POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT:
PRESIDENT
Reports To: Board of Directors
Classification: Full-time, Exempt Location:
Remote in the U.S. (Los Angeles, New York or Atlanta Preferred)
Apply By: July 12, 2024
ABOUT COLOR FARM IMPACT
Color Farm Impact, Inc. (“Color Farm Impact”) is a 21st century innovation and social impact non-profit. Color Farm Impact seeks to better society through the transformative power of images and storytelling. Recognizing that representation matters in media, Color Farm Impact seeks not only to bolster non-fiction content with impact campaigns that inspire social action, but also to mentor, train, and support a pipeline of next generation, diverse creators to advance the stories of those whose voices have been ignored because they are not seen as valuable in society. Color Farm Impact was established in 2023 but its sister company, Color Farm Media, has been operating since 2017. Color Farm Media is an award-winning, diversified media company that empowers and elevates voices who are underrepresented, overlooked, and undervalued. Color Farm Media is focused on bringing greater equity, inclusion, and diverse representation to media in an effort to create sustainable, long-term, systemic change by shifting narratives. One of Color Farm Media’s most recent projects, John Lewis: Good Trouble, about the legendary Congressman and civil rights icon, won the NAACP Award for Best Documentary Film and was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Color Farm Media’s Audible series, Finding Tamika, which highlights the disparities in media coverage between missing Black women and girls versus missing white women and girls, won the prestigious duPont-Columbia Award for excellence in journalism, as well as a Webby Award and several other honors. Color Farm’s Co-Founders are dynamic partners in social activism bringing expertise in content creation and scaling organizations: actress, director, writer, and producer, Erika Alexander - best known for her trailblazing roles as Maxine Shaw on the groundbreaking Fox comedy series “Living Single” and Coraline in the Oscar-winning film ”American Fiction” - and producer, writer, and media/technology executive Ben Arnon. The collective vision for Color Farm Impact is primarily focused on economic mobility and closing the racial and gender wealth gaps. Key Program Areas include:
● Training, Educating, and Mentoring Underrepresented Creators: We believe that representations in film and on television are crucial because they influence our everyday perceptions and interactions, including how we relate to one another, and they shape how we see ourselves and others. Through Creator Labs for Writers and Producers, we will train, educate, and mentor underrepresented, underestimated, and undervalued creative talent to build pipelines that foster systemic cultural narrative change through consistent development and production of premium-quality content.
● Executing World-class, Deeply Meaningful Social Impact Campaigns: We believe in the power of educating audiences about the racial equity and social justice themes and topics that we champion. Our social impact campaigns, which are evergreen and build national awareness through our broad reach, support non-fiction content promoting the film’s key themes and social impact areas including racial justice, equality, voting rights, gender equity, and related focus areas. We have partnered with major brands and non-profits including Ben & Jerry’s, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Target, NAACP, Color of Change, United Negro College Fund, and more in campaigns that inspire social action and change.
● Using Data-Driven Research Initiatives to Prove that Racial and Gender Representation in Media Matters: We believe that not only does representation in media matter but it is critically important to culture and the greater society. Our national strategic partnerships promote data initiatives and research that help prove that racial and gender representation in media matters and that the racial equity and social justice themes and topics we champion move society forward. Color Farm Media’s “Maxine Shaw Effect” Research and Educational Curriculum was built recognizing that the character of Maxine Shaw inspired thousands of people to pursue law and politics including Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.
