Position Description January 2016 PRESIDENT AND CEO

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1 Position Description January 2016 OVERVIEW PRESIDENT AND CEO Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is the nation s largest private, nonprofit community development intermediary, dedicated to helping locally based nonprofit community development organizations transform distressed neighborhoods and rural areas into healthy and sustainable communities. LISC operates through a national network of 30 local field offices, supported by its headquarters office located in New York City. LISC also works with 71 community development organizations through a national rural community development program in over 1,400 counties across 42 states. Founded as a freestanding nonprofit in 1979 by the Ford Foundation and a number of leading corporate donors, LISC has provided support to thousands of local nonprofit community based organizations as well as financing to mission driven for profit entities. LISC has invested more than $16 billion in grants, loans and equity, which has leveraged more than $50 billion for local development projects and programs. These investments have supported the creation of (a) 340,000 new affordable homes and apartments, (b) 196 charter and alternative schools serving more than 78,000 youth, and (c) more than 50 million square feet of new or rehabilitated retail, office, industrial and community space, including childcare facilities, health centers, recreational facilities, and grocery stores and food markets. LISC s Building Sustainable Communities strategy also includes efforts to: tackle crime and promote safer streets; create jobs and help residents achieve economic stability; improve access to healthcare and healthy foods and encourage healthy lifestyles; incentivize community change through arts and culture; and, in general, knit together private investment and the work of volunteers, entrepreneurs, governments, churches, professionals and families for comprehensive betterment of local communities. LISC has two financially significant active affiliates: National Equity Fund (NEF) Created In 1987, NEF is one of the nation s leading Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) syndicators; since its inception, NEF has syndicated investments totaling more than $12 billion, creating more than 149,000 affordable homes;

2 Page 2. New Markets Support Company (NMSC) In 2003, LISC created NMSC to apply for and utilize federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investment authority; LISC is one of the largest recipients of NMTC investment authority, having received $908 million in total awards; to date, it has used $854 million to support the development of 100 commercial and community facility projects in low income urban and rural areas throughout the country to create more than 20,000 construction and permanent jobs. LISC s overall operating budget is approximately $115 million, with a staff of approximately 350 employees. About 55 percent of its support comes from private sources, and approximately 35 percent comes from government resources. Remaining revenues are from earned income and other sources. A significant portion of private fundraising is handled by LISC s local programs. LISC is governed by a 25 member Board of Directors, including the, drawn from the leadership ranks of a diverse variety of community, corporate, philanthropic and other private organizations. Robert Rubin, former Secretary of the Treasury, has served as Chair of the LISC Board since LISC is committed to promoting diversity on its Board and staff and sees diversity as the combined strength of experience, skill, talent, perspective and capability that each employee brings to the organization. Presently, more than 50 percent of LISC staff are people of color and more than 65 percent are women. THE POSITION The new LISC will be only the fourth to hold the position and will inherit a proud tradition of service, effective advocacy, and sensitivity to the needs of local communities and private and public funders willing to invest in their future. Effectively managing a complex and multifaceted financial organization, the will be an inspirational and visionary leader, providing the necessary management, strategic direction and fundraising required for LISC to build upon the impact and success of its programs and investments around the country. He/she must provide substantive direction, articulate goals for success and serve as a resource to program leadership. He/she will: establish relationships with key donors in order to facilitate the ongoing flow of major grants and contributions; identify new sources of funding and revenue as appropriate; explore potential avenues for establishing new financial vehicles; and assure the success of LISC s efforts to raise the grant dollars needed to carry out its charitable activities.

