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GROUNDSPARK SEEKS: NEW BOARD MEMBERS

GroundSpark is seeking nominations of or statements of interest from qualified professionals to serve as candidates for election to the GroundSpark Board of Directors.

GroundSpark is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation headquartered in San Francisco. Since 1978, GroundSpark (formerly Women’s Educational Media) has produced and distributed films, educational resources and campaigns on issues ranging from environmental concerns to affordable housing to preventing prejudice. We are passionate about our mission of creating visionary films and dynamic educational campaigns that move individuals and communities to take action for a more just world.

Our name, GroundSpark, communicates the initiative, energy, activism, and vibrant personality of our organization and what we set out to accomplish. It reflects our commitment to fundamental change, our partnerships with communities, and the tremendous momentum set in motion by our campaigns.

Working closely with educators, activists, national and local organizations, we ensure that our films are used to inspire meaningful social change. Much of this work focuses on creating schools and communities that are safe for all children. GroundSpark’s landmark program, The Respect For All Project, seeks to do just that. The Respect For All Project provides youth and the adults who guide their development the tools they need to engage in age-appropriate discussions about human difference, preventing prejudice and building caring communities.

The project offers a comprehensive set of resources for educators and youth-service providers, including award-winning documentary films, high-quality curriculum guides, and a comprehensive workshop series for professionals and community members.

GroundSpark’s films and educational programs have addressed a variety of social issues including:

Bullying and Name-Calling
Family Life in America
Nuclear Weapons and the Environment
Housing and Community Development
Education and Technology
Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender
Gender
Education and Teaching

Groundspark’s latest film, Straightlaced – How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up was released in January 2009 to widespread acclaim. ”Straightlaced” is the first feature-length documentary to explore how gender expectations limit the lives of all teenagers.

GroundSpark’s Board of Directors

GroundSpark’s board of directors currently consist of ten member and is looking to grow. Board members serve for a three year term, with the possibility of a renewal term for an additional three years. The board is responsible for three key activities:

(1) Keeping a focus on the long-term vision and mission of the organization;

(2) Monitoring organizational sustainability, including:

Hiring and evaluating the executive director
Ensuring accountability to the public through legal and financial stewardship
Participating in fundraising
Provide individual board contributions of expertise and financial support;

(3) Managing the sustainability of the board, including:

Organizing board activities and participation
Serving on flexible taskforces to address short-term and long-term concern
Recruiting and orienting new board member

Invitation to Conversation

GroundSpark’s board of directors is building a pool of possible board candidates from a wide spectrum of committed and talented people. As we grow, we are particularly seeking to maintain and increase the Board’s diversity. If you share our passion and commitment for using media to ignite social change, we would like to begin a conversation with you. Please send an email with your contact information to boardcall@groundspark.org for more information about this opportunity, and to begin a mutual exploration regarding whether board service at GroundSpark might be a good fit for you and for us.

GROUNDSPARK SEEKS: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

GroundSpark creates visionary films and dynamic educational campaigns that move individuals and communities to take action for a more just world.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Based in San Francisco, GroundSpark is a small, Academy Award-winning media production and education organization with a strong national reputation for producing high quality documentary films that open up dialogue about social, economic, and environmental justice issues and spark shifts in attitudes, behaviors, laws and policies. Over the past 20 years, GroundSpark has pioneered a long-term social change strategy that pairs media distribution with political and community organizing, and professional development on how to use our films to make a difference. Ambitious well-conceived outreach and education campaigns are crucial to our success as social change activists. A leader in the field of anti-bias education, GroundSpark’s primary current focus is its Respect For All Project (RFAP). Through the distribution of award-winning films, accompanying curricula, and a training program aimed at educators, youth service providers and parents, the Project strives to create safe schools and communities by opening up dialogue about diversity, prejudice and discrimination of all kinds – on the basis of factors such as gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and family configuration. Through this work, GroundSpark has been a national pioneer advocating for the inclusion of age-appropriate curricula that addresses anti-gay bias. This is an exciting and ideal time for a new Executive Director (ED) to join GroundSpark as we begin to build on our considerable track record of successes, develop a new business plan, evaluate and prepare to enhance our educational programs, and identify our next major film project. The new ED will be positioned to have a significant impact on the future of the organization and on society at large.

