Description
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation (“SLCF”) is dedicated to building opportunities for southern Maine residents to grow their potential, build healthy, productive futures, and support themselves, their families, and their communities. Based in Portland, Maine, the Foundation has worked to advance the values of its founder and grantor, Sam Cohen, for more than twenty-one years.
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation Board of Directors (“Board”) is seeking an experienced leader to guide the Foundation into the future as its next Executive Director. Grounded in the Foundation’s core values and leading with a relational approach, the Executive Director will work with the Board to shepherd the founding vision, mission, and values of the Foundation.
ABOUT THE SAM L. COHEN FOUNDATION
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation is a nonprofit independent foundation that strives to ensure that all people have the opportunity to develop their potential and provide healthy, productive futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Supported by an endowment of more than $30M, the Foundation’s work is grounded in three core beliefs:
- Everyone deserves an opportunity to have a fulfilling and productive future;
- Family and community are of utmost importance in life; and
- Giving back to one’s community is a fundamental value.
The Foundation has awarded nearly $40M to more than 450 nonprofit organizations since its inception in 2004. In 2025 alone, the Foundation awarded nearly $3M in grants over multiple cycles, including 93 responsive grants totaling more than $1.7M, to organizations in the Foundation’s five targeted focus areas: Arts & Culture, Civic & Community, Education, Health & Human Services, and Jewish Culture & Traditions. Through these efforts, the Foundation provides resources to nonprofit partners working to advance the health, wellbeing, engagement, and education of individuals, and to cultivate the next generation of empowered leaders in Maine. Visit (www.samlcohenfoundation.org) to learn more about the work of the Foundation.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Board of Directors seeks a thoughtful, relationship-driven leader to steward the Foundation’s enduring impact and legacy as its next Executive Director. They will oversee day-to-day operations and collaborate closely with the Board to develop and implement a strategy that advances the mission, vision, values, and impact of the Foundation. They will serve as an ambassador in the communities served by the Foundation, maintain key partnerships, and sustain the Foundation’s critical grantmaking efforts.
More specifically, the Executive Director will:
Maintain a relational, accessible posture grounded in a deep understanding of the grantee experience, ensuring the Foundation remains proximate to the community while advancing flexible, relationship-driven grantmaking that reduces barriers for grantees.
Shape and advance the Foundation’s strategic goals by translating values into clear priorities, resource allocation, and aligned programming while maintaining close community partnership and engagement.
Build a strong, trust-based partnership with the Board that is grounded in transparent engagement, candid communication, thought partnership, sound judgment, and close alignment on critical decisions.
Steward the Foundation’s financial and organizational health by ensuring sound fiscal management and partnering with the Board, staff, and professional advisors to implement policies aligned with the Foundation’s mission, vision, values, and legal obligations.
Serve as a credible and collaborative ambassador and spokesperson for the Foundation, advancing its grantmaking strategy while cultivating strong stakeholder relationships.
WORK LOCATION, COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Work Location: This position is based in Portland, Maine at the Foundation office. The position will also entail occasional travel to locations in Maine and regionally for partner meetings, engagements, and other events relevant to the mission.
We welcome and encourage all qualified candidates to apply – those from Maine who understand the state’s culture, geography, opportunities and challenges and have existing local professional networks, and those who bring perspective and experience from outside the state.
Salary and Benefits: The compensation range for this position is $160,000 - 190,000 commensurate with the candidate’s relevant experiences, capabilities, and skills. The Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance coverage, an annual employer retirement contribution, and paid time off.
TO APPLY
More information about the Sam L. Cohen Foundation can be found at: www.samlcohenfoundation.org.
This search is being led by Ellen LaPointe, Emily McCarthy, and Marisa Chock of NPAG. We invite applications with a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications via the portal on NPAG’s website. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we anticipate interviews will begin in July 2026. Should you have questions, candidate nominations, or if you need assistance or accommodations in the application process, please contact Marisa Chock at marisa@npag.com.
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation’s next Executive Director will be an experienced and collaborative leader with deep knowledge and a passion for serving, funding, and partnering with communities primarily in southern Maine. They will possess leadership skills that align with the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
The ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
A Strategic, Values-Driven Leader
- An experienced leader with the ability to inspire and motivate the board, staff, volunteers, and the community
- A strategic thinker with experience leading and implementing an organization-wide strategic plan and facilitating organizational change
- An advocate for organizational mission and enhancing visibility at local, state, and regional levels
Financial and Operational Acumen
- Financially fluent, comfortable stewarding a comparable asset base and making disciplined allocation decisions across investment, budget, grant award, and financial reporting functions
- Strong financial literacy, including experience managing budgets, assessing risk, and guiding organizational sustainability aligned with nonprofit governance, financial compliance, legal requirements, and best practices
- Ability to align resources and operational systems with strategic priorities
- Familiarity with grantmaking and grant writing
A Trusted Relationship Builder and Accessible Community Partner
- A trusted leader able to build and maintain relationships with the board, staff, community partners, and grantees
- An effective communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders with clarity, presence, and sound judgment, and to convey respect and understanding
- An accessible, transparent leader able to build trust and foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
A Creative Problem Solver
- An analytical problem solver who utilizes data and information to establish clear priorities and make strategic recommendations and decisions
- A creative thinker who offers fresh perspectives and translates them into a clear, shared direction for the organization
Organizational and People Leadership
- An experienced leader who fosters a values-driven, inclusive workplace culture with experience providing performance feedback, promoting professional development, and ensuring transparency and accountability
- Commitment to a collaborative approach to decision making
- A hands-on operator who can lead a small team effectively
- Demonstrates excellent judgment, operating with the highest ethical standards
A Commitment to Philanthropy and Maine’s Communities
- A deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape and the role of philanthropy in advancing communities at a local and state level
- An understanding of the Maine nonprofit and social services landscape and an ability to build relationships with key stakeholders
- A commitment to the Foundation’s focus areas and mission, vision, and values