President

About the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is a pioneering philanthropic institution committed to advancing racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice. For over 30 years, Noyes has been at the forefront of mission-aligned investing and progressive grantmaking, directing its resources toward grassroots movements and organizations that challenge systemic inequities.

Founded by Charles F. Noyes in honor of his late wife, Jessie Smith Noyes, the Foundation was built on their shared values of racial equity, education, and social justice. With a steadfast focus on funding work led by those most impacted by injustice—particularly women of color and Indigenous communities—the Foundation seeks to catalyze long-term, transformative change.

Grantmaking: Resourcing Grassroots Movements

Noyes supports nonprofit organizations in New York and Mississippi, as well as regional and national collaboratives that bridge grassroots organizing with state and federal advocacy. The Foundation prioritizes organizations that create cross-issue strategies for systemic change, centering race, gender, equitable development, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Committed to trust-based philanthropy, the President offers general operating support, providing offering grantees the flexibility to sustain their work, respond to emerging needs, and take bold action in pursuit of justice.

Investing: Advancing a Solidarity Economy

Noyes has long been a leader in aligning its endowment with its mission, beginning in the 1980s with divestment from harmful industries and evolving into a sophisticated impact investing strategy. Today, the Foundation takes a three-pronged approach to mission-aligned investing:

Screening: Excluding investments in industries that cause harm, such as fossil fuels, while prioritizing companies with fair labor practices and sustainable business models.

Shareholder Engagement: Using its voice as an investor to influence corporate policies, consulting with grantee partners to advance social justice and environmental sustainability.

Impact Investments: Directly resourcing companies and funds that generate measurable social and environmental benefits, ensuring financial returns while furthering the Foundation’s mission.

While the family members of Charles F. Noyes have remained actively engaged and continue to serve on the Board of Directors, the Foundation has long included a majority of non-family board members and a professional staff. This dynamic group of dedicated individuals works collaboratively to advance the Noyes Foundation’s mission.

By leveraging both grantmaking and investing as tools for change, Noyes remains steadfast in its commitment to investment policies and processes that prioritize people and the planet to redistribute wealth, land, and power. With its reputation as an influential leader in philanthropy, the Foundation continues to evolve its strategies, foster partnerships, and share knowledge to strengthen the field of social justice philanthropy.

Learn more about the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation.

The Opportunity

The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is seeking a visionary and dynamic President to lead the next chapters of impactful philanthropy. This role presents a unique opportunity to engage deeply with a diverse array of stakeholders, including board members, staff, grantees, and community partners, to further the Foundation’s mission of trust-based philanthropy and social justice. The incoming President will provide strategic, financial, and operational leadership, ensuring that the Foundation not only navigates the complexities of today’s funding landscape but also amplifies its influence and expertise to broaden support for marginalized communities. 

This leader will be instrumental in fostering collaborative relationships, encouraging open dialogue, and integrating diverse perspectives into decision-making processes. The President will be inherently curious and innovative, committed to exploring new strategies for grantmaking, impact investing, and organizational growth while maintaining the Foundation’s core values. Building upon the foundation’s rich history and strong legacy, this leader will build on Noyes’ reputation as a leader in progressive philanthropy, driving meaningful change in the communities it serves and collaborating with other institutions to do the same.

The ideal candidate will bring a deep understanding of grassroots advocacy and coalition-building. With an emphasis on building a strong internal culture and continuing to prioritize board engagement, the President will play a crucial role in revitalizing the Foundation’s vision and expanding its reach, ultimately empowering grantees and communities to thrive.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide high-integrity leadership and direction to ensure the mission and core values of the Noyes Foundation are supported throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors by promoting open communication, encouraging active engagement in decision-making processes, and ensuring alignment on the Foundation's mission and strategic goals.
• Directly supervise the Director of Grants and Operations; assess the organization’s capacity, identify needs for external support when necessary, and provide mentorship and development opportunities to foster a collaborative environment that encourages growth and innovation.
• Engage and cultivate strong relationships with all internal and external constituents, ensuring diverse voices are heard and integrated into the organization’s mission while fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency throughout the Foundation.
• Promote the organization and articulate Noyes’ unique value proposition to a wide range of stakeholders; provide thought leadership; and cultivate relationships with communities, grassroots organizations, partners, funders, media, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead efforts to examine and re-evaluate grantmaking strategies by focusing on trust-based philanthropy and innovative funding models that prioritize grassroots leadership and accountability of movements.
• Fostering strong relationships with grantees through authentic partnership and trust, fostering open dialogue to better understand their needs and challenges.
• Stay informed about trends and developments in philanthropy, impact investing, and social justice movements to guide the Foundation’s strategic initiatives effectively.

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Demonstrated Experience in a Relevant Field

• Strong foundational experience in nonprofit leadership, progressive philanthropy, and/or mission-aligned investing – or, ideally a combination of these areas, with specific connections to the communities that Noyes supports.
• Deep understanding of movement building and grassroots organizing, enabling effective engagement with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with and/or curiosity to learn about mission-aligned investing practices and strategies that prioritize social impact alongside financial returns.
• Ability to navigate complex social justice issues, leveraging experience to inform decision-making and strategic direction.
• Commitment to continuous learning and adaptation within the evolving landscape of philanthropy and social change.

Visionary Leadership

• Capacity to articulate a compelling vision for the future of the organization as well as translate it into action and measurable results through inspiring staff, board members, and grantees to work collaboratively toward shared goals.
• Ability to think strategically about long-term organizational growth, sustainability, and impact, particularly in challenging political and economic environments.
• Desire to collaborate with philanthropic partners, explore creative solutions, and foster innovation within grantmaking and investment strategies.
• Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to assess risks and opportunities while maintaining alignment with the Foundation’s core values.
• Ability to lead organizations through periods of transition or transformation, ensuring stability and continuity during change.

Exceptional Communication Skills

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, capable of conveying complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in storytelling as a tool for advocacy, effectively sharing the Foundation's mission, successes, and challenges to engage stakeholders.
• Capacity to facilitate open dialogue and foster an environment where all voices are heard, promoting transparency and trust within the organization.
• Skilled in presenting options and potential outcomes to the Board, providing insightful analysis and recommendations that support informed decision-making.
• Ability to effectively represent the organization at conferences, public forums, and media engagements, enhancing its visibility and influence in the philanthropic sector.

Collaborative Relationship Builder

• Experience in cultivating strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including board members, staff, grantees, peer organizations and community partners.
• Nimble approach to collaboration, demonstrating flexibility and openness to feedback while aligning efforts with the Foundation’s vision.
• Experience in creating inclusive spaces for dialogue and co-creation, ensuring that diverse perspectives are integrated into decision-making processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the capacity to navigate conflicts and build consensus among varied interests and viewpoints.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, empowering team members and partners to contribute their best work.

Values and Mission Aligned

• Deep commitment to the Foundation’s mission of advancing racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice, with a personal connection to these values.
• Experience working with marginalized communities. Consideration will be given to those who work with organizations representing indigenous populations, reproductive rights, and environmental justice.
• Knowledgeable about grassroots advocacy, coalition-building, and the unique challenges faced by grantees, ensuring responsiveness to their needs.
• Ability to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into organizational practices and funding strategies.
• Passionate about using philanthropy as a tool for social change, with a focus on empowering communities and amplifying their voices in the broader societal context.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary for this role is $230,000 –250,000 with a generous benefits package.

The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is open to US candidates with an expectation of regular travel to grantee communities, field convenings, and Noyes business office in New York City. 

Contact

Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan, Trevor Hooper, and Gina Wrolstad Kueber. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.