● Granting Funds in Support of Documentary Film Production: We believe in transformative storytelling through documentary films that align with our social impact goals. Color Farm Impact will award grants directly to emerging creators – women, people of color, and other underrepresented voices – who have traditionally struggled to gain exposure for their work. Funding documentary film producers, and/or their production organizations, supports them in becoming change agents to shift the culture and better society through the impact of their content creation. We will also award scholarships to deserving HBCU students whose goals align with the mission of Color Farm Impact. Color Farm Impact is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal Tax ID #93-3401211). Funding comes from individual donors, foundations, and other grant awards.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Color Farm Impact seeks an entrepreneurial, action-oriented, and resilient leader to serve as our first President and full-time team member shaping the role and organization through crystalizing the Co-Founders’ vision with imaginative strategic thinking to scale our people, programs, and partnerships. Reporting to the Board and of Directors, the President will bring bold positivity, action-orientation, and emotional intelligence to shepherd our multi-phased growth plan. The President will collaborate with both Co-Founders and the full Board of Directors to affirm and/or refine the mission, vision, and values; build awareness of Color Farm Impact and its offerings; design and build out core programming; enhance existing and develop new program and funding partnerships; and build and manage a diverse and dynamic team. Initial priorities will include developing and leading innovative strategies to grow financial resources, mainly from individual donors, foundations, and strategic digital marketing; and designing, piloting, and/or rolling out core programs including social impact campaigns, training for content creators, and research-based curriculum. This is an exciting opportunity to co-create an innovative social impact model working for representation in media and narrative change. The role is ideal for a goal-oriented, forward thinking, equity-centered leader with experience scaling non-profit, startup, philanthropic, entertainment, communications, or other corporate entities including formalizing operations and systems. The President should have comfort and patience moving through ambiguity to clarity. Equal parts visionary and tactician, the President must be a stellar thought partner to the Board and an exceptional individual contributor while also having the capacity and desire to build and manage a high-performing team with empathy and care as the organization grows.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Anticipated core functions and responsibilities are included below noting that duties may change or expand as the organization evolves so candidates should be flexible to perform other duties, as assigned/needed.
Organizational Leadership and Management
● Build and maintain a collaborative working relationship with the Board of Directors including co-creating norms for and facilitating meetings; supporting recruitment of additional members; organizing board retreats; ensuring individual member expertise is leveraged and interests are met; and providing learning and development opportunities
● Develop and oversee effective operational activities, policies, and procedures in alignment with organizational mission, goals, and values
● Refine and execute against a staffing plan to enhance organizational capacity including consideration of when to bring on key roles like an Executive Assistant, Program Director(s), a Community Engagement Director, and a Director of Advancement
● Select and supervise core consultants, as needed, to support fundraising, programming, and/or communications
● Hire, supervise, mentor, and develop key team members, as they are brought on
● Co-create an inclusive, multicultural, innovative, nonconformist, results-oriented, and learning organization where everyone is encouraged to lift their voice and shine as conduits for impact and lasting social change
● Lead a collaborative strategic planning process to clearly articulate organizational goals, strategies, tactics, and resource needs over the next three to five years
Program Design, Implementation, Evaluation, and Innovation
● Launch mentorship and training through Creator Labs for Writers and Producers focused on early- and mid-career professionals and youth
● Work in partnership with major brand and non-profit partners to enhance existing and launch new social impact campaigns tied to inspiring non-fiction content
● Continue partnership development around and roll out of all Research and Educational Curriculum
● Develop, gain approval for, and implement a trust-based grant application, review, and selection process for documentary film production grants as well as HBCU student scholarships
● Select and manage consultants to support program development, roll out, and/or evaluation, as needed
Strategic Partnerships for Fund Development
● Strengthen existing and establish new and authentic partnerships with individual donors, foundations, and other grant sources identifying and prioritizing a pipeline of aligned opportunities that can generate significant revenue to support programmatic launch and expansion by increasing the number, size, and flexibility of grants
● Build and implement highly effective development strategies that align with the mission, purpose, and values and strategically engage Board Members (who will be committed to give and/or get a set amount of resources annually), foundations, corporate philanthropy, high net worth individuals, and celebrities
● Research, identify, engage, and track potential new funders capable of making six to seven figure grants
● Lead or oversee all grant proposal and report management ensuring compelling proposals and accurate, informative reports that inspire support
● Explore a strategy to drive grassroots online fundraising utilizing cutting-edge digital and social media marketing strategies and tactics, using best-in-class infrastructure including CRM tools
● Find creative ways to tell the story of impact leveraging research, program data, narratives, and more to win the hearts and minds of potential funding partners
● Build and maintain a donor engagement and customer relationship management tracking system
