ABOUT SPUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Spur Community Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to inspiring effective philanthropy in Idaho’s Wood River Valley, home of the world-class Sun Valley Resort, helping donors give with purpose and local nonprofits achieve maximum impact. Founded in 2016, Spur connects people who care deeply about the community with the organizations that sustain and strengthen it, playing a vital role in ensuring the Valley remains a vibrant, compassionate, and thriving place to live.
Nonprofits are the backbone of the Wood River Valley. Everything that defines the region’s quality of life—from its trails, arts, youth programs, and festivals to essential services such as housing, food security, education, environmental stewardship, and care for community members—is made possible by nonprofits.
What makes the Wood River Valley particularly remarkable for a community of its size is the extraordinary breadth and depth of its nonprofit sector—spanning world-class cultural institutions such as Sun Valley Museum of Art and the Argyros Performing Arts Center; vital educational organizations including The Community Library and Far & Wise; environmental and conservation leaders such as Wood River Land Trust and the Wood River Trails Coalition; health and human services providers like The Hunger Coalition and Advocates; animal welfare organizations including Mountain Humane; housing initiatives such as Wood River Community Housing Trust; and sports and recreation anchors like YMCA of the Wood River Valley and Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. This spectrum of nonprofit excellence is central to what makes the Wood River Valley such a distinctive and vibrant place to live. Spur exists to ensure these organizations, and the community they serve, can continue to flourish.
Vision: Spur envisions a community in which all members wholeheartedly acknowledge that an ecosystem of generosity enables their quality of life in the Wood River Valley, and they actively engage in giving back with their time, talent, or resources. As a result, the character and values of the Valley remain intact for generations to come.
Mission: To inspire effective philanthropy by helping people to give purposefully and local nonprofits to achieve maximum impact.
How Spur Works: Working on behalf of both donors and nonprofits, Spur serves as a trusted advisor, connector, and community partner — bridging generosity with opportunity and strengthening the broader philanthropic ecosystem.
- For Donors: Spur enables donors to give with clarity, confidence, and impact. Through donor-advised funds, legacy planning, and personalized philanthropic guidance, Spur helps individuals and families align their giving with their values and the community’s most pressing needs.
- For Nonprofits: Through strategic grantmaking, advisory services, organizational assessments, and professional development, Spur strengthens local nonprofits — equipping them to operate more effectively and expand their impact across the community.
Impact at a Glance:
- $50M+ in donations received since 2016
- $33M+ distributed to the community
- 100+ donors served
With deep local knowledge and a highly personalized approach, Spur serves as both a guide for donors and a champion for nonprofits—ensuring that generosity today sustains the Wood River Valley for generations to come.
For more information about Spur Community Foundation, visit SpurFoundation.org. Review Spur’s 2025 Impact Report here. Visit ItsInOurNatureWRV.org to see the many ways generosity makes Idaho’s Wood River Valley special, and visitsunvalley.com to learn more about Sun Valley.
THE OPPORTUNITY
In 2026, Spur Community Foundation will welcome its next leader — and its second-ever Executive Director — as part of a thoughtful, planned succession of founding Executive Director Sally Gillespie, who has led the organization since its inception.
To that end, Spur Community Foundation is at an exciting inflection point and is searching for an exceptional Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter of growth and impact.
After nearly a decade of community-building, Spur has established itself as the trusted philanthropic hub of the Wood River Valley, cultivating a culture of generosity, supporting a robust ecosystem of nonprofits, and earning the confidence of donors and community leaders alike. The incoming Executive Director will inherit a strong and stable foundation: a highly capable and dedicated team, an engaged board, and a hard-won reputation as the community's most trusted philanthropic partner.
At the same time, this leader will be charged with bringing fresh energy, strategic vision, and entrepreneurial drive to expand Spur's reach, deepen its donor relationships, and position the organization for its next decade. This is a rare opportunity to serve as the leading philanthropic voice in one of America's most storied mountain communities and to help ensure the character and values of the Wood River Valley remain intact for generations to come.
Reporting Relationship & Organizational Overview
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for advancing Spur's mission and strategic goals by leading donor development, community partnerships, program strategy, fiscal management, and leadership of a high-performing staff of three. The Executive Director serves as a trusted relationship builder, partnering with the Board, donors, and nonprofit leaders to elevate local philanthropy, identify and address pressing community issues, and inspire effective giving throughout the Wood River Valley.
The Executive Director plays a highly visible external role as a frontline fundraiser, community ambassador, and nonprofit advisor, while also providing steady internal leadership and direction.
Strategic Priorities for the Next Executive Director
Key areas of focus for the next leader include:
- Expand Spur's donor base — engaging part-time residents, younger philanthropists, and community members new to giving — while deepening stewardship of existing high-capacity donor relationships.
- Elevate Spur's visibility and brand throughout the Wood River Valley, ensuring the broader community understands and actively engages with Spur's mission.
- Lead the development of Spur's next strategic plan in partnership with the Board, defining the organization's priorities and direction for the years ahead.
- Empower and mentor a talented staff, fostering a culture of trust, delegation, and professional growth.
- Thoughtfully evolve Spur's role as a community convener — exploring how Spur can bring stakeholders together around pressing community needs such as childcare and workforce issues.
