crawfordconnect Leading Foundation CEO Search
April 3, 2017 – Executive search firm crawfordconnect has been retained by The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation in Ontario to lead its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Past CEO Rosemary Smith recently stepped down from her post. Senior search consultant Liz Latimer is leading the assignment.
“Based on community stakeholder feedback, The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation board has developed key strategic priorities for the organization, and the new president and CEO will be expected to focus on and build upon this strategic framework, while also heightening the attention on issues that have driven the Foundation’s work to date,” said David Brenneman, chairman of the board.
Change Maker Sought
Applications are being accepted for a dynamic, collaborative, mission-driven leader with an entrepreneurial spirit capable of nurturing relationships with partners and stakeholders while taking the organization to the next level of innovation and contribution. The new CEO will be a change maker — leading The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation for greater impact, building upon strong momentum and recent results.
The Foundation seeks an individual with a track record of success in a senior executive role with an innovative, outcomes-oriented organization which could be in the private or public sector, not-for-profit or fundraising environments. The ideal candidate will also bring a commitment and involvement in community work through significant volunteer leadership roles.
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It is looking for a strategic thinker with the ability to conceptualize the nature and long-term evolution of The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation and to devise strategies that, in collaboration with its partners, will ensure The Foundation can meet its mandate.
The individual must be a dynamic and passionate leader with the ability to develop a shared vision among staff, board members and with external stakeholders, funders, donors community groups and various levels of government. The organization will look at candidates for evidence of inspiring and empowering people to look for opportunities to enhance the organization’s ability to deliver on its mission.
Established in 1984, The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation is a leading independent public charitable foundation that connects philanthropy to community needs and opportunities. The KWCF’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Kitchener, Waterloo and the surrounding area by building community endowment, addressing needs through grant making, and providing facilitative leadership on key community issues.
Non-Profit Focus
crawfordconnect places talent exclusively in the non-profit sector. Its own mission is to strengthen Canadian charities and non-profits by connecting them to highly qualified professionals seeking to make a difference. The firm’s clients include a number of well-known non-profit brands, including: Habitat for Humanity; Children’s Aid Foundation; World Wildlife Foundation; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; York Central Hospital Foundation; Canadian Association for Community Living Foundation; SickKids Foundation; and the Heart & Stroke Foundation; among many others.
Ms. Latimer, the recruiter spearheading this assignment, is an executive search researcher and consultant who has a strong background in the public and not-for-profit sectors. She has been involved in professional recruitment for over 20 years. She is an expert in candidate development and fit analysis and has developed a comprehensive interviewing process that assists in aligning client needs with candidate goals, according to clients.
Ms. Latimer has conducted searches for roles including CEO, executive director, COO, vice president, and clinical & medical leaders across Canada. She has also worked and partnered with boards and search committees to help them navigate through the search process.
Foundations Turn to Recruiters
Various charitable foundations have tuned to executive search firms in recent months to find new leaders. Here’s a look at just a few taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media newswire archives:
- Elinvar was recently retained by the Research Triangle Foundation to lead its search for a new CEO. Elinvar’s president and CEO, Patti Gillenwater, is heading the search along with strategic search partner Jim Ahlerand. Research Triangle Park is home to some 200 companies that employee 50,000 people and is focused on orchestrating industry, university and government collaborations to attract research, scientific and technology-based organizations and support the creation of quality jobs and opportunities.
- The Chason Group recruited Sarah H. McKinney as president and CEO of the Athens Area Community Foundation. Tim Chason, the firm’s president, led the assignment. As a public grant making community foundation, the Athens Area Community Foundation partners with donors, non-profits, and community institutions to build, distribute and preserve philanthropic assets to enhance quality of life in the area for generations to come.
- Diversified Search placed Stacey D. Stewart as president of the March of Dimes Foundation. The search was led by Andrew Wheeler, managing director and practice leader of the firm’s education and not-for-profit practice. Ms. Stewart most recently served as the U.S. president of United Way Worldwide;
- Koya Leadership Partners recruited Margaret Huang as executive director for Amnesty International USA. Managing partner Molly Brennan and principal Sam Simmons led the search. Amnesty is a global movement of seven million supporters, members, and activists who campaign for internationally recognized human rights to be respected, protected, and fulfilled;
- BoardWalk Consulting has been retained by The Jane Goodall Institute to lead its search for a new executive director. Managing director Kathy Bremer is leading the assignment. The Jane Goodall Institute is a world leader in protecting chimpanzees and conserving the planet. Founded in 1977 by iconic ethologist and pioneer Dr. Jane Goodall, JGI advances the vision and work of Dr. Goodall through community-based conservation, research, education and advocacy.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media