Fiscal Management
● Develop and lead a clear and transparent budgeting process that refines core assumptions informing projected costs and revenue and ensures effective allocation and utilization of resources aligned with strategic goals
● Actively manage and monitor the organizational budget
● Lead or oversee the presentation of financial reports to the Board of Directors
● Collaborate with financial and accounting consultants and/or advisors on annual audits, 990s, and other key requirements for 501(c)(3) status
● Explore feasibility of opportunities for earned income such as through distribution of curriculum or research, consulting or impact producing fees, or other avenues
Advocacy and Communications
● Serve as a persuasive public face of Color Farm Impact, alongside the Co-Founders, embodying their commitment to and championing the empowerment and elevation of underrepresented, overlooked, and undervalued voices with authentic passion
● Support and participate in efforts to raise awareness of Color Farm Impact and its mission whether preparing a Board Member for official testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on “Diversity in America: The Representation of People of Color in the Media” or directly attending or speaking at relevant conferences and events
● With support from consultants, as needed, oversee completion or creation of key communications tools such as a brand style guide, website, social media channels, an e-newsletter, impact reports, presentations or briefs, webinars and other inbound marketing tactics, other templates, and more
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS
Ideally, the President will bring a mix of these core experiences and competencies, among other transferable skills, to support their ability to thrive in the role:
● Passion for & Experience Related to the Mission – Belief in the transformative power of images and storytelling with familiarity or lived or professional experience with systemic cultural narrative change; leadership, youth, and/or pipeline development; education and/or mentorship; non-fiction content creation and impact campaigns; or other mission-related programming
● Fund Development Knowledge & Success – A track record of successful leadership in fund development at an annual level of $2-5M+ including designing fund development strategies; directly raising resources over multiple years; and the ability to form partnerships with aligned foundations, donors, and production partners; Ideally brings knowledge of/relationships with institutions and/or individuals funding narrative change, arts & culture, entertainment, workforce development, economic mobility, and related areas
● Experience Scaling Organizations – A track record of effectively leading and scaling high-performing teams or organizations including managing multi-phased growth; hitting or adjusting growth targets; hiring/building out a team; creating and enhancing systems and policies for effectiveness; and creating a positive, trusting, and innovative organizational culture that centers diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging
● Strong Communication Skills – Clear, compelling written and verbal communication skills; an open, persuasive, and passionate communication style that incorporates storytelling with excellent listening and interpersonal skills; Can confidently represent the mission and Co-Founders while also bringing unique personal lived experience, passion, and ideas
● Relationship Building Prowess – Ability to form new and build upon existing relationships with diverse constituencies including the Co-Founders, Board of Directors, entertainers, creatives, foundations, corporations, government, and more
● Demonstrated Organizational, Project, & Program Management – 10+ years of management experience ideally inclusive of leading a non-profit, startup, philanthropic, entertainment, communications, or other corporate entity at the leadership team level or above with the ability to work flexibly, quickly, and collaboratively navigating a dynamic environment with emerging priorities around resource and program development
● Fiscal Management Expertise – Experience building and managing project or organizational budgets of $2-5M+ with comfort in leading budgeting, forecasting, reconciliation, reporting, and auditing processes with support
COMPENSATION & WORK ENVIRONMENT
This is a full-time salaried position with a competitive annual compensation range of $250,000 to $280,000, commensurate with experience, and comprehensive benefits. The President will initially work remotely from home or in a co-working space with provision of needed office equipment, technology, and supplies. Approximately 30% travel can be expected, depending upon the location of the President, for meetings to build trust and relationships and to attend conferences or other learning and networking events.
ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Color Farm Impact is partnering with Walker and Associates Consulting – a values-aligned Black woman owned and led strategic management consulting and executive search firm. To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and list of three references (references will not be contacted without advance notice) by 5:00 pm PT on Friday, July 12, 2024. We invite you to lift up relevant qualifications not specified in this announcement that might make you ideal for this role in your cover letter. Use the subject line “President Application.” Microsoft Word files or one combined PDF file is preferred. Candidate review begins immediately.
Color Farm Impact, Inc. was founded with a deep belief that representation matters and that social action sparks transformation. As such, we are a values-based, equal opportunity employer with deep commitment to uplifting those whose voices have been ignored because they are not seen as valuable in society. We strongly encourage people of any and all traditionally marginalized identities to apply, especially Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other people of color; women; queer, trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex people; differently-abled people; and formerly incarcerated people. We recruit and hire with an understanding of systemic oppression and of the lived reality of people with marginalized identities and applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $250,000.00 - $280,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
Work Location: Remote
