Description

Serving as the adaptive and visionary leader of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, the Executive Director shapes and advances the field of philanthropy in Michigan and across the nation. This role is the Center's primary external face, cultivating relationships with foundations, philanthropic organizations, policymakers, practitioners, and academic partners to meaningfully advance effective philanthropy.

The Executive Director champions the Center's thought leadership by translating its research, programming, and convening power into insights that inform the broader philanthropic sector. This includes authoring and amplifying ideas through publications, conferences, policy conversations, and public discourse — positioning the Johnson Center as an indispensable resource and catalyst for the field.

Equally critical, the Executive Director serves as the primary conduit between the Johnson Center and Grand Valley State University, building and stewarding relationships across colleges, university leadership, and faculty to ensure the Center is well-integrated into the broader institutional community and positioned to leverage the full resources and reach of the university in service of its mission.

Internally, the Executive Director provides decisive leadership and oversees the overall administration and management of the Center's operations, aligning strategy, planning, evaluation, communications, and personnel management to ensure outcomes are achieved. This leader is also responsible for the Center's long-term financial health, including fundraising, budget management, endowment stewardship, and revenue growth in partnership with the Johnson Center's Leadership Council and GVSU's Provost and Development offices. This leader fosters a collaborative culture that reflects the integrative nature of the Center's mission — ensuring that its internal work is always in service of its larger role as a convener, connector, and thought leader for philanthropy.

Salary & Benefits: 
Minimum starting salary of $150,000, commensurate with experience. 

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources and tuition waiver effective on date of hire.PRIMARY DUTIES:

1) Strategic Visioning

a. Represent and promote a unified vision for the Johnson Center’s areas of activity. Develop organizational goals and objectives that advance the center’s mission to provide leadership training, applied research, and innovative resources for strengthening community-serving organizations.

b. Lead the development of programming, research, and revenue strategies, ensuring alignment with the center’s mission, donor intent, and strategic goals. Make timely, informed decisions that keep the center moving forward with clarity and purpose and oversee the effective and accurate

implementation of related systems and strategies.

c. Establish and enhance accountability systems to measure and track the center’s effectiveness and overall impact.

d. Serve as a key liaison and partner to the Grand Valley State University community and administration, representing the center's interests and integrating its work within the university's academic mission.

2) External Communication and Field Building

a. Steward the Johnson Center's history, culture, reputation, and strategic vision in regional, national, and philanthropic communities.

b. Serve as the primary spokesperson and thought leader for the center, effectively representing it in local, regional, and national settings, including media outlets, conferences, and public discourse.

c. Communicate the center’s work strategically to inspire philanthropic and partnership support.

d. Collaborate effectively with foundation leaders, peer institutions, and philanthropic partners to advance the field and expand the center's reach, impact, and influence.

3) Team Leadership

a. Foster and maintain a culture of teamwork, mutual respect, and collaboration among staff.

b. Support the center’s directors in their roles, promote professional development, and actively participate as a member of the Johnson Center’s leadership team, relevant university and academic affairs committees, and as lead liaison to the Johnson Center’s external Leadership Council.

4) Financial Sustainability

a. Lead and diversify revenue growth through grants, gifts, earned income opportunities, and fundraising initiatives, working closely with the Johnson Center's Leadership Council and GVSU's Provost and University Development offices.

b. Oversee budget development and management, ensuring sound fiscal practices and alignment with the center's strategic priorities.

c. Manage and steward the center's endowment funds, ensuring responsible use and adherence to donor intent, in partnership with University Development.

5) Perform other duties required/assigned by leadership.

Requirements

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

- A graduate-level degree from an accredited college or university.
- Successful executive leadership experience, including developing and communicating a shared organizational vision and making decisive, strategic decisions in complex environments.
- Demonstrated experience working within or in close partnership with a college or university, including an understanding of academic culture and the ability to build effective relationships with faculty, academic leadership, and administrative offices.
- Substantial experience in the philanthropic sector, with deep knowledge of its challenges, opportunities, and best practices, and an established presence in the field.
- A demonstrated commitment to and passion for the advancement of philanthropy, with a deep interest in strengthening the nonprofit sector.
- Proven ability to serve as a thought leader and spokesperson, with excellent written and verbal communication and diplomatic skills suited to diverse audiences and settings.
- Fundraising acumen, evidenced by leadership or significant participation in major campaigns, grant acquisition, and earned income development.
- Proficiency in budget development, financial management, and endowment stewardship.
- A professional history marked by strong relationship-building, active community involvement, and the ability to cultivate and leverage networks to advance organizational and sector goals.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across internal teams, university partners, and external stakeholders, fostering cooperation, consensus, and meaningful engagement.
- Proficiency in personnel oversight, project management, and leadership volunteer engagement.
- Proven experience in overseeing the development and refinement of programmatic offerings, informed by sector knowledge and stakeholder engagement.
- Understanding of applied social research and the strategic use of data in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
- An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate and thrive within both university and community-based environments.
 

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

- A Ph.D., MBA, or other terminal degree relevant to the fields of philanthropy, nonprofit management, public administration, or the social sciences.
- An established national reputation in the philanthropic field, including a record of published scholarship or commentary, keynote or conference leadership, and/or recognized policy contributions.
- Experience leading or significantly growing an academic center, institute, or similarly structured unit or organization.
- An existing network of relationships with major foundations, philanthropic intermediaries, and national nonprofit sector organizations.
- A demonstrated record of donor stewardship and championing long-term financial sustainability, including cultivating lasting donor relationships and securing resources that ensure organizational resilience.
- Familiarity with the Michigan philanthropic and nonprofit landscape.
- Experience designing or overseeing applied research initiatives, including the development of publications, reports, or resources with broad sector impact.
- A record of successful major gift fundraising and donor cultivation at the leadership level.