About Maine Cancer Foundation
Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) is dedicated to reducing cancer incidence and mortality rates in Maine. 100% of the funds we raise are invested back into our communities to benefit the people of Maine. MCF leads a statewide endeavor to promote and support the most promising and effective cancer-fighting efforts available to the people of Maine through a combination of grant-based financial support and coalition building.
Cancer rates in Maine are significantly higher than the national average and the worst in New England. Not only is cancer the leading cause of death in Maine, 1 in 3 individuals will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. There has been some progress: cancer rates have declined nearly 13% from an all-time high in 2000, but Maine continues to lag behind improvements seen in other states.
MCF’s grantmaking is currently directed towards programs that:
Foster Cancer Prevention
We know that the best way to beat cancer is to prevent it from occurring at all. MCF supports statewide prevention efforts, focusing on reducing smoking, healthy lifestyles, and preventative care.
Increase Early Detection and Screening
We know that finding cancer early, when it is most treatable and beatable, saves lives. MCF supports programs that improve and increase early detection and screening efforts.
Improve Patient Outcomes
We believe that everyone deserves access to the best possible care, regardless of income or geography. MCF supports efforts to ensure the availability of the best treatments for all Mainers.
Health Equity
Maine Cancer Foundation is committed to addressing health inequities, ensuring all Mainers have access to critical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment resources.
One important component of how MCF achieves its goals is by using a collective impact model known as Maine’s Impact Cancer Network (MICN). Since its inception, MICN has become a 500+ member strong coalition. Now recognized by the state and federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as Maine’s official cancer coalition, MICN achieves its goals with funding from MCF and in-kind support from its diverse membership. Key themes that MICN is working toward include: healthcare system collaboration, access to care, education about cancer prevention, detection and treatment, advocacy and survivorship.
Maine Cancer Foundation is fortunate to have strong support from the State of Maine and the CDC as well a variety of foundations, corporations and individuals. In addition, a significant portion of its revenue comes from special events, with every dollar raised going back into Maine’s communities. These events include Mary’s Walk, the Twilight 5K and Tri for the Cure, Maine’s only all-women’s triathlon and single largest one-day fundraiser. The opportunity to participate in one of these events allows anyone to help prevent cancer, detect it as early as possible and to get all Mainers the best possible care.
For more information about MCF, please visit https://mainecancer.org/
The Opportunity
The Maine Cancer Foundation is seeking an innovative Executive Director (ED) to lead the vision, overall strategy, and direction for the organization moving forward. The ED will be a visible leader and champion, advocating for the foundation’s critical mission: reducing cancer incidence and mortality rates in Maine. They will confidently lead the organization’s statewide efforts in effective fundraising, community engagement, advocacy and education. As a believer in trust-based philanthropy, the ED will listen deeply to communities and partner in a spirit of service. The ED will be the primary spokesperson for the Foundation, working with the board and the high performing MCF staff to continue the foundation’s momentum in changing the rewriting of the story of cancer in Maine.
Candidate Profile
The Executive Director will possess the following attributes and competencies:
Passion for the Mission
The Executive Director will bring a deep belief in the mission of MCF and an ability to inspire others to support that mission. Working in close collaboration with the staff and Board, the Executive Director will be motivated by the opportunity to achieve significant impact through the use of the Foundation’s resources and community engagement throughout the state. The Executive Director will exhibit a capacity to listen, a willingness to advocate and motivate, and a dedication to the cause. They will bring an understanding of the diversity of populations found across the state and be committed to increasing access to cancer prevention and care in all communities. It will be imperative that the Executive Director demonstrates empathy, treats others with respect and always stays true to the values of the Foundation. The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values, someone who can be trusted without reservation.
Strategic and Visionary Leader
The Executive Director will be an influential and inspirational leader who, in partnership with the Board and staff, sets and clearly articulates a vision for the Foundation and how it can effectively deploy its human and financial assets to positively impact the Maine community. The Executive Director will bring experience leading organizations or teams through times of growth and transition. The Executive Director will be skilled at building partnerships with other leaders in the state and using the Foundation’s influence to advance its mission and strategic priorities. With a creative mind and a willingness to think differently, this leader will bring an innovation mindset to the work and encourage the organization to think expansively about its next chapter. The Executive Director will be skilled at planning and implementation to ensure that day-to-day operations are aligned with strategic goals while also being innovative in response to emerging needs. This leader will excel at building transparent, productive and cohesive teams where new ideas are welcomed. They will be passionate about leading this high-performing team to achieve measurable outcomes while guiding organizational growth and development of staff.
External Ambassador and Fundraiser
The Executive Director will be an “Ambassador” for the Foundation, always looking for ways to promote the organization’s work and impact. A warm, engaging communicator who brings a passion for articulating the values of the Foundation to the community, the Executive Director will have exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build and sustain strong support across a wide range of statewide stakeholders, including funders, grantees, Board members, staff, and the larger community. The Executive Director will be comfortable representing the organization at fundraising events and asking for support and will be able to develop a powerful sense of shared purpose in others and motivate them to engage in the future of the Foundation. The Executive Director will have a strong presence that allows them to effectively advocate for important policy change, educate stakeholders on best practice and amplify MCF’s voice as a champion for all Mainers affected by cancer.
In addition, strong candidates will offer:
- An effective track record of organizational leadership
- A keen level of interest in the issues surrounding cancer prevention and treatment
- Strong emotional intelligence interlaced with a warm personality and a sense of humor
- Ability and desire to quickly immerse oneself in the Maine philanthropic landscape and healthcare community
- An appreciation for, and willingness to spend time getting to know, Maine’s diverse communities, unique culture and geographic challenges
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.
Contact
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume to Erin Reedy, Managing Director, here.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The Maine Cancer Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. For more information about Koya Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.
