John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Search for Chief Executive Officer Boston, MA

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1 John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Search for Chief Executive Officer Boston, MA This Library is dedicated to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35 th president of the United States of America, and to all those who through the art of politics seek a new and better world. - Inscription at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum The Search In his inaugural speech, President Kennedy reminded us: All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of the administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin." Hundreds of millions of people in this country and all over the world looked to President John F. Kennedy as their leader. His idealism, his youth and vigor, his wit and his political savvy inspired millions of people of all ages, races and stations to want to do their part and work to make the world a better place. The JFK Library Foundation (JFKLF) aims to perpetuate this inspirational legacy for future generations by stressing the need for active citizenship and the importance of public service. The Board of Directors of the Foundation seeks a dynamic leader as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). S/he will have the broad opportunity to further shape this vibrant institution for scholarship, education, and public discourse to ensure that its programs and resources reflect the challenges of democracy we face in the 21 st century. Now almost fifty years removed from President Kennedy s stirring inaugural speech, the United States finds itself in a new era of political leadership and civic engagement. During the past few years, a new generation has found its own commitment to public service and seeks to marry the lessons of history with the challenges of the present and the boundless opportunities of the future. Many of the challenges facing our nation and the world during John F. Kennedy s presidency are still with us today--human rights, civil rights and economic justice at home and around the world, the quest for peace and a reduction of violence, and the endless possibilities offered by science and technology. While new forms and approaches to address these challenges have been and continue to evolve, one fundamental prerequisite remains the same. Our success in addressing them depends on the commitment of individual people to participate, impelled by their belief that through their efforts, they can each make a difference. The Kennedy Presidential

2 Library prides itself as the custodian of that belief, inspiring a sense of political and civic engagement and responsibility in new generations of people in this country and around the world. The JFK Library, now regarded by the National Archives as one of the model Presidential Libraries because of its innovative programs, successful fundraising, and exemplary collaborative efforts, and its Foundation seek to continue and expand the Foundation s highly regarded public programs, its educational mission, and its innovative use of communications technology. The Foundation shares its mission with the JFK Presidential Library, which is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). In its fifty year history this shared mission has evolved in response to shifting trends in national and international political events and today these include: serving as a local, national and international center of public dialogue and education on the challenges facing our democracy and world today and tomorrow as they may relate to the legacy of President Kennedy; inspiring a commitment to public service in all who visit the Kennedy Library-in person and virtually, thus, perpetuating his legacy; introducing communication technologies to connect new, younger audiences, domestic and international with the Library, establishing it as an intersection for engagement on issues confronting individual societies and the global community; expanding worldwide access to the records of the Kennedy Administration through the digitization of the historic documents contained in the Library s archives; working with the Board and Library staffs to develop plans for updating the physical space and exhibits in the Library; working with NARA to ensure that the historical materials in the Library s archives and museum are preserved for posterity; creating a business model that sustains and promotes the Museum at the Kennedy Presidential Library as one of Boston s leading tourist attractions. Achieving these important strategic goals will require renewing current, major sources of philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, and foundations as well as raising substantial new resources from a wide range of public and private donors. Working closely with the Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and supported by the spirited and talented fund raising staff, the new CEO will be expected to spearhead important new development initiatives aimed at growing unrestricted operating support, promoting planned giving, building endowment and developing new income streams, such as on-line giving and international fundraising. Page 2 of 9

