The California Black Freedom Fund is hiring an Executive Director

Location 

Flexible (CA) 

Reports to 

President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation 

Our Client 

The California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) is a five-year, $100 million initiative to  build and sustain the power of Black-led organizations, coalitions, and networks.  

This Fund was established and continues to be overseen by a unique partnership  between funders and community leaders who will continue the spirit of partnership with Black leaders to develop a new way of philanthropic and community  collaboration. Resources will be both pooled and aligned to support movement building for the kind of deep, social and structural changes that can only be  achieved by investing in the infrastructures of Black-based organizations  committed to sustained movement-building. The California Black Freedom Fund is  being administered by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. 

Black-led organizations working at the forefront of racial justice efforts in  California are generally under-resourced, resulting in limited capacity and  technical supports necessary to achieve their missions. CBFF’s theory of change is  to increase the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led organizations which will, in  turn, enhance the freedom and self-determination of Black people most impacted  by structural racism. CBFF intends to bolster the infrastructure of Black-led  organizations working for systemic change throughout California, including but not  limited to organizations working on the frontlines to increase access to housing,  advance voter education, accelerate economic empowerment and promote  restorative justice.  

Building on the momentum of activists calling for change, CBFF aims to sustain the  leadership of Black networks and communities organized to address the ongoing  effects of multiple and interconnected legacies of institutionalized racism. Key  outcomes of CBFF include: 

• Increasing pipeline of Black leaders in positions of decision-making power
• Increasing and sustaining funding from a diverse set of state and national  foundations, corporate and individual donors to strengthen the Black-led  organizations at the center of a broader racial justice movement 
• Increasing active participation of Black communities to influence local,  regional and state level civic matters that impact health, safety, and socio economic opportunity 
• Increasing civic participation within Black communities  
• Re-imagining the agenda for racial justice and equality through policy reform  and advocacy initiatives 
• Strengthening the ecosystem of diverse, multiracial allies in the movement  for racial justice 

The time is now to strengthen the infrastructures of Black-led organizations and  the communities they serve in California.  

We invite you to learn much more about the innovative work of the California Black  Freedom Fund at https://cablackfreedomfund.org! 

Position Responsibilities 

CBFF is seeking an Executive Director who will bring passion and creativity to the  design and implementation of a transformative, multi-year initiative – a leader to  imagine, inspire and bring people together to identify existing solutions and new  innovative ideas for changing the trajectory of Black communities in California.  

The Executive Director will work directly with the CBFF Executive Committee  which is chaired by the President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Community  Foundation (SVCF). The Executive Committee will provide regular guidance,  perspectives and advice on CBFF’s efforts.  

The Executive Director will also work in partnership with CBFF’s Community  Advisory Committee, the Funder CEO Circle (core funders of CBFF) and other  funders, SVCF colleagues, and additional community leaders and experts. At this  pivotal moment for the racial justice movement, this unique opportunity is suited  for an exemplary leader who is adept at long-range organizational assessment and  development, program planning and implementation, partner engagement and  coordination, and thrives on working with community partners in coalition. 

Specifically, the California Black Freedom Fund Executive Director will be  responsible for:

Program Leadership 

• Designing, building and implementing the CBFF program in concert with the  CBFF Executive Committee and SVCF  
• Staffing the CBFF Executive Committee and facilitating the CBFF Community  Advisory Committee; co-leading funder convenings with SVCF colleagues • Managing CBFF staff, consultants and vendors 
• Managing grantmaking processes in coordination with SVCF grantmaking  team 
• Supporting the Executive Committee and CEO Funder Circle in ongoing  fundraising efforts 
• Designing, implementing and managing CBFF’s organizational and network  capacity building programs for over 100 statewide grantee partner  organizations, including policy technical assistance, convening, and shared  learning across grantees 
• Overseeing the assessment of leadership and organizational development  priorities for grantee cohorts in consultation with grantee leaders • Recruiting and managing a pool of capacity-building and technical assistance  providers who will deliver consulting, training, and community-building  activities 
• Convening grantees and ensuring that high-quality capacity-building  support is provided; connecting grantees to specialized advisors and  technical assistance providers 
• Coordinating grant awards in partnership with SVCF’s grantmaking team • Overseeing organizational and network development progress and providing  regular reporting to the Executive Committee, grantee partners and funders Representing CBFF capacity building program work and results in public  arenas, forums, and fundraising efforts 
• Facilitating the design and execution of an evaluation of CBFF 

