Brunswick, GA

The Organization
The Sapelo Foundation, a private, family foundation engaged in grant-making in and for the State of Georgia is seeking an Executive Director to begin this position at the end of the calendar year 2016 upon the retirement of Phyllis J. Bowen, its current Executive Director, who has served in that role since 1997.With net assets of approximately $35 million and an annual grant-making portfolio of about one million dollars, the Foundation currently promotes progressive social change affecting, in particular, vulnerable populations, rural communities, and the natural environment in the State of Georgia. Founded in 1949 by Richard J. Reynolds, Jr., the Foundation is named for one of the distinctive barrier islands on Georgia’s coastline, and is governed by a ten-member Board of Trustees composed in part by members of the Reynolds family.

Position Overview
The Foundation is seeking a hands-on, hard-working, mission-driven leader who shares the progressive values of the Foundation and has experience and a serious interest in promoting social justice, environmental responsibility, and civic engagement in the State of Georgia. The successful candidate will have experience with and an appetite for strategic initiatives that apply limited financial and human resources in order to leverage support from other foundations, individual donors, and public interest entrepreneurs, thereby creating solutions with measurable impact and public good. Prior experience working in philanthropy is not required, nor is deep subject-matter expertise in any of the areas in which the Foundation is currently engaged necessary. However, strong progressive values and the ability to build relationships with grantees, community actors and other funders are critically important to the Board in filling this position. The successful candidate will be open-minded and authentic, capable of independent work, focused on results, and persistent in pursuing Foundation objectives.