3 The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in the recruitment of the new Chief Executive Officer. It is the goal of the Search Committee and Board of Directors to appoint their new CEO by early summer, 2009, in time to overlap with the current CEO who departs August 1 st. All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in confidence as noted at the end of this document. Background The Presidential Library system formally began in 1939 when President Franklin Roosevelt donated his personal and presidential papers to the Federal Government. At the same time, President Roosevelt pledged part of his estate at Hyde Park to the United States, and friends of the President formed a private, non-profit corporation to raise funds for the construction of the library and museum building. Following the example of the Roosevelt Library, all succeeding presidential libraries have been constructed with private funds. Private, non-profit organizations have been formed to coordinate these efforts, and they continue to provide leadership and support for presidential library programs, and initiative and management of programs that on occasion are developed independently by the foundations themselves. Once a presidential library has been constructed, the National Archives assumes responsibility for its operation and maintenance. Like the presidential libraries before it, the Kennedy Library began with a commitment from President Kennedy to follow the precedents set by Presidents Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower, and give his papers and memorabilia to the National Archives for a presidential library. The Kennedy Library was built with the private donations of 36 million people from around the world and was dedicated on October 20, One of the nation s thirteen presidential libraries, the Kennedy Library overlooks Boston Harbor and is housed in a dramatic, landmark building designed by I. M. Pei. The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation has its origins in the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library, Inc., a non-profit corporation that was chartered in Massachusetts in 1963 to construct and equip the Library and Museum in Massachusetts. Since then, the private financial support provided by the Kennedy Library Foundation has enabled the federal government to expand the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum s research and archival capacity, to undertake public information projects, to offer intern and research fellowship programs, to enhance its museum and exhibits, and to provide nationally recognized educational and public programming. Under the leadership of the Foundation s departing CEO, Ambassador John Shattuck, the Library s current Director, Tom Putnam and a truly excellent staff, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum is widely recognized as the most dynamic presidential library in the nation and as a model for its success in convening dialogues on the world s most pressing issues. After eight years of celebrated service, Mr. Shattuck has recently been appointed the President and Rector of Central European University in Budapest. Page 3 of 9

4 Structure and Current Programs The Foundation, established in 1984, is a nonprofit organization with a staff of about 25 people, a budget of approximately $6 million and an endowment of $26.5M. It helps to provide the vision, leadership and resources for a number of programs and activities. The Foundation continues to support the public-private partnership through significant donations and in-kind contributions. These have allowed the Foundation to contribute substantially to the total operating budget of the Library. The Foundation works closely with the Library in the planning and establishment of long-term strategic goals and objectives, and also initiates and manages its own programs. The success of this partnership has depended on the collaborative leadership skills of the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation and his/her ability to work jointly with the Director of the Library and his/her staff. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of nearly 50 business, education, cultural and civic leaders led by its president, Caroline Kennedy and Board Chairman, Paul Kirk. The Library is administered by a Director and staff on behalf of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), an agency of the federal government. The advancement of the Library s mission is increasingly dependent upon the close collaboration of the Library and Foundation staffs. The Library s budget is about $8 million, from public programs and an annual appropriation, with a staff of about 50 people. The mission of the Kennedy Library is to advance the study and understanding of President Kennedy s life and career and the times in which he lived, and to promote a greater appreciation of America s political and cultural heritage, the process of governing and the importance of public service. The Kennedy Library accomplishes this mission by preserving and making accessible the records of President Kennedy and his times; promoting open discourse on critical issues of our own time; and educating and encouraging citizens to contribute to shaping our nation s future through public and community service. The Library and Foundation have three core functions: Museum, Archives, and Education. Museum One of Boston s most popular tourist attractions, the Museum at the Kennedy Presidential Library has hosted more than six million visitors from throughout the world since its opening in Currently, annual paid visitation is approximately 200,000 visitors. The Museum at the John F. Kennedy Library features a dramatization of the life of President John F. Kennedy and extends the scholarship of the archives by providing a setting in which visitors can identify with the issues facing the Kennedy presidency, and the political environment of mid 20th century America. Period settings from the White House and 25 multimedia exhibits enables visitors to step back into the recreated world of the early 1960s and experience first hand a stirring account of President Kennedy s thousand days in office. The Foundation provides significant marketing and media support to promote the Museum, one of Boston s top five paid admission tourist attractions. With the support and leadership of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, the Library and Foundation sponsored and managed the national and international traveling exhibit, Jacqueline Page 4 of 9

