USAFA Endowment 3116 Academy Drive USAF Academy, CO 80840 Office: (719) 472-0300 x 206 Direct: (719) 424-7406 Fax: (719) 333-4194 Email: ruth.reichert@usafaendowment.org Position Profile and Specification United States Air Force Academy Endowment Chief Executive Officer (CEO) August 2015 CPPP/USA/02
The Organization Location USAF Academy, Colorado Staff 17 Budget Vision & Mission $3 million The vision of the USAFA Endowment is to be the preeminent organization for the development and abiding stewardship of major gifts to the United States Air Force Academy. The Endowment s mission is to provide efficient and perpetual stewardship of donated gifts to the United States Air Force Academy so as to ensure their permanency and efficacy in accordance with the donors' intent. Background The USAFA Endowment was founded in 2007, as a response to a historical evolution of multiple organizations supporting Air Force Academy programs and operations, and leading to many voices in the institution s and alumni s fundraising efforts. The Endowment was made possible by the generosity of a group of Founding Directors, who specified that their financial contributions to the new organization would be for the support and operation of the Endowment staff, so that donors could focus their support directly to Academy programs and facilities. Over the past seven years, the Endowment has successfully worked with three USAFA Superintendents and their staffs, and has implemented memoranda of understanding with most of the organizations who have historically been involved in fundraising, including the USAFA Association of Graduates (AOG). The AOG is providing the Endowment staff with office space in Chief Executive Officer United States Air Force Academy Endowment 2
Doolittle Hall on the USAFA grounds. With each succeeding year, the Endowment team has successfully raised substantial sums, contributing to USAFA program operating needs as defined by the Superintendent, major new facilities like the Holaday Athletic Center and the Center for Character and Leadership Development, and operating support for the Association of Graduates as it delivers its alumni support and friend-raising mission across the country. The next few years of the Endowment s operation will include focus on key Superintendent s priorities for new and existing programs, and new and ongoing facilities improvement, including Falcon Stadium. The Position Duties Reporting to the USAFA Endowment Board of Directors, the CEO will partner with the Board in the formulation and articulation of a clear vision and purpose for the Endowment. He/She will continue to build and lead the Endowment staff, ensuring a broad and impressive range of fundraising, stewardship, and partnership with the USAF Academy organization, including the Superintendent s staff, the Commandant of Cadets, the Dean of Faculty, the Director of Athletics, and the USAFA Air Base Wing. At this time, the Board envisions a CEO serving in a part time capacity, likely defined as three days a week in the office or directly working Endowment responsibilities. This means that our new CEO will be able to engage in other activities, balancing time and energy to ensure full support of the Endowment role as defined here. Chief Executive Officer United States Air Force Academy Endowment 3
The CEO will lead the annual Endowment budgeting and planning process, setting staffing objectives, and working with the Board to establish each successive year s fundraising objectives. He/She will lead the preparation and organization of Endowment Board meetings, and key Board committee meetings throughout the year. The new CEO will recommend hiring, promotions, and compensation changes for the Endowment staff, working closely with the Board. Sound business management and business planning will be a key requirement for the CEO. As the Endowment continues to grow and mature, he/she will institute improved operational policies and procedures to ensure measurable achievement of business goals and objectives. This will include the development and/or updating of a variety of operating procedures, contract award processes; HR Policies and Procedures; stewardship reports to our donors, and published financial reports designed for review externally. Finally, the CEO will be the senior Endowment officer responsible for achieving and exceeding annual fundraising goals. The CEO will be personally involved in campaign leadership, with particular responsibility for improving understanding and gaining the enthusiastic support of the various USAFA internal and external constituencies. Chief Executive Officer United States Air Force Academy Endowment 4
The Person Education Qualifications & Experience While not mandatory, it is highly desired that the new CEO be a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. There are five key capabilities that are central to this role, and the Board will be looking for career experiences and accomplishments that demonstrate outstanding strength in each: The new CEO will have demonstrated the ability to engender respect and open communication with the leadership of the USAF Academy and its staff, and our Air Force more broadly, to include the Chief of Staff and key parts of USAF central to successful Endowment fundraising and stewardship. Likewise, this individual will be able to quickly gain the deep respect of the USAFA graduate community, and the other key organizations working closely with that community, including the Association of Graduates, the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation, Falcon Foundation, and others. This executive will be an accomplished organizational leader, able to guide the Endowment team, develop and execute budgets, hire and develop key staff, negotiate the many arrangements related to partnership with other parts of the USAFA family, ensure impressive stewardship for the Endowment s financial supporters, and lead the delivery of annual financial and other key Endowment goals. Fourth, our new leader will be a proven organizational strategist, capable of working with the Board, staff, and constituents to develop and implement the long term direction and strategy of the USAFA Endowment. Finally, our new CEO will be a skilled and accomplished fundraiser, able to work with others on the staff and Board to continue to raise the funds needed to meet a wide variety of USAFA needs and donor priorities, and to execute new Chief Executive Officer United States Air Force Academy Endowment 5
strategies for even greater USAFA capability, commitment, and performance. This will include close partnership with our diverse and energetic Board, all of whom have demonstrated their own deep personal commitment to this fundraising process. Personal Characteristics First and foremost, we are seeking a strategic and visionary leader with superb skills in building and rallying teams and gaining widespread buy-in. Our candidate must have a demonstrated ability to shape and frame a vision and bring ideas and people together to create enthusiasm and commitment. At the same time, our candidate must be action-oriented and capable of inspiring excellence at all levels of the organization. A strong work ethic and positive attitude are required. Our ideal candidate will be a superb communicator and relationship-builder. A key personal characteristic of our CEO will be that he or she is confident, but not arrogant. We are seeking an individual who is thick-skinned, not compelled to justify, encompassing rather than exclusionary. Ideally, we seek an accomplished executive who will advise the Board of his/her direction, know when to ask for approval and guidance, but will not wait for the Board to take initiatives, which are required to accomplish the mission. Finally, our candidate will demonstrate, by living example, the highest character and integrity values of USAFA. Our candidate must demonstrate a passion for the mission of the United States Air Force Academy. The Process Timing Candidates should submit electronic cover note and resume no later than September 25, 2015 to: Ruth Reichert at the USAFA Endowment: ruth.reichert@usafaendowment.org Office: (719) 472-0300 x 206 Direct: (719) 424-7406 Chief Executive Officer United States Air Force Academy Endowment 6