WOODSIDE, CA

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS, VALHALLA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION/FOX HOLLOW VENTURES
The Organization

ABOUT VALHALLA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION / FOX HOLLOW VENTURES

Fox Hollow Ventures LLC (“Fox Hollow”) is the family office for Scott Cook (co-founder of Intuit) and Signe Ostby (collectively, the “Principals”). Fox Hollow supports Scott and Signe’s philanthropic endeavors through the Valhalla Charitable Foundation (“VCF”).

Valhalla Charitable Foundation invests in and supports innovative organizations having impact in four areas: education (with an emphasis on early childhood development and parental support in the U.S.), environmental innovation, medical research, and international development. Through VCF and on a personal basis, they make grants to nonprofit organizations (80% of their investments) as well as equity investments in for-profit social impact organizations (20% of their investments).

VCF assesses grant/investment decisions against six guideposts: an innovative solution meeting an important unmet need, demonstrated impact on learning and life outcomes proven through rigorous evaluation, potential for meaningful scale, sound business model and financials, exceptional leadership, and the opportunity to play a catalytic role for the organization to address the problem they are trying to solve.

Sample grantees/investments include UPSTART (Waterford Institute), Centering Healthcare Institute, Wildflower Schools, ParentPowered, ThinkCERCA, BetterLesson, UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Sandler Fellows Program, the Whitehead Institute Fellows, Environmental Defense Fund, One Acre Fund, and Living Goods + Last Mile Health.

Position Overview

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

VALHALLA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION/FOX HOLLOW VENTURES

WOODSIDE, CA

THE OPPORTUNITY

With Scott and Signe’s commitment to The Giving Pledge, Valhalla Charitable Foundation is at an exciting inflection point as they seek to scale the impact of their giving. VCF is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Senior Director of Finance and Operations to build, direct, and manage the financial and operational functions of the Foundation. The Senior Director will have responsibility for the Foundation’s financial operations, including oversight of cash flow, strategic financial analysis, and preparation of the Foundation’s tax returns and audited financial statements. Working cross-functionally, the Senior Director will also be responsible for overall grants compliance and management, and will steward relationships with a number of outside vendors providing operational support to the Foundation.

A creative problem-solver with a keen knowledge of nonprofit finance and a genuine interest in social impact, the Senior Director will have the opportunity to create systems designed to support and advance the organization’s mission and values. This role will report to the Executive Director of the Foundation, with part-time support from a Controller working both at Valhalla and the family office and will be a critical contributor to a small but mighty team tasked with implementing a bold vision. A team player with a collaborative work style, the Senior Director will be energized by the opportunity presented in this building phase and will demonstrate a comfort level with ambiguity, a love of problem-solving and a willingness to contribute where needed. This is an exceptional opportunity for a candidate to pioneer new systems and processes and conduct financial analysis to drive strategic decision-making and improved operational efficiency and effectiveness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Director of Finance and Operations will be responsible for the following activities:

Strategic Foundation Leadership

  • Serve as the Foundation’s lead staff resource on financial, accounting, and operational matters
  • Visualize, build and implement policies and systems designed to support the future growth and efficiency of the Foundation overall
  • Ensure that all financial policies and procedures established by the Board are adhered to and carried out
  • Maintain effective communications with, and monitor the quality and efficiency of services by, all vendors providing fiscal and operational services to the Foundation
  • Serve as a coach and resource to grantees on financial, operational, and systems challenges they may face

Finance and Administration

  • Develop and implement formal finance policies and procedures across the Foundation to ensure efficient and transparent reporting
  • Maintain all financial records of the Foundation and prepare quarterly and year-end financial reports, including management views and GAAP-compliant statements
  • Maintain contact with the audit firm and accounting firm to ensure that an efficient and effective audit is accomplished annually and the Federal and State annual tax returns are prepared and filed
  • Assure compliance with all Federal, State, and City regulations that apply to private foundations
  • Work with Foundation investments team to project and plan for Foundation’s cash flows and growth and analyze their implications on grantmaking and taxes

Grants Management and Compliance

  • Work with relationship owners to conduct financial and governance due diligence of potential grantees in order to assist with funding decisions
  • Work with relationship owners to assure that all grantees are in compliance with IRS regulations and the Foundation’s grantmaking policies and procedures
  • Ensure that all grantee reporting and evaluation requirements are met and oversee disbursement of payments per schedule and in accordance with milestones to ensure compliance and consistency across the portfolio
  • Identify and propose policies and procedures designed to help the team better source, vet and manage grants
  • Act as lead administrator for FoundationConnect/Salesforce with a constant eye toward improvements, and maintain data integrity in the system in order to ensure strong and effective reporting and decision-making

Program Management and Grantee Support

  • Oversee the Intuit Scholarship Program for children of eligible Intuit employees, working closely with the principals, Inuit staff and the nonprofit program administrator, Scholarship America, on all aspects of the annual cycle
  • Serve as relationship owner for a select portfolio of grantees that will change over time

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The Senior Director of Finance and Operations will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills and characteristics:

Creative and Energetic Approach to Achieving Operational Efficiency

The Senior Director will be a creative and visionary leader who is able to build cutting-edge financial and technology systems and processes that support organizational growth and efficiency and enable effective decision-making. This person will be excited to dive deep into the inner-workings of a system or process to create the most efficient, values-grounded way to solve a problem or improve team operations for everyone. This leader will approach the work with flexibility, adaptability, a positive outlook and an eagerness to “roll-up one’s sleeves.”

Excellent Financial and Operations Oversight

This person will have robust knowledge of nonprofit finance and accounting, strong analytical skills, and excellent attention to detail such that the Foundation’s financial and operations oversight is of the highest caliber. The Senior Director will model an ability to perform effectively under pressure and use strong organizational skills to manage multiple time-sensitive priorities.

Strong Relationship-Building and Communication Skills

The Senior Director will be skilled at quickly establishing rapport and cultivating relationships with colleagues, Scott and Signe, external vendors, grantees and other stakeholders. Highly articulate and a strong communicator, the Senior Director will present financial and operations information, as well as updates on grantees, in a clear, confident fashion to a range of constituents. The Senior Director will conduct themselves with the highest level of personal and professional integrity and will serve as an outstanding representative for the Foundation in all interactions.

Leading Through Influence

The Senior Director will be energized and motivated by the knowledge that exceptional finance and operations systems will allow the Foundation to achieve its lofty goals and really shine. This leader will relish working collaboratively with colleagues, serving as a strategic thought partner to Foundation leadership and look for ways to contribute positively as a coach/mentor across the Foundation.

ABOUT KOYA LEADERSHIP PARTNERS

Koya Leadership Partners is a national retained executive search and human capital-consulting firm that works exclusively with nonprofits and social enterprises. We deliver measurable results, finding exceptionally talented people who truly fit the unique culture of our client organizations and ensuring that organizations have the resources and strategies to support them. For more information about Koya Leadership Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.

How To Apply

CONTACT

Valhalla Charitable Foundation / Fox Hollow Ventures has engaged Koya Leadership Partners to help in this hire. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume to Erin Reedy here.

Fox Hollow Ventures is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified applicants regardless of the applicant’s race, color, religion, gender identify, age, or sexual orientation.

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