5 Kennedy: The White House Years, which not only brought the story of Mrs. Kennedy to life to all who visited but was also the single most successful means of raising revenue in the Library and Foundation s history. Archives The Presidential Libraries Act of 1955 established presidential archival depositories and museums. The Library s documentary and audiovisual collections make it a major center for the study of mid-20th century American history. Its archives include more than 8.4 million pages of the personal, congressional and presidential papers of John Fitzgerald Kennedy; 400,000 still photographs; 9,000 hours of audio recordings; 70,000 volumes of printed materials; and 8 million feet of film. In addition to the papers of John F. Kennedy, the archives hold more than 40 million pages of the papers of Robert F. Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy and more than 300 other individuals who were associated with the Kennedy Administration or mid-20th Century American history. The Library s archives also hold the Ernest Hemingway Collection that includes 95 percent of the Nobel Prize winner s manuscripts and correspondence, making it the world s principle center for research on the life and works of Ernest Hemingway. The Library s research facilities are among the busiest of the presidential libraries, hosting over 800 researchers last year. Web and Digital Archive The Kennedy Library Foundation has been instrumental in initiating a far-reaching effort to provide worldwide access to the Kennedy Library through an unprecedented and ongoing web and digital archive project. The initiative to digitize, index and archive millions of presidential documents, manuscripts, photographs and audio/visual recordings at a presidential library collection is the first of its kind in the nation. The project is made possible by a unique partnership between the Foundation and major private sector leaders in the field of information technology, and it has been informally designated by the National Archives as a pilot project for all presidential libraries. In the absence of federal funding, the cost for the design and technical development of the Kennedy Presidential Library s website is funded entirely by the Kennedy Library Foundation through private donations. Until NARA provides technical and financial support for presidential library websites, the Kennedy Library Foundation is committed to supporting web-based communication to promote the legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Education and Public Programs Inspired by John Kennedy s faith in the ability of individual people to effect positive change, and by his admiration of courageous leadership, the Library s lively educational programs in American history and contemporary public issues promote responsible public discourse and thoughtful citizenship. The education programs target a broad range of audiences, from students (of all ages) to scholars and policy makers to the general public. The current primary educational programs include: Forums One of the best known offerings of the Library is the Kennedy Library Forums. This series of public affairs programs offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum seeks Page 5 of 9

6 to foster public discussion on a diverse range of historical, political and cultural topics reflecting the legacy of President and Mrs. Kennedy's White House years, which are every bit as relevant in today s environment. They are conducted as conversations with historic and distinguished visitors, and they have cultivated a truly diverse and energized following, frequently drawing upwards of 1,000 participants. In 2008, the Library hosted 30 such forums, drew in nearly 35,000 attendees at these special events, establishing the Kennedy Library as a center of public education. Through media partnerships created and sustained by the Foundation, Kennedy Library Forums increasingly reach regional and national audiences. Convener for Conversations and Conferences Through the leadership of the Foundation, the Kennedy Library is now widely known as a convener on national and international public issues. For example, in September 2006, and again in July 2007 the Foundation convened the groundbreaking conference, Covering Conflict, featuring journalists from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Gaza, Dubai, Beirut and Belfast with significant experience related to the conflicts in the Middle East and Northern Ireland, meeting at the Kennedy Presidential Library, and subsequently in Jerusalem for a private and off-the-record conference. The Kennedy Library forums and conferences highlight the Library s role in driving a truly global conversation on issues defining the modern era. The Foundation has also played a pivotal role in leading discussion on inner city violence, promoting open and constructive dialogue between prominent gang leaders, as well as addressing emerging issues in public education, both locally and nationally. Awards The Kennedy Library Foundation has initiated and manages two major national award programs. The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award recognizes acts of political courage and leadership. It is presented annually to public officials whose principles have withstood strong opposition from constituents and powerful interest groups. Named for John Kennedy s Pulitzer Prize winning book, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award has come to be recognized as the nation's most prestigious non-partisan honor for elected public servants. A second annual award is the New Frontier Award which honors an individual under 40 years of age whose contributions to community service, advocacy or grassroots activism have elevated the debate or changed the landscape with respect to a public issue or issues. Elementary and Secondary Education The John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation have a shared commitment to extending the history and legacy of President Kennedy to younger generations. In addition to serving as an exciting and educational destination for students, other educational opportunities available through the Library and supported by Foundation funds and staff include: materials, resources, and activities for teachers to integrate into their curriculum, professional development opportunities for teachers, the Profile in Courage Essay Contest for high school students and the Make a Difference Award for middle school students. Other Programs funded wholly or in part by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation include the library s Docent Program, a Distinguished Foreign Visitors Program, the Distinguished American Series, a student internship program, research grants and fellowships, Hemingway preservation work and inspirational immigration & naturalization ceremonies. Page 6 of 9

