TANDEM PHILANTHROPIES
POSITION DESCRIPTION: executive director
SAN FRANCISCO bay area, CA April 6, 2025
THE OPPORTUNITY
Tandem Philanthropies, a private, mission-driven philanthropic venture, is seeking its inaugural Executive Director to guide the organization through its next phase of growth and impact. This is a unique opportunity for a creative thinker, seasoned grantmaker, and operational leader with experience in K-12 education philanthropy, a collaborative approach, and a track record of entrepreneurial initiative.
Founded in 2020 by a husband-and-wife team based in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City, Tandem Philanthropies is committed to advancing progress in priority areas across the United States, including K-12 education, climate, democracy, and other evolving interests. The organization currently operates through a private foundation and a donor-advised fund.
In 2024, Tandem Philanthropies awarded $8.5 million in grants to 45 nonprofit organizations, 21 of which were strategic grantee partnerships. With projected grantmaking of approximately $10 million in 2025, the organization anticipates steady, thoughtful growth in assets and philanthropic activity in the years ahead.
To date, Tandem Philanthropies has been supported by a part-time external philanthropic advisor and part-time, contract-based operations support. Now at a pivotal inflection point, the Principals believe the time is right to bring a hands-on, strategic Executive Director to lead and scale the work in close partnership with them.
This is a true partnership role. The Executive Director will help shape and refine the foundation’s grantmaking strategy to align with the Principals’ evolving interests, values, and capacity as newer philanthropists. They will work closely with the Principals to develop and execute short- and long-term strategic plans and continue building the family's long-term philanthropic strategy. The Executive Director will manage day-to-day operations, oversee grantmaking across all focus areas, offer thought leadership across domains, lead engagement with grantees and field partners, learn new issue areas as necessary, and represent the organization externally alongside the Principals.
The Executive Director will report directly to the Principals, who serve as the foundation’s Board of Directors. This is a full-time, remote position, with a very strong preference for candidates located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
KEY responsibilities
The Executive Director will be a partner to the Principals responsible for leading Tandem Philanthropies’ grantmaking and operations. Key responsibilities include:
Hands-On Leadership. Serve as a hands-on Executive Director responsible for the overall leadership, management, and operations of Tandem Philanthropies. Leverage resources to optimize the execution of the current strategy and identify opportunities for innovation and new solutions. Direct the next phase of growth, lead and manage all grantmaking and partnership activities, run day-to-day operations with the support of outside contractors, and represent the Foundation externally where appropriate.
Philanthropic Advisor and Partner to the Principals. Develop and maintain a strong, collaborative working relationship with the Principals. Serve as a collaborator, facilitator, active listener, philanthropic advisor, and operator, helping the Principals further explore and refine their thinking about their long-term vision, mission, scope, goals, family involvement, and impact. Look for opportunities to bring knowledge, innovation, and best practices to the Principals. Design and steward strategic planning with the Principals, translating objectives into concrete goals, work plans, and timelines. Provide information to the Principals in a timely and effective manner.
Grantmaking - K-12 National Portfolio. Bring leadership, curiosity, and content expertise to Tandem Philanthropies’ K-12 education-focused grantmaking. Work closely and collaboratively with one of the Principals on K-12 grantmaking and field-level engagement. Actively manage and engage with grantees in the current portfolio. Develop and maintain strong, positive working relationships with partner/grantee organizations. Research, identify, and recommend funding and grant sizing for new grants. Conduct due diligence and site visits when necessary and track relevant trends in the K-12 domain. Guide discussions with the Principals on progress and results in this focus area.
Grantmaking - Additional Focus Areas. Using a collaborative funding strategy, source new grants and manage existing grants in climate and democracy. Oversee and manage grants to alma mater educational institutions and those in emerging areas of interest alongside the Principals. Conduct due diligence and site visits when necessary. Develop and maintain strong, positive working relationships with partner/grantee organizations. Track relevant trends in these focus areas and identify creative opportunities for partnership and capacity-building.
