Foundation Manager Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

ORGANIZATION
The Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to enriching the Manitowoc/Two Rivers area through philanthropic investment in the arts, education, humanitarian initiatives, civic organizations, and historic preservation. Established in 1957, the Foundation continues the legacy of John and Ruth West, whose lifelong commitment to community service and quiet philanthropy has had a lasting impact on Manitowoc and the surrounding area. Through strategic grantmaking and stewardship of significant cultural assets, the Foundation seeks to strengthen organizations that enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.
The Foundation's origins are rooted in the vision and generosity of its founders. John West, an engineer and longtime leader of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, and Ruth St. John West, shared a deep appreciation for community, culture, and the natural environment. Together they transformed their Lake Michigan property into the renowned West of the Lake Gardens, a six-acre botanical destination that remains one of the region's treasured landmarks. Today, the Foundation continues to support and preserve the Gardens as both an historic site and a place for public enjoyment.
Beyond its stewardship of West of the Lake Gardens, the Foundation is committed to advancing organizations whose work benefits the Manitowoc/Two Rivers area community. Grant funding supports humanitarian, educational, cultural, and civic initiatives that promote community well-being, encourage artistic expression, preserve local heritage, and strengthen public life. The Foundation's philanthropic philosophy reflects the belief that investing in nonprofit organizations and public institutions creates lasting opportunities for growth, enrichment, and meaningful community impact.
The West legacy extends beyond the Foundation through their enduring support of the Rahr-West Art Museum, where their personal contributions helped expand the museum and build its permanent collection. Following the passing of John and Ruth West, the majority of their estate was dedicated to sustaining the Foundation's charitable mission, ensuring their commitment to philanthropy would continue for generations. Today, the Foundation remains dedicated to preserving the founders' vision by funding the gardens and by supporting organizations that foster vibrant communities, celebrate culture, and improve the lives of residents throughout the Manitowoc/Two Rivers area.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive of the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) private philanthropic organization founded in 1957 and based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The Foundation owns and operates West of the Lake Gardens, a 6-acre historic garden open to the public, and has distributed grants to Manitowoc-area nonprofits throughout its distinguished history.
The Executive Director translates the Boards strategic intent into vision- and mission-aligned programs, grounded in the Foundations core values, sound financial stewardship, and measurable community impact. This is a hands-on executive role requiring a sophisticated blend of strategic leadership, governance partnership, philanthropic expertise, and authentic community engagement. The ED manages a small professional team. The ED also monitors grant applications for completeness and provides them to the Board for decision-making, oversees operations of the Gardens, and serves as the Foundations principal external representative, including with governmental, regulatory, and community stakeholder entities. The ED is expected to support the Board in cultivating meaningful partnerships with local government and civic institutions in service of Manitowoc-area residents. The ED shares responsibility with the Office Manager for implementing the Foundations
operating policies, procedures, and Board decisions, leading strategically while the Office Manager leads tactically.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
1. Strategic Leadership & Mission Stewardship
Serve as the chief steward of the Foundations vision, mission, and values, ensuring all programs, grantmaking, and operations advance the founders charitable purposes
Guard against mission drift; keep the founders priorities of maintaining the Gardens, supporting arts, culture, education, and human services in Manitowoc central to all decisions
Monitor trends in philanthropy, community needs, and the social sector; bring forward well-researched, data-informed strategic recommendations to the Board as warranted
Lead and facilitate the annual strategic planning cycle in collaboration with the Board; translate approved plans into actionable goals with measurable outcomes and clear accountability for staff and self
2. Governance & Board Partnership
Serve as a trusted partner and primary advisor to the Board of Directors; support the Board Chair in preparing focused, action-oriented agendas aligned with strategic priorities
Keep the Board fully and transparently informed on financial performance, program outcomes, operational issues, and external developments at every regular meeting
Facilitate clear, appropriate separation between governance (Board) and management (ED); proactively reinforce roles and prevent boundary confusion
Support the Board in committee development, new member orientation, and Board member effectiveness
Ensure annual execution of required governance processes, including conflict-of-interest disclosures, Board self-evaluation, and ED performance review
3. Operational Management & Program Delivery
Oversee the full grantmaking lifecycle: community outreach, application administration, proposal review, due diligence, funding recommendations to the Board, grant agreements, and post-grant impact assessment
Strengthen and formalize grant processes, including incorporating grantee voice, community-needs alignment, and equity considerations into evaluation criteria
Oversee West of the Lake Gardens operations maintenance, staffing, public programming, capital improvements, and event planning in accordance with the founders intent and sound property management principles
Establish and maintain robust administrative systems: technology infrastructure, records management, grant management software, HR processes, and document retention policy
Set a forward-looking technology vision for the Foundation; implement tools that improve efficiency, transparency, and stakeholder engagement
Evaluate and steward physical assets and capital resources; develop and present multi-year capital plans to the Board as needed
4. Financial Stewardship & Fiduciary Accountability
Develop and manage the annual operating and grants budget in close collaboration with the Board Treasurer and Finance Committee, subject to full Board approval
