Thursday, November 13, 2008

Executive Director, Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners - Pittsburgh, PA

Posted: 11/13/08

Overview

Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (PSVP), founded in 2000, is a philanthropic organization that strives to improve life in our community for everyone by helping those who need it most. We do this by linking donors - those wanting to give back in some way - with nonprofits doing high impact work in innovative ways. One might think of PSVP as a special kind of “Giving Circle.” Specifically, our donors (called “Partners” in PSVP parlance) contribute time, money and talent to specially selected nonprofits. These recipients are chosen through a highly structured grant review process conducted by PSVP Partners.

PSVP is part of a 28 member international federation of social venture partner organizations called Social Venture Partners International. The SVP model
has two linked missions which support our desire to improve the well-being of our community: 1) to develop “best practices” philanthropists through providing our Partners with the tools, knowledge and experience to give back effectively over the course of their lifetimes, and (2) to maximize the effectiveness of innovative nonprofits. PSVP’s specific chosen focus is working with organizations that serve at-risk children and youth in Allegheny County in order to help prevent child abuse and neglect.

Partners learn about “best practices” philanthropy through educational forums, volunteer engagements with our Investees, working groups, and social gatherings.

Partners select how they want to be involved based on their skills, interests and time. Opportunities range from working with specific programs and infrastructure opportunities with our “Investees” (i.e. the nonprofits we support) to serving on PSVP teams, committees or the Board of Directors.

The Executive Director of Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners will provide leadership to develop the vision of PSVP, further its dual mission, provide a positive, proactive, and highly visible community face for the organization, and execute the organization’s strategic plan including attainment of Partner recruitment and retention goals.

About our Partners

PSVP comprises a group of highly independent thinking successful individuals seeking more in life than career success. They are motivated individuals who expect results and are willing to take risks to achieve lofty outcomes. Most balance work, family and community involvement and are most effective when correctly matched with a need that meets their passion, interest, skills, and time.

Our Partners are diverse in terms of career skills, age, gender and race. Some are independently wealthy but for many partners, PSVP is a stretch gift. PSVP has three partner categories – Full Partner, Associate Partner and Emeritus Partner.

About our Investees

PSVP portfolio of Investees currently includes four nonprofit organizations working with broadly defined at-risk children in Allegheny County. The work PSVP does with our investees include strategic planning, program evaluation development, marketing, board development and revenue diversification. Our investees have been fully vetted by the partners but are new in many ways to engaged philanthropy and therefore require a great deal of constant interaction.

Current Situation

PSVP currently has 62 Full, Associate and Emeritus Partners working with 4 nonprofit investees. Since 2001, PSVP has contributed $735,000 to 9 nonprofit organizations and has leveraged an additional $10 million in grant money. The Partners have contributed over 5,000 hours of pro bono professional services to the investees and to PSVP directly.

PSVP is in a growth stage with many new initiatives being discussed and launched. The organization anticipates the start of the development of a three year strategic plan.

PSVP is a 501(c)3 donor advised organization with offices and support from The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Qualifications

The PSVP Executive Director is a special person with demonstrated leadership skills and an entrepreneurial spirit. He or she can think strategically and work in a collaborative manner with numerous constituencies. The ability to interact with independent-minded Partners as a peer is essential. Integrity, curiosity, creativity and a sense of humor are desired traits. Specific qualifications include:

Personable, social person who can engage others
Ability to work with and organize individuals with divergent viewpoints
A knowledge of and connection to the entrepreneurial community in Pittsburgh
A knowledge of and comfort in using technology to communicate, including social media and networking
Bachelor’s degree at a minimum
Seven plus years work experience including management experience, program administration, communications and/or public relations and marketing.
Appropriate experience with and understanding of nonprofit organizations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Highly organized, able to handle multiple tasks at one time

Expectations

Will build strong relations in the community to serve PSVP purposes
Will build close, personal relationship with each partner so as to appropriately engage each partner in the work of PSVP
Will establish a lead relationship with each investee gaining a thorough knowledge and understanding of the investee
Will appropriately facilitate connections between Partners who have the needed skills and time with the proper opportunity
Will lead the board and organization through a strategic planning process and implementation
Is able to work independently, manage time well and measure and report progress to the Board of Directors

Reports to: Executive Committee with frequent interaction with the board chair

TO APPLY: To apply, send resume and cover letter to search@psvp.org

Please mention that you heard about this opportunity from Dewey & Kaye Jobs Watch in your cover letter when applying for this position.

The Dewey & Kaye division of McCrory & McDowell LLC provides strategy development, planning, financial sustainability, facilitation, training and executive search services to help nonprofits, foundations, community collaboratives and government agencies address strategic, operational and administrative issues.

Founded in 1951, McCrory & McDowell LLC today ranks as one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the region, offering a wide range of services through distinct, but integrated groups that include Dewey & Kaye, Diversified Medical Management, Three Rivers Institute, and McCrory & McDowell's accounting, tax, and business consulting practices.