Statewide Network Building and Organizational Capacity 

• Continuous assessment of organizational needs, partnership and growth  opportunities 
• Working with the advisory committee, co-designing an optimal structure for  CBFF over the long term 
• Provisioning of organizational capacity and leadership development  programs 
• Connecting grantees to specialized advisors and technical assistance  providers  
• Facilitating learning and exchange among peer organizations
• Supporting advocacy efforts, including Black-led 501(c)(4) entities and Black led policy campaigns, organizational development, policy technical  assistance, convening, and shared learning 

Profile of the Successful Candidate 

CBFF seeks a leader who deeply understands movement-building, power-building,  capacity-building, and policy change. The successful candidate will be an adept  facilitator and a natural collaborator, combined with a deep passion for justice and  equity for Black communities and a proven track record of achieving results  through coalition-building and managing and motivating committed, high performing professionals.  

CBFF seeks a leader with a personal commitment to Black communities; strong  curiosity and the desire to continue learning; a collegial work style; a sense of  humor; and the dedication to work hard toward CBFF’s mission of strengthening  Black-led organizations and movements to help solidify their footing – and the  footing of the communities they serve – in the state.  

Specifically, CBFF seeks an Executive Director with the following attributes:  

• Ten or more years of relevant work experience in the nonprofit sector  focused on advocacy, field-building, policy change or community organizing  in social change and justice work 
• Experience in the equity and/or social justice field; substantive knowledge  on the approaches and techniques to promote equity, such as advocacy,  organizing, movement-building, and public policy 
• Track record of successfully managing and supervising a team of seasoned  and experienced staff and consultants who can deliver culturally competent  services to Black-led organizations 
• Deep knowledge and experience managing large multi-sector projects and leadership development for a range of social change organizations,  particularly Black-led organizations working on racial justice efforts 
• Significant experience supporting organizational and leadership  development within the nonprofit sector and social change context 
• Broad knowledge of best practices and emerging trends in the field of  organizational and leadership development 
• Personal alignment with the mission and values of CBFF, including a deep  commitment to advancing racial justice, equity and justice; deep  understanding of the experience of Black people and other historically  marginalized people
• Knowledge of the ecosystem of influencers that span grassroots campaign  leaders, direct service providers as well as structural reform proponents, and  a range of strategies they employ to educate, inspire, engage and achieve  impact 
• Experience in fundraising; specifically, keeping funders engaged in CBFF’s  work and making it appealing to new funders 
• Excellent public speaking skills and ability to engage different audiences,  such as foundation, nonprofit, movement, community leaders, and corporate  partners 
• Demonstrated ability to build good working relationships across diverse  partners, including awareness of the complexities and intersectionality of  race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity and orientation 
• Proficiency in maintaining high standards of integrity and confidentiality in  all relationships with grantee partners, colleagues, grant applicants and other  audiences 
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to write clearly, succinctly,  analytically, and persuasively 
• Adaptability to change, working flexibly and dealing with ambiguity 
• A demonstrated commitment to racial solidarity with LatinX, Asian American,  Pacific Islander, Native/Indigenous communities in concert with building  Black power 
• Compassion, a sense of humor and joy, and a commitment to doing the  highest quality work 

Start Timeframe 

We seek to have someone in place by early 2022. 

Compensation 

This position offers a competitive salary and includes a comprehensive benefits  package. We actively welcome all candidates from a wide range of backgrounds  who have the skills to fulfill this role – regardless of compensation history.  

To Apply 

All applications are held in strict confidence. Please submit your credentials and a  letter of interest through our private applicant portal to The 360 Group at: https://the360group.us/portal/

Applications should be directed to the attention of Monica Rodgers, Senior  Consultant. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Earlier applicants may receive priority consideration. To be considered, The 360 Group encourages all  interested candidates to submit their applications promptly, via the confidential  applicant portal linked above. 

At The 360 Group, we know that a richly diverse mix of professionals makes  organizations more effective. Using that principle as our “North Star,” we make  diversity a hallmark of our firm, and all of our search engagements. 

Learn more about The 360 Group at the360group.us.