3 Page 3. The will be a credible and passionate spokesperson who will provide a voice for communities in need, and, when called upon, be the face of the organization, able to coalesce support for LISC and represent LISC and its mission to all relevant stakeholders and constituencies, community organizations, major donors, and other funders and decision makers in the national, state and local public policy arenas. The will foster a culture internally that embraces innovative thinking, enhancing LISC s commitment to its Building Sustainable Communities initiative through comprehensive programmatic means in order to help determined communities, both urban and rural, achieve their revitalization goals. PRIORITIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Serving as chief steward of LISC s mission and core values, the will balance institutional management, fundraising and other strategic initiatives and have the following priorities and key responsibilities: Thoroughly understand LISC its history, mission, constituencies, structure and the value of its field operations; Provide effective management of the organization s operations, investments and finances; know how LISC s programs are structured, implemented and funded; Ensure institutional growth strategies are in line and reflective of available short and longterm funding sources and commitments; prioritize and balance institutional ambitions against realistic funding projections; support and nurture the contributions of its two affiliates (NEF and NMSC) to its mission; Diversify LISC s programs and seize opportunities to extend LISC s leadership and influence while ensuring that funding, advocacy and collaboration efforts support the interests and concerns of the organization s broader agenda; Review and assess LISC s current portfolio of investments and programs; capitalize on institutional strengths and examine underperforming initiatives; remain in touch with how LISC s community development efforts/investments work at the local level; ensure its programs are reflective of the organization s interests and direction;

4 Page 4. Review LISC s systems and modes of communication and data collection; overhaul how the organization measures progress; and strengthen its capacity to track and disseminate impact internally and to its funders and partners; Fuel innovative thinking; maintain, nurture and, when necessary, renew a staff of talented and highly skilled people who are the organization s most critical assets and are indispensable to its ongoing success; As a member of the LISC Board, as well as the boards of NEF and NMSC, take an active role in guiding the strategic direction of each organization; integrate and bridge the efforts of LISC and its affiliates into a coherent and financially sound whole; develop and recommend to the Board long term goals to be pursued, together with basic strategies for achieving them; articulate specific milestone objectives to be accomplished along the way; Foster a cohesive and collegial working relationship with the Board Chair and individual Board members, finding ways to use effectively their individual expertise to benefit LISC; be strategic in the development and recruitment of new Board members. IDEAL EXPERIENCE The successful candidate should have proven executive leadership, problem solving and strategic planning capabilities, and should combine as many as possible of the following characteristics: Extensive management experience, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and maintain forward organizational momentum; senior level experience overseeing the financial and management systems required to support a thriving operation; basic familiarity with the key financial tools of the community development industry, including loans, public funding and equity investments; A track record of success as a fundraiser with a demonstrated ability to attract financial resources from foundations, corporations and individuals; the ability to personally interact with and cultivate donors is essential; able to develop overall fundraising strategies and mutually reinforcing alliances with stakeholders, funders and key constituencies; The advanced communication and interpersonal skills necessary to convene and mobilize constituents and external partners; the ability to play an effective, and frequently very visible, public role vis à vis senior government figures, private opinion leaders, community leaders, advocates and the media;

5 Page 5. The ability to recruit, advise, motivate and lead a staff of highly accomplished people to whom much responsibility and authority are delegated; a dedication to sustaining and enriching staff diversity; Understanding of the workings of political systems, both public and corporate at the local, regional, state and national levels and ability to deal with them effectively while remaining scrupulously nonpartisan. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS The should have a deep, abiding personal commitment to and passion for LISC s broad mission and its underlying values. She or he should also have or be: An exceptionally keen intellect given to systemic, big picture thinking; an articulate and informed voice for community development; A sound business sense and firm commitment to fiscal responsibility; able to balance multiple priorities, and manage and collaborate with geographically dispersed colleagues, programs and staff; A good listener and strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into sound, well organized plans; Entrepreneurial; able to identify trends and take risks as appropriate, with an understanding of the essentials of risk management; a good sense of humor and the ability to maintain balance and perspective; Willingness to travel. For more information, please visit LISC is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, and engages employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, marital status or sexual orientation. All who believe they meet the stated qualifications are invited to apply. Nominations and applications may be submitted to Jane Donaldson and Mark J. Tarnacki at: LISC@PhillipsOppenheim.com. LISC January 2016