7 Objectives for the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) This is a rare opportunity to help shape an institution which understands its dedication to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy to be fulfilled by constantly reinterpreting President Kennedy s ideals as they apply to current national and international political and public policy concerns. Today this mission must be carried out in a changed national and international political landscape making the job of the CEO of the Foundation one of action and innovation at a critical political time. The Foundation s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will provide leadership at a vital time when the institution seeks to increase the Library s impact, visibility and to expand its reach, both locally and globally, to younger and coming generations who have no firsthand memory of President Kennedy. Working strategically with the Board of Directors and the staff of the Foundation and the Director of the Library, the CEO will have great latitude to highlight programmatic initiatives that s/he feels most important and relevant to advancing the Foundation s mission. The CEO will work with and be accountable to the Foundation s Board and will be expected to achieve the following broad objectives during the first months of his or her tenure: Present President Kennedy s life through programs and channels of communication that connect with the new generations of young people so that it will inspire their sense of civic and political responsibility; Design, coordinate and implement the 50 th Anniversary Celebration of the Kennedy administration, showcasing worldwide President Kennedy s commitment to social justice, democracy, peace and civic engagement; Promote and advance the Kennedy Library Forums as educational opportunities that invite public debate and discussion on important domestic and international topics of our day and that challenge audiences to think critically about how to become the best citizens of their time; Lead the effort to translate and present President Kennedy s legacy in contemporary terms. S/he should leverage technology, new media and innovative marketing efforts in order to expand the Library s reach and to engage a new generation of energized citizens; Create and execute a development strategy that will significantly diversify and increase the Foundation s endowment and programmatic funds; Ensure that the Foundation serves as a catalyst and source of inspiration for fostering civic engagement and engagement in public service; Page 7 of 9

8 Champion the promotion of a global dialogue about the Kennedy Administration through the digitization of historic documents contained in the Library archives and accessibility to those records through state-of-the-art web technology; Serve as the Library s ambassador to the Greater Boston community by building on the existing collaborative relationships with educational and cultural institutions, including the new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, the University of Massachusetts - Boston as well as engaging with Boston s civic and community organizations; Develop and implement programs with regional and national relevance and that extend the reach of the Library to the larger international community; Nurture and empower the excellent and committed Foundation staff. S/he will work to ensure that the Foundation continues to be viewed as a highly desirable employer; Collaborate with NARA and the other presidential library foundations to continue and expand the efforts to preserve the archival documents and the museum s holdings. The Ideal Candidate This position requires a special person who can both preserve and promote the memory of President Kennedy by highlighting the relevance of his ideals and his values. While no one person will possess all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate would embody the following professional and personal characteristics: Deep commitment to the ideals and legacy of John F. Kennedy, including a demonstrated commitment to public service and civic engagement; A leader with an entrepreneurial spirit who has vision, dynamism, and the proven political skills to bring people together for a common purpose while focusing on outcomes and results; An effective communicator who can make a compelling case for a vision or a program, inspiring in others genuine confidence and a strong desire to help An experienced fundraiser who enjoys the task and who has raised substantial amounts of both public and private funds; A forward looking communication strategist who embraces new (and traditional) media to engage a truly global community; A highly respected individual who enjoys current, active connections to and works comfortably with opinion makers, academic and business leaders, government officials at all levels, and community organizations; Page 8 of 9

9 Demonstrated skills as a thought-leader, planner, strategist, and manager, with the ability to articulate a vision for the future of the Library and Foundation and to continue to strengthen the public-private partnership that sustains that vision; A team builder and collaborative leader who can manage and motivate an excellent staff, work in partnership with the Library and Museum staff, engage the Foundation s Board, as well as build alliances with other institutions; An individual with a lively, creative intellect, sound and solid judgment and the imagination, flexibility, and ability to act as a catalyst for change; Public sector work experience or exposure may be desirable; A strong personal and public presence with an ability to operate in the spotlight without requiring or insisting on it; A person whose integrity, fairness, patience, discretion, energy, graciousness and sense of humor will set the tone at the top of this unique institution of dedicated personnel. Compensation Compensation will be both competitive and commensurate with the successful candidate s experience. To Apply Recommendations of potential candidates are welcome. The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is an equal opportunity organization and actively seeks to attract a diverse pool of candidates. It is the goal of the Search Committee and Board of Directors to appoint their new CEO by early summer, 2009, in time to overlap with the current CEO who departs August 1. Applications, including a resume and a cover letter that responds to the challenges and requirements outlined above, should be sent to: Bernie Muller, Associate Isaacson, Miller 334 Boylston Street, Suite 500 Boston, MA Telephone: (617) Fax: (617) @imsearch.com Electronic submission of materials to Isaacson, Miller at the address above is strongly encouraged. For more information, visit the Library s website: Page 9 of 9