Established in 1925, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (the Foundation) is one of the oldest community-based philanthropic organizations in the country and is the largest community foundation in Connecticut. We serve 29 towns, nearly 800,000 residents, hundreds of nonprofits, and a network of philanthropists with more than 1,400 funds. We bring together the people, knowledge, investments, and passion to make Greater Hartford a more inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and raise a family.
Greater Hartford is a region located in the state of Connecticut, centered on the state's capital of Hartford. The Foundation's 29 town region contains urban, suburban, and rural towns that are home to a diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic mix, creating a variety of needs, priorities, and stakeholders.
Today, the Foundation manages approximately $1.1 billion in assets spread across more than 1,400 funds. On average, the Foundation awards approximately $40 million a year in grants, from an average of $25 million in foundation-directed awards and $14 million in external grants from donor-advised funds. Our oldest still-open funds date back to 1936; 651 of our funds are at least 25 years old and 95 are at least 50 years old.
The Foundation seeks to strengthen the Greater Hartford region by leveraging the resources of local individuals, families, and businesses to increase investments in the region, elevate the voice and efficacy of community leaders, and change public policies to ensure that all Greater Hartford residents, particularly historically marginalized communities, can truly thrive.
Position Overview
The Executive Assistant and Board Relations Manager is responsible for direct support of the President/CEO and manages all aspects of executive office and Board of Directors operations. The role staffs the Governance Committee of the Board and works closely with the chair of the Board, the President/CEO, and the president’s executive leadership team to plan and execute Board meetings.
Manages Board relationships and oversees key organizational processes, including coordination of the Governance Committee, orientation programs, board evaluation process, and CEO evaluation process.
Serves as liaison to the Board of Directors, researching and preparing information at its request, maintaining all corporate and Governance-related documentation; prepares and maintains Board and standing committee meeting minutes and records of all Board activity.
Organizes all Board, retreat, and standing committee meeting schedules, agendas, venues and meeting materials; manages timing of meetings and discussion/decision items, locations, and documentation of discussions and decisions.
Prioritizes and manages schedules, agendas, and documentation of meetings for Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Broader Leadership Team and All-Staff meetings. Serves as project manager for ELT cross-functional projects.
Assists in maintaining the president’s calendar, may schedule meetings, and support meeting preparation by ensuring the president is prepared with any necessary information and materials from various departments. Coordinates any post-meeting action items or follow-ups with internal staff.
Serves as an internal staff resource for understanding organizational priorities, providing guidance on the timing and feasibility of scheduled activities, and identifying key stakeholders to be notified.
Supports the timing, review, and distribution of communications from the President/CEO, ensuring appropriate recipients and considering sensitivities and confidentiality. Collaborates closely with the Communications and Marketing department to align messaging and strategy.
Supports the preparation of grant recommendations for committee and Board review and approval. Collaborates closely with Community Impact department to organize necessary memoranda and documentation.
Coordinates CEO participation, travel and registrations for outside board and committee commitments, affiliations and speaking engagements at local, regional, and national levels.
Manages triennial National Standards re-accreditation process.
Manages and monitors departmental budget for the President’s Office.
Other related duties
Competencies and Attributes:
Mission-driven with a demonstrated commitment to the Foundation’s core values.
Exceptional organizational skills, with proven ability to move between “big picture” focus and attention to numerous critical details.
Demonstrated skill in listening for understanding, responding adroitly to changing priorities and situations, as well as managing multiple projects successfully.
Proficiency with MS Office software and meeting technology.
Demonstrated communications skills for writing, speaking, listening for understanding, and presenting and adapting content for a range of audiences, persuading, and influencing.
Demonstrated project management skills – including coordinating internal and external staff, consultant teams, effective time management, and budgets.
Comfort with organizational change and working in an emergent strategy environment.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, empathy and openness to new ideas and perspectives on a wide range of topics and proven ability to translate abstract ideas into actionable results.
Education and Experience:
Degree requirement can be substituted with equivalent practical experience:
Bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of successful experience supporting executive(s) in a comparable organization.
Experience in nonprofit or public sector, in project management or implementation.
Preferred:
Direct experience with nonprofit board relations.
