Job Description

ABOUT THE BENWOOD FOUNDATION

For over 80 years, the Benwood Foundation has been a trusted civic leader in Chattanooga, playing a dynamic role beyond grantmaking—as a convener, long-term investor, and strategic partner shaping the city’s future.

Benwood is known for uniting public agencies, private institutions, grassroots leaders, and nonprofits to build trust, align efforts, and drive collective progress. It helps the community not just meet challenges but envision and work toward bold possibilities.

From affordable housing and education-to-career pathways to vibrant parks and broadband access, Benwood champions initiatives that make Chattanooga more livable and inclusive. It invests in people and places that reflect the city’s promise.

The Foundation also strengthens the civic ecosystem through demonstration projects, leadership development, and targeted investments. As the anchor for Chattanooga’s involvement in Harvard’s Young American Leaders Program, Benwood fosters collaboration and next-generation leadership.

With flexibility, focus, and a proven ability to adapt, Benwood catalyzes progress even outside crisis moments. In the past eight years, it has invested nearly $40 million into the community—and its next President will inherit a powerful platform with high expectations to shape Chattanooga’s future.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a unique and compelling opportunity to lead a highly respected foundation at a moment of strategic inflection. As Benwood prepares to define its next chapter, the incoming President will have the chance to shape new approaches to civic investment and community leadership in Chattanooga.

This position requires a visionary and collaborative leader, someone who thrives in complex environments, values deep partnerships, and brings both strategic insight and operational discipline. Working alongside a deeply engaged Board and a committed, mission-driven staff, the President will guide the Foundation’s next era of impact across areas such as education, workforce development, housing, civic engagement and potentially yet to be uncovered opportunities.

This is an ideal role for a leader who thrives in complexity, values cross-sector collaboration, and brings a systems perspective to community change. The President will be expected to guide the Foundation with both bold vision and steady execution, leveraging relationships, insights, and strategic investments to help shape what’s next for Chattanooga. In addition to stewarding resources and partnerships, the President will help sustain Benwood’s role as a civic thought leader by raising the right questions, surfacing new ideas, and helping the community see not only what is, but what could be.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the development of a new strategic framework for the Foundation in partnership with the Board.
• Identify emerging opportunities and risks across Chattanooga’s civic and economic landscape.
• Ensure alignment of all programs and partnerships with Benwood’s vision of shared prosperity.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning, transparency, and adaptive leadership.

Philanthropic Strategy and Operations:

• Guide all aspects of the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy, emphasizing high-impact, equity-centered investments.
• Foster relationships with grantees and partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
• Collaborate with the Board and investment committee to steward the Foundation’s endowment with sound fiduciary judgment.
• Ensure full compliance with private foundation rules and reporting requirements, including IRS regulations and grantmaking standards.
• Evaluate outcomes, gather community feedback, and refine strategies based on learning.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and the development of internal policies that promote ethical, transparent, and mission-aligned use of resources.

Community Engagement and Advocacy:

• Serve as a trusted community leader and relationship-builder, advancing Benwood’s role as a convener and changemaker.
• Represent the Foundation in public settings, ensuring visibility and accessibility.
• Build partnerships with leaders in education, affordable housing, workforce development, downtown design and development.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Required Qualifications

• At least 10 years of senior leadership experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic planning, manage high-impact initiatives, and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration.
• Deep knowledge of at least one of Benwood’s core focus areas.
• Proven commitment to community-driven work and inclusive economic or educational advancement.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a foundation, major initiative, or civic organization in a comparable community.
• Familiarity with Chattanooga or cities undergoing similar economic, demographic, and political transformations.

Personal Characteristics

• A visionary and courageous leader who balances ambition with humility.
• An inclusive relationship-builder who listens deeply and leads with integrity.
• Entrepreneurial thinker with a systems orientation and a bias toward action.
• Passion for place-based philanthropy, and the power of local leadership.

KEY LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

Informed by extensive feedback from Benwood’s Board of Trustees, staff, community partners, and elected officials, the next President will embody the following attributes:

● Strategic Systems Thinker – Sees the big picture across sectors, policy, and political dynamics. Understands how disparate players and systems intersect and can execute bold ideas with precision and adaptability.

● Exceptional Convener, Trusted Advisor and Relationship Builder – Brings gravitas, trust, and diplomacy to every table. Operates effectively both behind the scenes and in visible leadership roles to unite diverse perspectives and advance collective progress.

● Visionary and Conceptual Leader – Can imagine what’s possible and turn it into action. Brings creativity, courage, and entrepreneurial thinking to catalyze transformative initiatives that “punch above their weight.”

● Humble, Low-Ego, and Collaborative – Leads with humility, prioritizing mission over recognition. Builds inclusive coalitions and inspires shared ownership, credit, and accountability.

● Inclusive – Deeply committed to economic mobility, not just economic growth. Navigates civic and institutional divides with courage and care to advancing better outcomes for all.

● Locally Grounded (or Rapidly Adaptive) – Possesses deep familiarity with Chattanooga’s history, networks, and dynamics, OR demonstrates the ability and commitment to learn them quickly and authentically engage.

● Experienced in Philanthropy and Community Investment – Brings a strong grasp of foundation operations and high-impact philanthropy. Understands how to balance being a grantmaker with being a catalyst and convener.

● Community-Centered – Maintains a steadfast focus on what’s best for the broader Chattanooga community, with a strong sense of purpose around inclusive growth, leadership development, and long-term civic well-being.

DESIRED START DATE

Fall 2025

LOCATION

Benwood Foundation is located in Chattanooga TN and this role requires an in-office work schedule and the individual needs to live in the community. Relocation assistance is available.

COMPENSATION

The Benwood Foundation offers an annual salary ranging from $200,000 to $325,000. The salary offered will depend on several factors, including but not limited to years of relevant experience, training, educational qualifications, and performance in previous roles.

BENEFITS

The Benwood Foundation will offer the new President relocation assistance and a highly competitive and comprehensive benefits package.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY

Benwood Foundation has retained Kay Linder, Partner within ThinkingAhead’s Executive Search’s Nonprofit Division to serve as our recruitment partner. If you are interested and qualified, please apply here.

Applications are due by Monday June 23rd .

Questions can be directed to:

Kay Linder

Partner, Nonprofit Division

ThinkingAhead Executive Search

klinder@thinkingahead.com

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