Presents

President of the Initiative Foundation

Ballinger | Leafblad is proud to present the following information on behalf of our client,
the Initiative Foundation, in its search for President.
ifound.org

ballingerleafblad.com

PRESENTING OUR CLIENT:

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION ~

The mission of the Initiative Foundation is to empower people to build thriving communities and
a vibrant region across Central Minnesota. For 30 years this regional foundation has been
powering possible by

Convening people and organizations to advance economic and community opportunities

Providing strategic funding in the form of grants to nonprofits and loans and investments to
businesses that secure essential services and create quality jobs
Building the expertise and capacity of local people through technical assistance and training
Delivering a range of philanthropic services to help donors and funding partners invest in
their communities.

The Initiative Foundation was formed in 1986 during a time when Minnesota faced widespread
financial hardships, high unemployment and shifting rural economies, severely impacting the
farming, forestry and mining industries. A partnership of regional leaders and The McKnight
Foundation created the Initiative Foundation as one of six Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs)
serving Greater Minnesota. The MIFs are independent and responsive to local needs and
opportunities; each foundation was created to strengthen its regional economy and communities.
The MIF partners share ideas while investing in business loans, nonprofit grants, programs and
donor services. The MIF model is unique to Minnesota. No other U.S. state has a similar foundation
network that unites community and economic development.
The Initiative Foundation is proud to serve the 14 counties of Central Minnesota, with its more than
12,000 square miles and 700,000 residents. The region is diverse in its population, environment and
economy. The Foundation serves the St. Cloud area and Twin Cities metro ring counties, as well as
the Brainerd Lakes area, two tribal nations and the rural countryside. Each hometown has its own
unique character and local assets.

Since inception, the Initiative Foundation has awarded $31.1 million in grants and has provided 980
loans totaling $50 million, which have leveraged$300 million in private business investment. The
collective business financing activity has helped to create or retain 12,800 jobs. Through its
programs and initiatives the Foundation has provided capacity-building training to more than 8,200
Central Minnesotans. Initiative Quarterly magazine has been published by the Foundation since
2002, reaching 14,000 subscribers by mail with high pass-along readership and a robust online
following.

The Foundation is funded through a range of private and public grants including an ongoing
partnership with The McKnight Foundation. Additional program support and endowment
donations come from corporations, local businesses, cities and counties, financial institutions,
utilities and individuals. Total assets exceed $62 million, including a $45 million endowment and a
$13 million revolving loan fund. (See the Foundations recent annual report for details.) The
Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of 13-15, and its 26-member professional staff bases
out of the Little Falls office and a St. Cloud satellite office.
The Foundation is certified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a Community Development
Financing Institution (CDFI) and proudly bears certification from the U.S. Small Business
Administration as a Community Advantage Lender. The Foundation meets the rigorous national
standards established by the Council on Foundations, has attained the highest four-star rating on
financial health, accountability and transparency from Charity Navigator, and is recognized for
meeting standards for Accountability and Openness through the Minnesota Charities Review
Council. Annual audits have been stellar since inception.

ECONOMY ~ COMMUNITY ~ PHILANTHROPY

The Foundations strategic framework is based on the philosophy that the economy, community
and philanthropy are interconnected. Gains or losses in one area can either propel or restrain
prosperity. The Foundation's initiatives and investments are intended to have maximum impact on
the system, unlocking the power of each community.
Community assets drive local business growth.
Business growth attracts new revenue and creates quality jobs.
Revenue provides fuel for local philanthropy, which helps to fund community assets.

The Foundations new strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for 2017-2019. It includes 23 core
strategies and program initiatives which will advance 28 measurable impacts and are framed
through eight strategic inquiries, asking how do we
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Support and grow existing for-profit and nonprofit businesses?

Support new entrepreneurs and the start-up of business and social enterprises?
Improve the economic status of financially disadvantaged people?
Enhance kindergarten readiness for children, ages 1-5, living in poverty?
Cultivate the next generation of leaders, ages 40 & under, working and living in our region?
Utilize technology to increase impact and income?
Increase contributions from individuals and businesses?
Enhance awareness of the organizations impact to new audiences?

PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ~

Economic and Workforce Development
Along with its CDFI status, the Foundation holds a special IRS ruling recognizing business financing
as a charitable activity with an emphasis on securing quality jobs in low-income rural communities.
Through a range of lending products the Foundation provides about $3 million a year in gap
financing annually that reduces risk for conventional lenders, leverages private investment and
secures local business ownership and quality employment. A recent example includes a finance
project for a startup business in Hanover, located in Wright County.
These investments are enhanced through the
Foundations business technical assistance program,
which provides cost-share dollars to help companies
address issues or expansion plans and workforce
development support. Critical to program success is the
Foundations long-standing partnership with local
economic development organizations, cities and counties
that receive grants to advance local strategies. The
Foundation is exploring ways to deploy more of its
resources toward impact investments.

Lending and technical assistance programs help

businesses and organizations thrive. To date, the
Initiative Foundation has partnered on nearly 1,000
loans that have injected $50 million into the Central
Minnesota economy, leveraging another $300
million in private lending.

Demographically, the Foundations service region is the

fastest-growing in Greater Minnesota. The development,
attraction and retention of new leaders, entrepreneurs
and a skilled workforce is essential to fuel economic vitality. New initiatives to respond to this
challenge include expanded lending to nonprofit social enterprises; the launch of an Initiators
Fellowship Program to support emerging entrepreneurs; organizing a project for new immigrant
entrepreneurs in the St. Cloud area; and a variety of targeted workforce development initiatives.
The Initiative Foundation believes a skilled workforce is essential to the well-being of Central
Minnesota. Even as the region recovers from a recession, many employers report future growth
may be limited by lack of access to qualified workers.

Community and Organizational Development

The Foundation recognizes that its primary resources are local people who are willing to invest their
time, talent and assets to build and sustain strong communities, nonprofits and businesses.
Powering Possible is the Foundations tagline for encouraging innovation and creativity
combined with a strong work ethic and common sense in solving the next opportunity or challenge
whether on the production line, at City Hall, or with respect to region-wide trends and issues.
To build the capacity of people and the organizations it serves, the Foundation provides a
combination of leadership training, technical assistance, resource referral and grants to help teams
of local people develop and carry out action plans that improve their community or organization.
Some of the specific programs which use this four-prong approach to build capacity include:

The Foundations Thriving Communities Initiative (TCI) is

designed to inspire good ideas in community and
economic development, focusing on those communities
that want to attract and retain skilled workers and young
families. The Thriving Communities Initiative works with
three to five teams per year to identify unique community
assets, goals and challenges. With the results, these
leadership teams guide their communities in the
In Designing Change, IQ Magazine showcases the
implementation of a locally shared vision and plan of
program and the community-based results that
action. TCI provides Central Minnesota community leaders TCI
are being achieved in Princeton.
with customized training and consulting, strategic
communications, peer connections and implementation grants. The TCI model occasionally is
adapted for special circumstances, such as the Foundations ongoing St. Cloud Neighborhoods
initiative, its six-year partnership with local funders for the Greater St. Cloud Community Pillars
initiative and disaster response assistance.
The Financial Resiliency through Social Enterprise (FRSE)
program is designed for well-established nonprofit
organizations. Participating organizations receive a
combination of training, technical assistance, professional
consultation and first-year planning grants of up to $10,000.
Developed in partnership with the Nonprofits Assistance
Fund and other professional partners, the FRSE program
supports six to eight Central Minnesotas nonprofits per year
in exploring how social enterprise opportunities might help
Read Profiting the Community to learn how
nonprofits are enhancing their missions
them better meet mission outcomes and diversify revenue
through the creation of for-profit ventures.
sources. Some enterprises also receive financing from the
Foundation to launch their endeavors. Additional support for nonprofits includes grants for eligible
projects, access to the VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program (administered by the
Foundation), online learning and other resources.
The Foundation has been part of a statewide MIF Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) since 2003. The ECI
works with citizen-based coalitions to ensure young children, especially in geographically isolated and
underserved communities, are ready for lifelong learning success. The Foundation provides facilitation
and grants to 14 local groups to support school readiness and healthy social and emotional
development of young children and their families. It also works to improve alignment of childrens
learning opportunities from early care and education settings to early elementary schools so that
children 0-5 have the tools they need for success in school and in life. Read Books for Every Child, an
IQ Magazine story about the support and service that is being delivered to nurture the love of reading.
The Foundations Early Childhood Dental Network is increasing awareness about tooth decay in
children and working with partners to address this critical barrier to early childhood learning and
development. Initiatives include Cavity-Free by Three in Mille Lacs County and workforce training for
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diverse dental assistants and hygienists at Central Lakes

