Earlier this summer, Beth McCaw announced her plans to step away from her role as President & CEO of Washington Women’s Foundation (WaWF), and we announced the formation of a Search & Transition Committee to hire her successor. Over the last month, the Search & Transition Committee and our search consultants, Koya Leadership Partners, have been engaged in a series of conversations to solicit feedback from our members, staff, grantees and community partners about the competencies, personal attributes, priorities, highlights, and challenges for the next President & CEO of the Foundation. From that feedback, the Committee has developed a Position Profile for the next President & CEO. As the Committee is beginning to seek candidates for the position, we are sharing the Profile with our members and community partners. 

THE OPPORTUNITY 

At a critical time in WaWF’s history, we are seeking an inspirational and innovative President & CEO to lead Washington Women’s Foundation. We believe it is now more important than ever, in this time of pandemic, economic devastation, and the current racial injustice reckoning, that we find a leader who understands these challenges and has the experience and vision to help define WaWF’s role in addressing them. The next President & CEO will build upon a rich 25-year history of collective grantmaking that empowered women to see that by working together, they could learn and give with greater impact. With WaWF’s recent adoption of a strategic framework focused on advancing equity and becoming an anti-racist organization, the next leader will help co-create new, creative, and bold actions to fuel a thriving nonprofit sector and meet the demands of the moment. 

THE ROLE 

The President & CEO will represent WaWF, to members, potential members, the community, and the broader philanthropic sector. Managing a talented and committed staff of 4, the President & CEO will have operational responsibility for WaWF’s grantmaking and educational programs, communications, fundraising, events, and finances. The President & CEO will be instrumental in continuing to position WaWF as a true community partner and actualize the full potential of bringing our vision and values to life. The President & CEO will have the experience to partner effectively with Board and staff to build authentic internal & external relationships. 

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

• The President & CEO will be courageous, vulnerable, and authentic, will have had success in previous leadership roles, will be experienced in creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizational culture, and will have demonstrated a commitment to social justice. 

• The President & CEO will embrace the mission of WaWF, the power of collective grantmaking, and will be invested fully in the vision and goals of the organization. This effective leader will provide strategic direction, building on the firm foundation and strong legacy of the past, while unifying members in the pursuit of an inclusive and transformational strategic direction. 
• A natural bridge and coalition-builder, the President & CEO will have the ability to inspire trust and confidence with a diverse range of stakeholders, including members, staff, Board of Directors, other funders and the community-at-large, and will build connections amongst them. 
• The ideal candidate will have experience building and leading effective diverse teams and will be able to execute on strategy through active collaboration with membership, staff, Board, and community and philanthropic partners. This individual will also be willing to roll up their sleeves to get things done and see WaWF’s strategic objectives through to successful implementation. 

You can find a link to the full WaWF President & CEO Position Profile here. 

We hope you will share this outstanding opportunity with your personal and professional networks.  If leaders are interested in the role, or have suggestions for others we should contact, we welcome them to contact our search firm partners directly at WaWF@KoyaPartners.com.