Director of Community Strategies

The Ford Family Foundation is a national leader in rural philanthropy with a rich history of community investment. Established in 1957 by Kenneth W. Ford and Hallie

E. Ford as a modest foundation to support timber communities in southwest Oregon, the organization has evolved significantly over the decades. The foundation was officially established as The Ford Family Foundation in 1996 and is now headquartered in Roseburg, Oregon, with additional office locations serving communities across rural regions. With assets of $1.2 billion and an annual grantmaking budget of approximately $55 million, The Ford Family Foundation ranks among the three largest grantmaking foundations in Oregon.

The organization maintains a lean and effective operational structure with 52 employees distributed across two primary office locations and throughout rural communities in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Strategic direction is provided by a nine-member Board of Directors. The foundation is deeply committed to strengthening rural communities and improving outcomes for children and families across Oregon and Siskiyou County, California.

The Ford Family Foundation works collaboratively with community leaders, public systems, Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, and other strategic partners to advance lasting change through multiple mechanisms including community engagement, leadership development, convening, policy engagement, research, grantmaking, and capacity-building efforts. The organization’s mission centers on recognizing and supporting the inherent capacity of rural communities to drive meaningful systems change and improve conditions for their residents.

The Director of Community Strategies provides strategic leadership for The Ford Family Foundation’s efforts to support community-driven system change through community engagement, leadership development, and rural capacity-building efforts. This role is instrumental in shaping how the Foundation listens to, learns from, and partners with rural communities to strengthen local leadership, increase community influence, and support systems-level change. Working across the Foundation and throughout rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, the Director integrates community voice, field intelligence, and emerging opportunities into strategies that strengthen community capacity, inform organizational priorities, and advance long-term outcomes for rural children, families, and communities.

The Director leads a team of Community Strategists while serving as a key partner in aligning community-centered approaches with the Foundation’s broader strategic priorities and organizational vision. This position represents a unique opportunity to help strengthen rural communities’ ability to influence decisions, systems, and conditions that shape their future. The role combines strategic planning with hands-on community engagement, requiring the Director to spend approximately 40-60% of their time traveling throughout Oregon and Siskiyou County to support community partnerships, Foundation events, and regional collaboration.

When not engaged in community-based activities, the position offers flexibility to work remotely. The ideal candidate will be field-based in a rural Oregon community, though applications are welcomed from Bend-area residents whose experience demonstrates strong commitment to rural Oregon communities and alignment with the Foundation’s mission. This is an exempt position with an annual salary of $172,000-$181,800 depending on experience.

Performance and compensation are reviewed at least annually. The Final date to receive applications is Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 @ 12:00 PM, and applicants…