College in Brainerd and St. Cloud Community and
Technical College.
The Emerging Leaders program connects the next
generation of leaders with opportunities to engage at
work and in the community through customized
workshops and mentoring support. Nearly 40 alumni
graduated from the first round of training in spring 2016
Explore A Root Issue, an IQ Magazine story that
and have been offered scholarships to attend a new series examines early oral care obstacles and the
of three Foundation-hosted workshops focusing on Paths community-based solutions that are being pursued.
to Civic Engagement, which explores options and
develops skills for those interested in serving their communities as staff or in elected or appointed
positions in local government. The 2nd Quarter edition of IQ Magazine shines a spotlight on four
emerging leaders who are embracing the rewards of community and public service.
The Foundation has a longstanding history of working with volunteer teams from lakes and rivers
associations to address water quality issues. The Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program is currently
hosting a $4 million grant from the Legislature to support innovations to prevent the spread of
Aquatic Invasive Species in Minnesota.
Philanthropy
All of the Foundations activities depend on engaged citizens giving of their time, talent and
resources to strengthen the region. Financial support from
a range of donors, sponsors, advertisers and participant
fees help to leverage grants from The McKnight
Foundation and other foundation partners, state and
federal resources and corporate investors.
Multi-year pledges are secured through general
endowment campaigns, program sponsorship
opportunities and estate or planned gifts. Three-year
targets exceed $1 million in new endowment gifts, $7.5
million in grants and more than $1 million in designated
Turn Key Partner Fund giving.

In A Healthy Gift, longtime Initiative Foundation

supporter Don Engen explains how the Lakes Area
Medical Development Associations endowment
donation and its establishment of a field-of-interest
fund will continue to support health and wellness in
Central Minnesota for years to come.

For those who wish to simplify giving or fundraising, the Initiative Foundation hosts an array of
charitable Turn Key Partner Funds. Creating a fund is an attractive alternative to starting a family
foundation or nonprofit organization, which requires many administrative and legal responsibilities.
Its turnkey approach allows donors to enjoy the rewards of giving without these burdens. The
Foundation provides tax-deductible donation and grants administration, investment management,
gift processing, marketing assistance and consulting services.
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PRESENTING THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT ~ THE ROLE

