A renowned entrepreneur and co-founder of The Home Depot, Arthur M. Blank is now recognized for his values-based Blank Family of Businesses (BFOB) and as one of America’s leading philanthropists through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. All his industry-leading businesses, including the foundation, operate on six core values: Put People First, Listen and Respond, Include Everyone, Innovate Continuously, Lead by Example and Give Back to Others.
After over 25 years and over $1 billion in giving, the foundation has committed to significantly escalating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years. This milestone coincides with deeper participation among the next generation of Blank family members on the board and in advisory capacities, partnering around their shared core beliefs, including the Jewish value of tikkun olam (“heal and repair the world”) and seeking a fuller realization of American ideals.
The foundation works across various programmatic areas, including Youth Development, Democracy, Environment, Atlanta’s Westside, and Mental Health and Well-Being. The foundation also manages a large portfolio of founder-led initiatives, supporting the causes, institutions and relationships our founder holds dear. Geographically, much of the foundation’s work prioritizes Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence.
About the foundation’s Mental Health and Well-Being Team:
The foundation’s approach to Mental Health and Well-being is a 10-year grantmaking strategy with the goal of “supporting flourishing mental health and well-being for young people 0-18.” The three outcomes of this strategy are: 1) parents establish secure emotional bonds with their infants, 2) children develop resilience and a sense of belonging and 3) teenagers have a positive relationship with digital technology. This is a national strategy aimed at scaling evidence-based programs.
About the Managing Director, Mental Health and Well-Being role:
The Managing Director for Mental Health and Well-Being will play a central role in the Foundation’s grantmaking and on the Foundation’s senior leadership team. This is an exciting moment to lead this important program and the newly approved strategy. The leader will deepen the Foundation’s learning and impact agenda and work closely with the Founder and other family members who are passionate about this field of practice to execute on a strategy for meaningful and enduring change. The leader will lead a small program team and oversee diligence, execution and evaluation of the Mental Health and Well-Being portfolio. The Managing Director will be based in Atlanta, but the work will span nationally.
Reporting to the President of AMBFF, the Managing Director is expected to be a leader in the organization, as the Foundation is focused on scaling giving. They will be a leader in philanthropic practice, bringing a service mindset and being able to act with diplomacy with diverse grantee partners. The Managing Director will also serve as a leader, thought partner, and bridge during critical moments of change. They will enhance efforts through partnerships with key stakeholders, including the BFOB, to strengthen the work. This role will also have a dotted line report to the Managing Director, Effective Philanthropy and Learning (EPAL). The MD, EPAL provides support and coaching related to the grantmaking process and leads collaborative efforts with all the Collective Giving grantmakers.
Managing Director, Mental Health and Well-Being Key Responsibilities:
Strategic grantmaking and execution to advance mental health and well-being goals:
The Managing Director will lead the continued strategy development and execution, drawing on evidence, powerful ideas, and input from diverse stakeholders, both internally and externally. They will realize the power of philanthropy, including grants, collaboration, convening, innovative financing, and communications as critical levers for innovation, scaling effective practices and enduring change. This role will harness the power of the BFOB business operations, properties, and brands to exemplify and elevate the goals for the mental health and well-being work externally for our grantees and internally for our associates. The managing director will understand and monitor grant budgets and ensure compliance with foundation practices and protocols, including appropriate programmatic and financial due diligence.
Lead a high-performing team with excellence:
The Managing Director will lead a programmatic team of strong and skilled staff working in a culture of inclusion and purpose that drives relationships, respect and results. The Managing Director will oversee all core activities, programs, grantmaking and other investing, fully leveraging the BFOB assets as appropriate. This role will work with the foundation’s Effective Philanthropy team to develop and execute evaluation frameworks and relevant progress tracking for the strategy to inform ongoing decision-making and course correction. The Managing Director will share lessons and engage AMBFF leadership and the Board in strategic conversations about how we adapt the strategies over time.
Building and nurturing partnerships with grantees, other funders, business, and civic leaders in service of sustained impact:
The Managing Director will serve as an effective spokesperson for AMBFF’s vision and acting as an engaged and responsive partner to community members, mental health and well-being practitioners, field leaders, researchers, partners, and peers. A skilled network builder, the Managing Director will identify areas of strategic partnership in the field and align and champion opportunities for engagement with other philanthropic, nonprofit, business and government entities locally, regionally, and nationally. The Managing Director will help build bridges across political and economic divides, acknowledging the diversity of perspectives around issues of mental health and well-being.
Serving on the AMBFF Leadership Team:
The Managing Director will help shape the foundation’s future as a key member of the leadership team working in concert with the President, other Managing Directors, and finance and operations leads to embrace the foundation with respect to programs, operations and culture in ways that together advance the foundation's mission. Given the centrality of mental health and well-being to all of our work, the Managing Director will look for opportunities to cross-fertilize efforts with other foundation strategies.
Core Competencies:
The ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Strategic Vision
A strategic, creative and entrepreneurial leader with experience working on issues of mental health and well-being, especially with youth, who can position AMBFF’s philanthropic work as a powerful and innovative model for social good.
Leadership and Management
External Representation
Interpersonal Acumen