Website: Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (WRAG), a nonprofit membership association comprised of over 100 of the most well-respected foundations and corporate giving programs in the greater Washington, D.C. region, is seeking nominations and applications for the position of President. This exceptional opportunity to lead a unique philanthropic association dedicated to creating an equitable and healthy greater D.C. region will require an inspirational leader who can drive WRAG’s vision, be a leading voice for racial equity in the region, steward and strengthen its membership to increase giving and impact, build upon its successful programs in innovative ways, and ensure the organization’s continued sustainability and success.
The WRAG network provides a robust arena for grantmakers to network, learn, problem-solve, and develop collaborative solutions to achieve greater impact. In addition to its leadership in the region on issues of racial equity, WRAG also has a dedicated and exemplary history of supporting advocacy, building knowledge and expertise in specific jurisdictions, responding to new trends in philanthropy, building knowledge of innovations in philanthropic giving models, and expanding cross-sector support and convening.
The next President will step into an organization with a longstanding, small but high-performing staff; a diverse and engaged board; and a strong membership base of independent, family, corporate, and community foundations, CSR offices, donor advised funds, philanthropic advisors, and philanthropic support organizations. With energetic support for continued innovation and pushing boundaries, the President will have the opportunity to collaboratively build a refreshed vision and plan for WRAG’s next phase of work. He/she/they (they) will contribute new directions and ideas for how to increase giving and impact across the region, bring leadership to conversations that further the understanding of structural racism and its effects, and continue to build programs that promote change towards a more equitable and just region.
The President will be a dynamic and entrepreneurial leader who will build on WRAG’s strengths while identifying opportunities for organizational growth, financial sustainability, and expanded impact in the sector. The successful candidate will possess the vision and drive to lead in racial equity conversations and have experience successfully embedding racial equity in an organization and its programs. They will be a collaborative, strategic cross-sector leader with a proven commitment to and understanding of the greater D.C. region and have successfully built coalitions and partnerships between business, government, nonprofit, and community-based organizations to spark investment and advance systems change. They will have an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities and recognize the historical contexts and nuances of power dynamics inherent in philanthropy.
The ideal candidate will have successful experience raising money from a variety of sources and building the voice of an organization to engage new stakeholders and build relationships. They will have led and mentored a high-performing staff in a resource-constrained environment, managed an engaged board, and successfully overseen the operational and financial health of an organization. The next President will be a highly-effective listener and communicator with a personal style that embodies humility, wisdom, and strength of character.
This search is being conducted with assistance from Katherine Jacobs and Callie Carroll of NPAG. Please send nominations and/or applications including cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume, and where you learned of the position to: WRAG-PRES@nonprofitprofessionals.com. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
