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Walton Family Foundation
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See open jobs at Walton Family Foundation.See open jobs similar to "Executive Director" Schmidt Marine.The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of its founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together in pursuit of a vision to live in a world where people can accomplish anything when they have opportunity and encouragement. It believes the best ideas can come from anywhere, so it stays open to new thinking from all over, and it partners with those who are closest to the problem because they are usually closest to the solution.
The Foundation works in three areas: improving K-12 education; protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support and investing in its home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas- Mississippi Delta. In 2020, the Foundation awarded $750 million in grants to further its mission.
The Foundation’s philanthropic approach draws from its mission, vision and values, which guide everything it does. This approach informs grantmaking strategies, how the Foundation grows talent, how it partners with others, and how the Foundation uses its voice. The Foundation creates and refines its philanthropic strategies to influence systems-level change while not only using data for decision-making and ongoing learning but proactively collaborating with partners to achieve shared goals.
As the Foundation looks ahead, it will continue to prioritize diversity, equity & inclusion, encourage innovation, and champion community-driven change. It will sustain its ambition to be a force multiplier by engaging with and beyond its existing network of allies and experts to facilitate additional partnerships that can further accelerate and expand the impact of its grantees’ work.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, with offices in Washington, D.C., Jersey City, New Jersey, and Denver, Colorado, the Foundation has a staff/consultant base of over 130 associates. The Foundation is part of the family office, Walton Enterprises (also known as WEI), and is a separate entity from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation. While there is a commonality amongst the organizations’ founders and values, each operates with its own governance and funding.
For more information on the Walton Family Foundation, please visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org.
The Opportunity
With the upcoming retirement of Caryl Stern, the Foundation seeks its next Executive Director to lead a family-led foundation that tackles tough social and environmental problems with urgency and a long-term approach to create access to opportunity for people and communities. With the support of the Board, broader family, and WEI ecosystem, the Foundation is well-positioned for the next phase in its evolution as it anchors in its enduring values of being:
Building upon the recent transition from 2nd generation to 3rd generation leadership, the Foundation operates as a powerful center of gravity for the family to anchor in impact, shared purpose, and continuous, intergenerational learning and connection. It is well into its journey to redefine what a family-led foundation looks like in the future.
The Role
Reporting directly to the Walton Family Foundation Board and Walton Enterprises CEO, the Executive Director will work in close partnership with the Board and Program Committees to execute on strategic priorities set by the Board and broader family. The Executive Director will also serve on the Executive Leadership Team for Walton Enterprises alongside the CEO and the heads of two other family entities, contributing to the overall leadership of the family office.
The chosen candidate will lead collaboratively and with integrity, focusing on working closely with the family on its shared interests, providing the infrastructure, learning, and professional development needed to be responsible leaders in philanthropy. The newly appointed executive will continue to drive internal operational efficiencies and engage external constituents on behalf of the Foundation and family, as informed by strategic priorities and interests. They will continue to build upon the positive culture at the foundation, taking an integrative approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with a focus on professional development within the organization. The role will be based in either the Bentonville, AR or Denver, CO offices, with expected travel to program sites and remaining offices.
The Executive Director will:
Candidate Profile
The Walton Family Foundation seeks an open-minded, facilitative leader who leads with integrity, humility, and confidence. They must bring no agenda, yet be passionate about working with a family on their shared philanthropic interests. They will display a strong intellectual curiosity, the ability to navigate ambiguity and appreciate data, metrics and rigorous evaluation. They will bring an adaptive approach to leading, and being responsive to the Board and family’s goals for the Foundation. They will provide leadership and insights to lead the family through conversations on where the Foundation is headed.
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a variety of interests while identifying opportunities to create connections across those interests. The Executive Director must demonstrate strong communication skills, with the ability to serve as a representative for the Foundation and the family. They must have the confidence to advise the Family and the humility to follow the Board and family’s lead on overarching vision and key decisions. Some experience working with high net-worth families is a plus.
The Executive Director will have a track record of success leading a nonprofit, private, or public enterprise with a diverse constituency, broad scope, and multiple stakeholders holding them accountable. As a steward of Foundation resources, this individual will be adept at listening, informing, and contributing to strategic objectives while creating interstitial, connective tissue across generations and diverse passions.
In terms of professional and personal competencies, the following are highlighted:
Serve as a Trusted Advisor to the Family
Strategic Executor
Proven Leadership and Managerial Skills
External Representation and Credibility
Interpersonal Acumen
Compensation
The Walton Family Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a salary, which is commensurate with experience.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should email a cover letter explaining how their skills and background fit this position and a resume to the attention of Jamie Hechinger, WFF@russellreynolds.com, at Russell Reynolds Associates. No inquiries to the Foundation, please.
This job is no longer accepting applications
See open jobs at Walton Family Foundation.See open jobs similar to "Executive Director" Schmidt Marine.