- Ensure operational sustainability through sound fiscal management, diversified revenue, and continued organizational maturation.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities of the Executive Director include, among others:
Leadership & Strategy
- Lead the development and execution of strategic and annual plans, including ownership of Spur's next strategic plan
- Communicate transparently with the Board on progress toward goals and key metrics
- Serve as a strong partner to the Board and its committees
- Provide strategic guidance and serve as a trusted advisor to nonprofit organizations across the Wood River Valley
Fund & Donor Development
- Lead fundraising strategy and execution to secure annual and multi-year financial support
- Engage and steward high-capacity donors and fund holders, including those new to the community
- Expand Spur's donor base and overall philanthropic giving in the Wood River Valley through proactive outreach to part-time residents, younger donors, and underrepresented philanthropic audiences
- Lead donor cultivation strategies, relationship management, and stewardship systems
- Represent Spur at donor events, convenings, and targeted community outreach
Community Relations & Local Knowledge
- Build and maintain positive community relationships grounded in deep understanding of local culture, values, challenges, and opportunities in the Wood River Valley
- Represent Spur publicly through speaking engagements, partnerships, and community forums
- Support and lead collaborative initiatives that benefit the broader philanthropic ecosystem
- Serve as a visible advocate for the power of philanthropy to strengthen community life
Staff Leadership
- Mentor, supervise, and evaluate staff to achieve mission impact
- Foster a collaborative, trust-based, and mission-aligned workplace culture
- Delegate effectively and invest in the professional growth and development of the team
Fiscal & Program Management
- Develop and monitor the annual operating budget
- Oversee grantmaking, nonprofit services, and educational programs aligned with mission and donor expectations
- Ensure compliance with all nonprofit regulatory requirements
CANDIDATE PROFILE
While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following offers a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:
A Dynamic Relationship Builder and Skilled Fundraiser
This leader:
- Thrives in highly visible, public-facing roles, with a natural ability to build strong, authentic relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders — from high-capacity donors and nonprofit leaders to community members from all walks of life.
- Is a proactive, confident, and creative fundraiser who is energized by the opportunity to grow philanthropic giving throughout the Wood River Valley — engaging new audiences including part-time residents, younger philanthropists, and those new to giving — while deepening stewardship of existing relationships.
- Is a clear and compelling communicator and storyteller, able to articulate Spur's mission, values, and impact to a wide range of external audiences.
- Is an inspirational leader, able to command respect in donor meetings and on public stages alike; is approachable and trustworthy, yet polished and persuasive.
A Visionary, Practical, and Hands-On Leader
This leader:
- Brings a bold and inspiring vision for Spur's future while remaining grounded in what is achievable — balancing ambition with pragmatism and strategic focus.
- Is an entrepreneurial thinker, energized by Spur's next chapter and capable of leading the organization through a pivotal transition from startup culture to organizational maturity.
- Brings a hands-on leadership style; comfortable operating in a lean environment and willing and able to roll up their sleeves and do the work.
- Demonstrates the ability to lead strategic planning with the Board, set clear priorities, and drive focused execution across a lean, high-impact organization.
- Brings fresh perspective and an openness to learning — curious about best practices from peer community foundations nationally, and willing to bring outside thinking to a close-knit community context.
Financial and Operational Acumen
This leader:
- Brings sound financial judgment and budget management experience, with the ability to steward Spur's resources responsibly while pursuing strategic growth.
- Ideally has experience leading or working within a community foundation, philanthropic organization, or comparable nonprofit — with familiarity with donor-advised funds, legacy giving, and grantmaking preferred.
- Demonstrates strong integrity and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality in managing sensitive donor and organizational information.
- Brings the operational discipline to ensure compliance, sound systems, and organizational infrastructure appropriate to Spur's stage of growth.
A Champion of People and Organizational Culture
This leader:
- Is a confident, capable leader paired with genuine humility. An emotionally intelligent executive with a track record of building positive, trust-based, collaborative cultures.
- Leads with transparency, grace, and accountability, modeling the values Spur holds for the broader philanthropic community.
- Is a skilled mentor and delegator who empowers staff, invests in professional development, and builds a team culture where people feel valued, trusted, and inspired.
- Brings strong management skills and the ability to build and sustain an environment of openness and mutual respect.
A Committed Community Leader
This leader:
- Is genuinely invested in the Wood River Valley — its people, its culture, its challenges and opportunities, and its extraordinary character. Whether a longtime local or a newcomer, this leader will embrace the community wholeheartedly.
- Brings an infectious enthusiasm for the role of philanthropy in community life, and a deep belief in Spur's potential as the leading philanthropic resource in the Valley.
- Is at home in the culture of a small mountain community — accessible, present, and engaged across the breadth of community life.
- Understands and navigates the delicate balance between supporting nonprofits and cultivating donors, preserving the trust that is central to Spur's identity.
LOCATION
Residency in or relocation to Sun Valley, Idaho (or the surrounding region) within an agreed-upon timeframe is expected. Building genuine community relationships — the kind that sustain long-term trust and philanthropic growth — requires being present and deeply rooted in this place. Learn more about Sun Valley by visiting visitsunvalley.com.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Spur Community Foundation offers a competitive compensation package. The salary range for this role is $120,000 – $180,000, commensurate with experience, plus a benefits package. Relocation support is available for out-of-area candidates. The Board recognizes the housing realities of the Wood River Valley and is committed to working with the selected candidate on a successful transition.
CONTACT
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Cheryl Stevens and Maleka Pensky. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential. Position open until filled.
DSG | Koya 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 [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.