.

With a belief that public parks enhance a community’s quality of life and well-being, GCF successfully completed one of its most visible projects, the redevelopment of the former medical center property into Legacy Grove Park, a world-class fully-accessible 30-acre park. GCF brought together more than 200 community members and formed a youth design team which created this vibrant community resource with nature trails, walking paths, a 2-acre playground, dog park and greenspace.

A new GCF program is the Building Trust and Belonging (BTB) opportunity. BTB aims to engage local people and organizations in the effort to foster strong community ties and build back trust in each other that may have been lost over the years, or that may never have been meaningfully cultivated. BTB is a call-to-action for community leaders and citizens who are passionate about improving quality of life and relationships. Trust building is a complex process of stepping outside oneself, learning from others, and building empathy, therefore this grant program will plant seeds of healing to regrow trust, mend the divides between communities and institutions, and bring people together across differences, real and perceived.

The foundation is completely self-supported through its $35M endowment. For more information about GCF, visit www.clarkambition.org

ABOUT WINCHESTER

Since 1793, Winchester, Kentucky, has been the “Gateway to the Mountains” of Eastern, Kentucky. It is a town with a rich history, right in the heart of the Bluegrass region. Known for its Southern hospitality, scenic beauty, and strong ties to agriculture, Winchester offers a blend of small-town charm and a connection to Kentucky’s rich cultural heritage. With a population just under 20,000, Winchester has seen steady growth over the past several years, along with recent concerted effort toward downtown revitalization and expansion by the industrial authority.

One of Winchester’s key features is its location in Clark County, where visitors can explore both the vibrant town center and the rolling fields that surround it. The town has deep historical roots, dating back to its founding in the late 1700s. Many of the town’s buildings reflect its history, with preserved architecture that tells the story of early Kentucky life. The community is the home to Ale-8 One, a carbonated beverage sold throughought the southeast and only bottled in Winchester. In 2009, the inaugural Beer Cheese Festival was held, which continues annually today in the ”Beer Cheese Capital of the World.”

Clark County has a population of approximately 37,000, and nearby cities include Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. Winchester is strategically positioned just east of Lexington, approximately a 15-minute drive from the rapidly growing Hamburg area. This proximity places Winchester directly in the path of Lexington’s continued expansion, particularly with the recent addition of the first expanded Urban Growth Area in decades. The Hamburg district has become a major hub of development, featuring two newly established hospitals, a thriving commercial center, and increased employment opportunities. As Lexington’s urban footprint extends, Winchester and Clark County stand to benefit from enhanced economic activity, attracting new residents, businesses, and investment to the region.

POSITION

As the inaugural CEO of GCF steps down, the Board seeks an executive who embraces the Foundation’s core beliefs and who will serve as a thought-leader, inspiring others to build strong and vibrant communities.

Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, the CEO must be a dynamic leader who can create a culture of shared aspirations. GCF and its community partners have spent considerable time in generative dialogue and collective inquiry to uncover opportunities and challenges in building trust, civic engagement and interconnected relationships that inform and affect community health.

The CEO serves as a very visible leader in the community and must be adept at diplomacy and relationship building. Serving as the chief professional officer of GCF, s/he/they will be tasked with instilling a culture of aspiration both internally within the foundation and externally with community stakeholders.

Professional leadership is an integral component of the position. The CEO will be expected to be a leader and resource to the Board and staff. S/he/they will develop and oversee high-quality grant programs while exploring new areas where the foundation can make an impact. The CEO will ensure that GCF continues to be a convener of people and innovator of ideas that support those living and working in Clark, Powell and Estill Counties.

The incoming CEO follows a predecessor who served for more than a dozen years as the Greater Clark Foundation’s first CEO with a mandate to work with the Board to develop the Foundation’s raison d'être while simultaneously learning about community needs and desires. As GCF moves forward with its next chapter, the CEO will work closely with the Board in leveraging the Foundation’s knowledge base and community relationships to develop new programs that directly improve the lives of those within the community.

The CEO will also guide the Foundation through the development and implementation of a strategic plan. S/he/they will ensure that the Foundation is properly staffed in order to achieve goals. Lastly the CEO will safeguard GCF’s social, reputational, intellectual and financial capital to ensure the long-term viability of the Foundation’s work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create an organizational environment that reflects an absolute commitment to mission and GCF’s core values.
• Ensure that GCF’s work fosters diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility for all.
• Be civically engaged with community leaders from public and private sectors and seek collaboration with government entities, community-based groups, faith organizations, and private sector agencies.
• Serve as a convenor, ready to begin/build relationships and establish dialogue with others.
• Anticipate trends, events, concerns, and opportunities and act as a catalyst for initiating and leading change.
• Expand GCF’s visibility and develop relationships that garner new opportunities for impact.
• Ensure effective communication is maintained to promote positive relationships with stakeholder groups (people served, families, state/local agencies, partners, and the public at large).
• Ensure efficient and effective operations through sound business and fiscal practices throughout the Foundation.
• Ensure that GCF acts according to the highest legal, ethical, and professional standards in all written and spoken communications, documentation and provision of services.
• Work closely with the Senior Program Officer to assure impact of existing programs and explore feasibility of new initiatives based on changing community needs and priorities.
• Monitor all finances and work closely with the Board Treasurer and CPA to ensure an efficient and cost-effective operation.
• Work effectively with the Board and its committees to maximize their efforts. Ensure that meetings are properly arranged, organized, and conducted productively.
• Serve as professional advisor and resource to the Board in all areas of programs, finance, policy and governance.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Professional

• At least 10 years of progressive senior level management and organizational leadership experience.
• Experience in a grant making foundation, while preferred, is not essential, provided candidate possesses strong community development experience.
• Experience working collaboratively with people from all walks of life and a personal commitment to inclusiveness and belonging for all.
• Demonstrated track record of excellence in developing and implementing successful programs and projects to meet pressing community needs in innovative ways.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a thought-leader successful in engaging others to explore new paradigms, challenge norms, and strive for innovative approaches to listening to and addressing community needs.
• Strong leadership skills with a philosophy and style that encourage creativity, growth, collaboration, problem solving, open communication, and accountability.
• Proven effectiveness in serving as a spokesperson and representative with grantees, organization leaders, program officers and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of principles involved in strategic planning, organizational management, budget development and oversight, and coordination of people and resources.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Graduate degree preferred.

Personal

• Demonstrated passion for community development.
• Deep intellectual curiosity coupled with interest in developing vehicles to share knowledge with others.
• Ability to take stands when necessary and be comfortable with discomfort.
• Ability to present as a persuasive, informed, and inspiring leader and spokesperson.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Superior active listening, observation, analytical, and problem recognition and solving skills.
• Ability to make sound judgements independently and to take initiative.
• Well-disciplined and results-oriented self-starter who is extremely resourceful and resilient.
• Past success working with a Board of Trustees, other relevant governing bodyor leadership team.
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning.
• Passion, idealism, integrity, and a positive, mission-driven, and self-directed attitude.

The Greater Clark Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. It is committed to ensuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, or gender identity or expression.

For more information, to refer a candidate, or to apply in confidence, please contact:

David Hinsley Cheng, Managing Partner

Jennifer Thorne, Search Consultant

DHC Search

info@DHCSearch.com

www.DHCSearch.com

(203) 307-0120