Executive Director (HL)
Hidden Leaf -Bay Area, CA, San Francisco, CA, United States
Hidden Leaf – A brief history
Hidden Leaf’s story: Founded in 1988, Hidden Leaf Foundation was the inspiration of humanitarian, businessman and philanthropist, David (Dave) Brown. Initially, Hidden Leaf (HL) was managed by the board — Dave and his three daughters; in 2002 Tara Brown stepped in as HL’s first Director, working half‑time. The Foundation’s early grants lent crucial credibility to social‑change leaders wanting to bring awareness practices (such as centering, meditation, deep listening, yoga, mind‑body work, and others) into their workplaces. HL’s investment enabled them to experiment, learn, and begin to articulate the impact of these practices and, over the last two decades, has helped build the field that we now call “Transformative Social Change.”
Today HL supports hundreds of frontline organizations – National Domestic Workers Alliance, Stand.earth, Forward Together, Greenpeace, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, Partnership for Working Families, Rainforest Action Network and SCOPE – helping them increase their impact and wellbeing through inner‑practice work.
Hidden Leaf has grown steadily: from 11 grants totaling $150,000 in 2002 to 36 grants totaling $1 million in 2017. Since 2013, when the organization became endowed, grantmaking is expected to rise to $1.5 million per year over the next five years. 15 years of leadership under Tara Brown are ending; she will remain on the board with her sisters Karie and Kristen, while the remaining two staff members will continue under new leadership.
With mature foundations in place, HL seeks a visionary, strategic Executive Director (ED) to guide the next phase of transformation – expanding grantmaking, deepening partnerships, and advancing the field’s knowledge base.
Position Overview & Candidate Profile We are looking for a seasoned nonprofit leader who has a strong personal commitment to inner‑awareness and experience applying contemplative practices within social‑change settings. The ideal candidate will partner closely with the board, staff and grantees to further HL’s mission.
Key Areas of Focus
Provide institutional leadership, ensuring alignment with HL’s founding values and vision; guide strategy and program development; build collaborative relationships with staff, board, advisors, grantees and external partners.
Serve as a visible external leader, representing HL at conferences, convenings and in media; develop compelling materials, reports and presentations.
Partner with the board – recommend strategic opportunities, co‑develop strategy, refine board structure, and shape pathways for the next generation of Brown family members.
Plan and oversee impactful grantmaking – assess priorities, refine guidelines and procedures, balance rigor with relationship‑based review.
Map, build and grow funding for the field – assess current state, identify gaps, build grantee capacity, share learning via research and convenings, and lead philanthropic advocacy.
Ensure excellence in operations, administration and finance – supervise staff, manage budgets, oversee financial systems, and guide investment portfolio logistics.
Responsibilities In addition to the key focus areas, the ED will:
Lead internal and external strategic planning processes.
Build and maintain relationships with the advisory committee, foundations and philanthropists.
Represent HL to external stakeholders and advocate for transformative practices.
Manage day‑to‑day operations and ensure compliance with legal and fiduciary standards.
Develop and implement a communications plan to increase understanding of the field.
Ideal Experience, Qualifications & Attributes Mission:
A deep personal commitment to contemplative practice; experience with transformative approaches in progressive movements; conviction about their impact.
Values:
Passion for environmental, social and economic justice; sensitivity to racial, economic and class power dynamics in funder‑grantee relationships.
Skills:
At least five years senior leadership experience, preferably as an executive director of a social‑change organization or foundation; proven staff management, program development, operational oversight and fiscal stewardship.
Character:
Compassionate, inclusive leadership style; high personal awareness; strong interpersonal skills; ability to inspire collaboration.
Head & Heart:
Emotional intelligence, professional intimacy, capacity to work within family and class systems, integrity, transparency, humility, kindness and respect.
Additional desirable, but not compulsory, attributes include:
Success in supporting board governance and development.
Experience or interest in philanthropy, grantmaking and field‑building.
Strong lens of racial, gender, class, social and environmental justice.
Advocacy, communication and organizing skills.
Research and evaluation experience.
Resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment.
Team coaching and intersectional collaboration.
Financial and asset management experience.
Marketing experience – annual reports, articles, social media and web content.
Analytical, strategic thinking and project‑management excellence.
Proficiency with Word, Excel and other essential technology.
Relevant degrees helpful but not required if equivalent experience is demonstrated.
Location, Compensation & Benefits Full‑time, exempt, salaried position based in the greater Bay Area. Salary range: $115,000 – $125,000, plus benefits. The role is office‑based but work can be performed remotely.
How to Apply Send a substantive cover letter and current resume to
[emailprotected] . Applications close February 1, 2018; the position will remain open until filled. We plan to select the new ED by April and have them start by June 2018.
Equal‑Opportunity Statement Hidden Leaf is an at‑will, equal‑opportunity employer that deeply values diversity. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, bilingual and bicultural individuals, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other communities. Applicants will not be discriminated against on bases protected by law. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for qualified disabled applicants.