External and Network Engagement. Participate in family philanthropy networks and other relevant affinity or issue-focused groups. Participate in conferences, seminars, and other professional development activities to maintain and enhance expertise and strengthen networking in the field.
Philanthropic Operations. Coordinate with the shared family office and contracted resources to set up appropriate operational aspects of grants management, e.g., IRS-related due diligence, grant payout and execution, administration, reporting, etc. Develop, implement, and manage Tandem’s annual budget. Streamline all processes and maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
kEY QUALIFICATIONS
Core Competencies
Philanthropy Experience. At least ten years of relevant experience in senior roles within private or family philanthropy, philanthropic advising, and/or social impact consulting. Passion for the power of philanthropy to drive systemic and human-centered outcomes, along with a creative, strategic approach to deploying flexible philanthropic capital for maximum impact. A proven leader who excels at both big-picture thinking and hands-on execution.
Living Donor Experience. Demonstrated experience working closely with high-net-worth individuals and principal donors in lean family philanthropy settings. Skilled in navigating governance, strategy, grantmaking, and operations while effectively aligning with the Principals’ preferred levels of engagement and decision-making. Adept at leveraging their experience and networks to advance meaningful outcomes.
K-12 Education Grantmaking Experience. Deep experience in K-12 education-focused philanthropy, with a focus on systems change, innovation, talent, leadership, instructional supports, and school design.
Other Domain Expertise and Grantmaking Experience. Experience and networks in climate and democracy are helpful but not required (curiosity is required). Deep experience in the philanthropic sector, with a strong grasp of how to develop and scale strong grant portfolios aligned to impact, including field landscapes, conducting strategic and financial due diligence, grantee management, and reporting.
High-Capacity Self-Starter. An entrepreneurial, purpose-driven, and hands-on professional who thrives in a lean, nimble environment. Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and drive work forward independently while also collaborating strategically with the Principals and other key stakeholders. Excels in navigating ambiguity, defining the undefined, and approaching challenges with curiosity and a solutions-oriented mindset. Proactively identifies opportunities to enhance efficiency and maximize impact. A proven leader who excels at both big-picture thinking and hands-on execution.
Excellent Communication Skills and Facilitation Experience. A skilled communicator and facilitator with the ability to engage effectively with the Principals, both individually and collectively, to align on vision, strategy, and goals and translate these discussions into meaningful philanthropic outcomes. Has a compelling presence, strong interpersonal instincts, and well-honed communication skills to build trust and collaborate seamlessly with internal and external stakeholders.
Collaborative. Believes that important decision-making is best done in collaboration with others and that differences of opinion yield better decisions. Track record of building productive, valuable relationships with others and interested in leveraging networks for new ideas and learning. A track record in collaborative funding is a plus.
Undergraduate degree required. MBA or other relevant advanced degree is useful.
Additional Attributes
Ethical. High integrity. Exercises good judgment and discretion.
Committed to Excellence. Sets the highest of expectations for personal and organizational standards and achievement.
Data Oriented. Makes sound decisions and recommendations based on data and evidence. Has a sophisticated understanding of root causes and systems-level solutions.
Active Learner. Curious, humble, and eager to learn alongside Principals and grantees.
Long-term Investment. Eager to grow and develop over multiple years in the role, earning even greater trust and responsibility from the Principals over time.
Tandem Philanthropies recognizes the power of a diverse community and strongly encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The target starting salary for this position is $275,000 to $350,000 per year, depending on experience. A competitive benefits package is also provided.
Location
This is a remote position with a very strong preference for candidates based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Occasional travel as needed is expected.
TO APPLY
Martha Montag Brown & Associates, LLC has been retained for this search. Interested and qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to the candidate application portal below. Questions about the search and application process should be directed to search@marthamontagbrown.com.
All correspondence will remain confidential.