Position Summary: The President serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation and
reports to the Board of Trustees. The President provides dynamic leadership and management for
the organization, facilitates strategic planning and evaluation, supervises all programs and
operations, and serves as the primary representative with external audiences.
The President has five direct reports: a chief operating officer/chief financial officer and treasurer; a
vice president for economic and business development; a vice president for community and
workforce development; a vice president for external relations; an executive and human resources
administrator. Twenty three additional staff members comprise the remainder of the Initiative
Foundation team.
Strategic Leadership and Direction Leads the development of strategic goals and annual work
plans and budgets that advance the mission of the Foundation while ensuring long-term
organizational health. This position manages the organization toward achievement of established
goals and guides review and adjustment of plans in view of environmental factors, resources, needs
and opportunities. The President drives annual planning, monitors budgets and assures proper
evaluation and reporting.
Vision The President is the Keeper of the Vision and constantly tracks trends in the fields of
philanthropy and economic development to determine what fits for the organization and when and
how to advance ideas and questions. They encourage and nurture a culture of innovation and idea
generation, balanced with the assurance and realities of adequate resources and infrastructure.
Asset Development and Investment Management Develops and maintains a diversified funding
base to grow the organization and secure its long-term financial health; advances new program and
funding partnerships on a state and national level; actively leads endowment campaigns; develops
impact investment opportunities; and supports expansion of estate planning and component fund
services. In accordance with board policies, the position oversees investment portfolios, protects
the Foundations position on business investments and assures appropriate care for physical assets.
The President is expected to take initiative to maintain diverse revenue streams and to develop a
sustainable, long-view plan for grant funders and legislative relationships, while directly linking
those relationships to program development and trends.
Partnerships The President maintains positive and proactive relationships with a wide range of
local, state and national partners that help to advance emerging strategies, co-create new
initiatives and provide financial support while remaining non-partisan and open to a wide range of
perspectives. He or she drives and encourages endowment building; maintains/pursues key donor
relationships; assures strong volunteer, staff and consultant support for investment management;
and stays abreast of policy and economic issues, asking critical questions and triggering change
when needed.
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Regional Visibility and External Relations Advances brand recognition for the organization and
actively pursues and strengthens relationships crucial to the Foundation. Serves as the chief
spokesperson for the organization and its activities and frequently and consistently communicates
the vision and mission of the organization (and the region) by speaking at conferences, hosting
events and participating in regional, statewide and national organizations aligned with the
Foundations mission.
Management and Operations Leads, recruits and develops the management team, oversees
operational and financial aspects of the Foundation, including program execution, management of
human resources, and accounting, compliance and audit functions. Promotes an organizational
culture that fosters initiative, accountability, personal and collective growth, and upholds the
highest level of organizational integrity.
Board Leadership and Engagement Serves as lead staff to the Board of Trustees, participates in
board and board committee meetings, assists with board development and recruitment and
facilitates policy development and monitoring. The President also assists the Board Chair with
matters of board governance; development of board agendas and preparation of high-quality
materials; prioritizes relationships with trustees (and prospective trustees) and finds ways to
creatively engage and use their gifts.
QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS ~
The ideal candidate for this position is a seasoned leader of stature who has a strong background in
the philanthropic, nonprofit, economic development and/or business sector and has a passion for
serving communities. Successful leadership of an organization of similar size and scope is desired.
This is a senior management role and requires the ability to work well with multiple stakeholders
from trustees to grantees to community members. Preferable work experience will include:
strategic planning; rural community and economic development; capacity building; leadership
training and development; impact investing and philanthropy; program design and development;
civic engagement and governance; and project management. Alternately, we will consider
candidates who have related experience in the for-profit sector but who have significant volunteer
experience in community and nonprofit boards. A bachelors degree is required and an advanced
degree is preferred.
The following qualities would be exemplified by the ideal candidate:
Credibility: The candidates knowledge base or experience will be meaningful and will have
credibility with the organizations stakeholders.

Verbal communication: The candidate should have demonstrated experience with public
speaking, giving effective presentations and possess the ability to skillfully facilitate
learning events and group interactions.

Written communication: Excellent written communication abilities will be highly valued,

including abilities to write for a variety of settings including publications, training materials,
grants and strategic planning information.
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High level of cultural competency: Respect, interest and demonstrated leadership related to
diversity and inclusiveness and experience building community-based partnerships are
essential attributes.
Leadership: Ability to develop and lead a superior-performing, collaborative team that
strives for excellence and demonstrates a passion and commitment to delivering the
highest quality services to the region. It is critical that the candidate be able to build
consensus and engage diverse groups who work toward common goals.
Management skills: Experience leading and managing complex organizations, collaborative
efforts and community initiatives. Includes strategic planning, Board of Trustees
interaction, organizational development and leadership, marketing, program and grants
management. It is highly desired that the candidate has operations experience in a complex
and dynamic organization with demonstrated acumen including the ability to use data as an
aid in problem-solving.
Personal attributes: Strong interpersonal competencies as evidenced by a professional and
enthusiastic but genuine demeanor, effective one-to-one and group communication skills, a
capacity to build/ maintain respectful, trusting relationships with constituents, and an ability
to listen yet effectively negotiate and persuade. High ethical standards and integrity with
ability to earn the respect of others.
Technological literacy: Ability to navigate in routine technologies including Microsoft Office
Suite, databases, Google documents, Skype, and other similar tools is critical for managing
the workload associated with this position. Experience with social media to engage and
communicate with community stakeholders is important.