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Hidden Leaf’s story: Founded in 1988, Hidden Leaf Foundation was the inspiration of humanitarian, businessman and philanthropist, David (Dave) Brown. Initially, Hidden Leaf (HL) was managed by the board — Dave and his three daughters; in 2002 Tara Brown stepped in as HL’s first Director, working half‑time. The Foundation’s early grants lent crucial credibility to social‑change leaders wanting to bring awareness practices (such as centering, meditation, deep listening, yoga, mind‑body work, and others) into their workplaces. HL’s investment enabled them to experiment, learn, and begin to articulate the impact of these practices and, over the last two decades, has helped build the field that we now call “Transformative Social Change.”
Today HL supports hundreds of frontline organizations – National Domestic Workers Alliance, Stand.earth, Forward Together, Greenpeace, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, Partnership for Working Families, Rainforest Action Network and SCOPE – helping them increase their impact and wellbeing through inner‑practice work.
Hidden Leaf has grown steadily: from 11 grants totaling $150,000 in 2002 to 36 grants totaling $1 million in 2017. Since 2013, when the organization became endowed, grantmaking is expected to rise to $1.5 million per year over the next five years. 15 years of leadership under Tara Brown are ending; she will remain on the board with her sisters Karie and Kristen, while the remaining two staff members will continue under new leadership.
With mature foundations in place, HL seeks a visionary, strategic Executive Director (ED) to guide the next phase of transformation – expanding grantmaking, deepening partnerships, and advancing the field’s knowledge base.
Position Overview & Candidate Profile We are looking for a seasoned nonprofit leader who has a strong personal commitment to inner‑awareness and experience applying contemplative practices within social‑change settings. The ideal candidate will partner closely with the board, staff and grantees to further HL’s mission.
Key Areas of Focus
Provide institutional leadership, ensuring alignment with HL’s founding values and vision; guide strategy and program development; build collaborative relationships with staff, board, advisors, grantees and external partners.
Serve as a visible external leader, representing HL at conferences, convenings and in media; develop compelling materials, reports and presentations.
Partner with the board – recommend strategic opportunities, co‑develop strategy, refine board structure, and shape pathways for the next generation of Brown family members.
Plan and oversee impactful grantmaking – assess priorities, refine guidelines and procedures, balance rigor with relationship‑based review.
Map, build and grow funding for the field – assess current state, identify gaps, build grantee capacity, share learning via research and convenings, and lead philanthropic advocacy.
Ensure excellence in operations, administration and finance – supervise staff, manage budgets, oversee financial systems, and guide investment portfolio logistics.
Responsibilities In addition to the key focus areas, the ED will:
Lead internal and external strategic planning processes.
Build and maintain relationships with the advisory committee, foundations and philanthropists.
Represent HL to external stakeholders and advocate for transformative practices.
Manage day‑to‑day operations and ensure compliance with legal and fiduciary standards.
Develop and implement a communications plan to increase understanding of the field.
Ideal Experience, Qualifications & Attributes Mission:
A deep personal commitment to contemplative practice; experience with transformative approaches in progressive movements; conviction about their impact.
Values:
Passion for environmental, social and economic justice; sensitivity to racial, economic and class power dynamics in funder‑grantee relationships.
Skills:
At least five years senior leadership experience, preferably as an executive director of a social‑change organization or foundation; proven staff management, program development, operational oversight and fiscal stewardship.
Character:
Compassionate, inclusive leadership style; high personal awareness; strong interpersonal skills; ability to inspire collaboration.
Head & Heart:
Emotional intelligence, professional intimacy, capacity to work within family and class systems, integrity, transparency, humility, kindness and respect.
Additional desirable, but not compulsory, attributes include:
Success in supporting board governance and development.
Experience or interest in philanthropy, grantmaking and field‑building.
Strong lens of racial, gender, class, social and environmental justice.
Advocacy, communication and organizing skills.
Research and evaluation experience.
Resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment.
Team coaching and intersectional collaboration.
Financial and asset management experience.
Marketing experience – annual reports, articles, social media and web content.
Analytical, strategic thinking and project‑management excellence.
Proficiency with Word, Excel and other essential technology.
Relevant degrees helpful but not required if equivalent experience is demonstrated.
Location, Compensation & Benefits Full‑time, exempt, salaried position based in the greater Bay Area. Salary range: $115,000 – $125,000, plus benefits. The role is office‑based but work can be performed remotely.
How to Apply Send a substantive cover letter and current resume to
[emailprotected] . Applications close February 1, 2018; the position will remain open until filled. We plan to select the new ED by April and have them start by June 2018.
Equal‑Opportunity Statement Hidden Leaf is an at‑will, equal‑opportunity employer that deeply values diversity. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, bilingual and bicultural individuals, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other communities. Applicants will not be discriminated against on bases protected by law. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for qualified disabled applicants.
#J-18808-Ljbffr