Provide accurate and timely financial reporting to the Board at each meeting; proactively communicate analysis of data
Implement and enforce strong internal financial controls; oversee bookkeeping, payroll, and the annual independent audit; present the audit report to the Board
Work with the Board and investment advisors to implement and monitor the Foundations Investment Policy Statement; regularly report on investment portfolio performance and long-term sustainability
Ensure accurate and timely filing of IRS Form 990-PF and all required federal, state, and local filings; maintain full compliance with private foundation rules (IRC 49404945)
Monitor the Foundations payout rate and spending policy in relation to investment performance and grant commitments; advise the Board on sustainability and impact tradeoffs
5. Human Capital & Organizational Culture
Recruit, develop, supervise, and retain a high-performing, mission-aligned team; conduct regular performance evaluations tied to clear expectations, organizational values, and measurable goals
Assess the current staffing model and recommend structural changes to the Board as needed
Model and reinforce the Foundations core values of Stewardship, Integrity, and Community Well-Being
Maintain current, accurate job descriptions, equitable compensation structures, and legally compliant HR policies
Foster an inclusive, respectful workplace culture; implement and enforce anti-harassment and antidiscrimination policies consistently
Uphold the Foundations Whistleblower Policy; ensure zero tolerance for retaliation against any individual who raises concerns in good faith
Build leadership capacity within the team; develop and maintain a written, board-reviewed emergency succession plan for the ED position and other key roles
6. External Relations & Community Engagement
Serve as the Foundations principal external representative and spokesperson; articulate the Foundations vision, mission, history, values, and community impact to diverse audiences
Build and sustain authentic, trust-based relationships with grantees, community leaders, civic officials, peer foundations, and regional and national philanthropic networks
Actively solicit and incorporate community stakeholder perspectives including from nonprofits, local government, and residents to ensure grantmaking remains responsive to evolving community needs
Identify and develop strategic partnerships and co-investment opportunities with local government, schools, healthcare systems, and other funders
Maintain appropriate, visible engagement in the Manitowoc community; represent the Foundation professionally at public events and in media within boundaries appropriate for a 501(c)(3) private foundation
Develop and regularly communicate a compelling, accessible narrative of the Foundations community impact; steward the Foundations reputation with care and consistency
7. Risk Management, Compliance & Ethical Integrity
Ensure full compliance with IRS private foundation regulations, the Foundations Bylaws, Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Policy, Whistleblower Policy, and all applicable Wisconsin statutes to include applicable employment laws
Proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate organizational risks including operating cost escalation, succession risk, investment volatility, and community demand exceeding resources and present risk mitigation strategies to the Board
Maintain appropriate and current insurance coverage (Directors & Officers liability, commercial property, general liability, employment practices liability) and conduct periodic coverage reviews with the Board
Enforce the Foundations Code of Conduct obligations for directors and officers: duties of care, loyalty, and obedience; conflict-of-interest compliance; and confidentiality obligations
Lead by example on ethical standards; communicate the Foundations values consistently and address any violations promptly, fairly, and decisively
Ensure the Foundations public disclosure obligations are met, including timely public availability of Form 990-PF as required by IRC 6104
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Education
Bachelors degree required
Advanced degree (MPA, MBA, Nonprofit Management, or equivalent) strongly preferred
Experience
Minimum 710 years of progressive senior leadership experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven sector
Demonstrated success managing multi-million-dollar budgets and financial operations in not-for-profit or for-profit contexts
Proven track record in staff leadership: hiring, coaching, performance management, and team development
35 years of operational experience spanning human resources, finance, technology, and administration
Meaningful experience working with or serving on a Board of Directors in a governance-partnership model
Experience in foundation grantmaking, private foundation regulations, or philanthropy strongly preferred
Experience with historic property management, public gardens, or cultural assets a plus
Familiarity and understanding of Manitowoc community and the Two Rivers area is required
COMPETENCIES & ATTRIBUTES FOR SUCCESS
Mission-Centered Strategic Leadership
Honors West family legacy
Connects deeply with Manitowoc
Balances tradition and modernization
Leads values-aligned decision-making
Protects gardens and grantmaking mission
Collaborates with the Board of Directors to implement changes in policy, procedures, or processes
Enhances sustainable long-term direction
Exercises sound stewardship of investment portfolio
Collaborative Organizational Development
Communicates clearly across staff levels
Builds trust with garden teams
Navigates complex personalities constructively
Leads with approachability and presence
Resolves conflict without escalation
Listens before making major changes
Balances decisiveness with collaboration
Creates inclusive, team-oriented culture
Operational and Financial Management
Applies disciplined business practices
Strengthens policies and documented processes
Builds staff training and cross-coverage
Oversees compliant grant administration
Establishes accountability and performance systems
Manages resources with fiscal discipline
Board Engagement
Clarifies board-management decision boundaries
Serves as a trusted partner and primary advisor to the Board
Keeps the Board fully informed
Provides financial reporting and analysis to the Board
COMPENSATION
The West Foundation offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with qualifications and experience, including:
Competitive base salary $90,000 - $110,000 at approximately 50% full-time (estimated 20-25 hours/week)
Health and dental insurance benefits
Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, and holidays)
Professional development and continuing education support
Retirement plan
To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter and resume to:
Lisa Maddox, Executive Search Consultant
lisa@spanopratt.com
-OR-
Lindsey Kriete, Practice Director
lkriete@spanopratt.com