LEADERSHIP

After completing a two-year internal leadership development project, funded by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, GroundSpark is seeking an executive director to oversee staff, programming, fund development, strategic planning, communications and administration of the organization. Our founding director, Debra Chasnoff, has streamlined her role, and will be returning from a sabbatical in late August 2010, to focus on creative direction for new business and film production, as well as the marketing and media messaging related to our films. She is looking forward to returning to her new role and to supporting the transition of the organizational leadership to a new ED. Currently, GroundSpark has a talented and committed staff of six full-time and two part-time employees and several interns. We have an organizational culture that embraces shared leadership. Our staff is looking forward to partnering with a new ED who is both a strong leader and someone committed to continuing the development of our shared leadership model. The executive director will report directly to the Board of Directors and supervises the finance and operations director, community programs director, national program director, and development associate. In her new role, Debra will be accountable to the Executive Director and the two positions are designed to work in a collaborative senior partnership. Our ten-member Board of Directors has been actively engaged in the leadership transition and will provide continued support to the new ED. The board of directors plans to grow in 2010 and seeks an ED who can play an integral role in the board development process.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Executive Director provides strategic and visionary leadership for GroundSpark in collaboration with a team of talented professionals. The Executive Director is the chief executive and operating officer and combines a passion for social justice with a commitment and proven ability to maintain a vibrant and healthy organization. We are embarking on an exciting period of change and seek an Executive Director who can effectively manage that change. The candidate should bring senior management savvy and be capable of helping us meet our major goals, which include developing new sources of institutional funding, and updating our business model and education program to enable us to increase income and reach an even wider audience for greater impact. A track record in raising funds from earned income, foundations, corporations, and individual donors will be important for success.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic and programmatic leadership

Provide leadership and direction necessary for the organization to make consistent and timely progress toward achieving our strongly shared mission, vision and strategy.
Take initiative on opportunities to advance GroundSpark’s mission. Ensure disciplined, strategic decision-making and evaluation of new opportunities.

Fund development

Raise adequate funds to enable the organization to carry out its work.
Ensure the organization’s financial stability over the long-term.
Guide the evolution and implementation of a business model with a mix of revenue from foundations, individual donors, contracts and significant earned income through sales of films and curricular materials.
Represent organization to funders and donors.

Organizational leadership and management

Oversee overall organizational operations, development and effectiveness including staff supervision appropriate in a shared leadership culture.
Provide input to the Board of Directors to support them to function as an accountable, effective governing body. Make sure individual board members are effectively engaged.
Oversee financial planning and management. Ensure compliance with current laws and regulations.

External communications

Oversee external communications.
Represent the organization in the field. Speak and write as a public, passionate and vocal proponent of GroundSpark’s pioneering anti-bias education work and the use of documentary film and other media as tools for social change.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

Significant experience and demonstrated leadership in organizational management and social movement building.
A passion for GroundSpark’s mission and an ability to speak and write compellingly about our work to engage others to take action for a more just world. Successful experience operating from a social justice, anti-bias, and multi-issue framework.
Substantial and successful track record in fundraising from foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
Proven ability to be entrepreneurial, resourceful, flexible, and able to take initiative on opportunities that strategically advance GroundSpark’s program locally, regionally, and nationally.
Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, build organizational systems and see projects through to their successful conclusion.
Ability to develop, manage, mentor, support, and evaluate teams, while providing and building strong leadership and motivation for diverse staff, volunteers, and consultants.
Experience leading, building, and working effectively with a diverse board of directors.
Demonstrated ability in planning, developing and managing a budget of at least $500K.
Emotionally mature with strong diplomatic and people skills. Experience working effectively in collaborations and partnerships.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

GroundSpark is offering a competitive salary in the range of $85-90,000 based on the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications plus a comprehensive benefits package.

Application Process

Viveka Chen & Associates is conducting this search on behalf of GroundSpark. Applicants should email a resume and cover letter describing their qualifications and interest in the position to groundsparksearch@earthlink.net by June 25, 2010 (applications received after the deadline may be considered if GroundSpark decides to expand the pool of applicants). Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT GROUNDSPARK REGARDING THIS POSITION.

GroundSpark does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, height, weight, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, HIV/AIDS status, family care status, veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation. GroundSpark also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled employees. We value a diverse staff and encourage people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBT individuals to apply.