Additional desired personal attributes desired include:

A connection, knowledge and understanding of history, current issues and culture in
Central Minnesota and/or sincere interest in learning about the region.
A sense of personal accountability.
A strong desire to innovate and look for continuous improvement.
Cross-cultural competency.
Exceptional communication and relationship skills with a range of stakeholders.
Hard working and well organized.
Impeccable judgment, discretion, confidentiality, diplomacy and patience.
Interest and commitment to ongoing professional growth and development; an aspiration
toward learning and development for self and others
Outstanding executive presence and decorum.
Passion for rural community development.
Positive orientation: strong bias for making positive changes, can-do attitude, focus on
setting and achieving goals. Preference for transparent, collaborative management style.
COMPENSATION ~
The compensation package will be commensurate with experience and will include an executive
salary along with a comprehensive benefits package.

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PRESENTING BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL MINNESOTA ~

The Initiative Foundation serves the Central Minnesota region. Beautiful lakes, streams, parks and
forests make this a wonderland of natural and recreational attractions. Prominent industries
include agriculture, manufacturing and service industries, construction, mining and paper. Tourism
is a major industry, reflective of the bounty of scenic sites and activities for visitors.
Nearly 80 percent of residents have at least some college experience, which is above both state
and national averages. Colleges and universities such as St. Cloud State University, Leech Lake
Tribal College, Saint Johns University/The College of Saint Benedict and six community and/or
technical colleges (Brainerd, Cambridge, Pine City, St. Cloud, Staples and Wadena) are indicative of
the areas ample opportunities for continuing education and training.

The biggest city in the Initiative Foundations region is St. Cloud, which is the states fourth largest
metropolitan area. A bustling college town with a vibrant downtown area, St. Clouds natural
landscape includes the Beaver Islands, a stretch of 30 undeveloped islands that are part of a 12-mile
stretch of wild and scenic riverscapes. The city maintains 95 parks and is a regional transportation
hub.

Brainerd is situated in Lakes Country and is one of the most

popular vacation areas in the state. Hiking, camping, boating,
fishing, golf, biking (including the renowned Cuyuna Range
Mountain Biking Trails), adventure sports, museum-hopping,
historic sites, shopping and the popular Brainerd International
Raceway are a few of the many attractions that draw visitors
from all over and the label Minnesotas premier vacation
destination.
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Brainerd International Raceway hosts

popular drag and Trans Am Series racing.

The headquarters of The Initiative Foundation is located in Little Falls, a community of about 8,500
residents located on the banks of the Mississippi River.
The Historic Downtown includes the Great River Arts
Center featuring the extraordinary talents of local artists.
The Linden Hill Conference and Retreat Center, Lindbergh
State Park and childhood home of local hero Charles A.
Lindbergh are popular places to visit.
Other sites of interest, rich with local history, are the
Minnesota Fishing Museum, the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser
Museum, Camp Ripley and the Minnesota Military Museum.
All manner of outdoor activities await just outside the door of the Initiative Foundation. Relax at
the scenic Little Falls Country Club along the Mississippi River or enjoy a tour of the wildly
populated Pine Grove Zoo.
The region is home to the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Lake Bands of Ojibwe tribal communities and
includes several communities that are hubs for immigrants and refugee resettlement. Greater St.
Cloud, for example, is home to about 10,000 people born in East Africa, and people of color are the
fastest growing demographic in the 14 counties.
The active lifestyle of Central Minnesota residents doesn't
lie dormant during the winter. There are cross-country
skiing trails, downhill ski areas, ice skating, snowmobile
riding, sledding and, of course, ice fishing.
This versatile region offers natural wonders, a range of
interesting communities and access to rich cultural
activities. These and many other reasons are why the
Initiative Foundation is so proud to serve Central
Minnesota.

The Vasaloppet in Mora is one of the nations

premier cross-country ski racing events.

BALLINGER | LEAFBLAD WELCOMES YOU TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lars Leafblad, MBA
Co-Founder/Principal
(612) 598-7547
lars@ballingerleafblad.com

Marcia Ballinger, PhD

Co-Founder/Principal
(651) 341-4840
marcia@ballingerleafblad.com

The Initiative Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and believes each individual is entitled to equal employment
opportunities without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin,
age, veteran status, religious beliefs, or disability. The right of equal employment opportunity extends to recruiting,
hiring selection, transfer, promotion, training and all other conditions of employment.

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