Company Name
The Asian American Foundation
Company City
Washington DC
Company State
DC
Job Location
Washington DC
Company Information
TAAF serves the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in their pursuit of belonging and prosperity that is free from discrimination, slander, and violence. Founded in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and address the long standing underinvestment in AAPI communities, TAAF funds best in class organizations working to mobilize against hate and violence, educate communities, and reclaim our narratives through our core pillars of Anti-hate, Education, Narrative Change, and Resources & Representation. Through our grants, high-impact initiatives and events, we’re creating a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
For additional information about TAAF, please visit our website.
Job Description
About the Anti-Hate Program
As a key pillar of the Programs team, TAAF’s Anti-Hate team provides infrastructure, resources, and support for tackling hate and violence nationally.
As a convener of anti-Asian hate resources, TAAF supports a national network of local networks of community-based organizations (CBO) who are grantees of the Foundation. TAAF has facilitated an Anti-Hate National Network to promote the sharing of best practices to elevate the knowledge and practice of 2R3P strategies in the anti-hate field, including a group of AAPI City Partners, local CBO networks that coordinate response and recovery, protection, prevention, and policy strategies (2R3P) for the benefit of impacted parties and the communities. Together with a cohort of leading AANHPI organizations, TAAF’s AAPI City Partners work together to utilize relevant skills, expertise, or community connections to serve as advisors and thought leaders.
Internally, the Anti-Hate pillar team liaises with other TAAF pillars related to education, narrative change and unlocking resources/corporate engagement to take proactive measures against anti-Asian hate and violence. The Anti-Hate team coordinates with fellow staff working in communications, data and research, and government relations to support TAAF’s efforts to marshal resources and connections from different sectors, including nonprofits, government, corporations, philanthropy, media, and youth communities.
The Opportunity
TAAF seeks a Director of Anti-Hate to oversee the Anti-Hate strategy and broader team to execute TAAF’s 5-year strategic plan. Reporting to the Chief Programs Officer, the Director acts as a key advisor and facilitator to Foundation leadership staff regarding proactive program strategy and responses to anti-Asian hate across the organization, including preparing communications for both internal and external constituents and representing TAAF at speaking engagements and events.
With a constant eye toward state and federal policies and laws, the Director will continue to build awareness around interconnected societal indicators that contribute to hate and violence and emerging domestic and foreign policy trends that affect the climate in which AANHPI individuals and communities exist. As a leader in convening anti-Asian hate organizations nationally, the Director will be a vocal participant in coalitions and cultivate relationships with key constituents, particularly among community-based organizations, to promote racial solidarity. The Director will advocate for policy development related to discrimination, racism, civil rights and funding and continue establishing TAAF as an anti-hate leader in AANHPI communities. In collaboration with TAAF’s leadership and CEO, the Director will act as an ambassador of the organization and successfully interface with government, city officials, and law enforcement and represent the organization during events related to anti-Asian hate.
The Director will have oversight of the Anti-Hate team, supervising the Deputy Director, who manages a Community Engagement Manager and a Program Associate.
Key Responsibilities
• Engage in TAAF’s strategic planning and lead Anti-Hate strategy.
• Communicate the strategic goals, work, and progress of the Anti-Hate program to internal and external constituents.
• Monitor trends in state and federal policy, law and initiatives related to hate crimes, discrimination, racism, profiling, socioeconomic issues, and public safety, as well as hate crime data and funding for community-based organizations.
• Review hate crime data reports and analyses.
• Monitor the collateral damage effect on Asian Americans due to overreach in U.S. government initiatives and actions and elected official rhetoric arising from foreign policy tensions.
• Monitor news of hate incidents/crimes daily, and alert rapid response.
• Monitor AAPI movement organizing, news, conferences, events, and resources.
• Identify watch trends, e.g. AAPI-targeted home burglaries, small business shootings, and promising protection and prevention strategies.
• Draft statements for federal government briefings, roundtables, and open public comment periods after research and consultations with experts.
• Draft talking points for CEO.
• Represent TAAF as a member organization of national coalitions.
• Cultivate key constituent relationships, particularly with nonprofit and faith leaders, in support of TAAF’s multi-sector engagement with government, corporations, philanthropy, and youth.
• Identify collaborations with key constituents around events, forums, and initiatives. Also coordinate with TAAF liaisons for organization sponsorships.
• Oversee and support the Deputy Director around newly developing program management, staff management, grantmaking, evaluation, portfolio strategy, GoFundMe fund, and budgets.
• Support the Community Engagement Manager with due diligence, selection, orientation, and convenings planning for the City Partners and National Network.
• Coordinate with TAAF Director, NYC Regional Office on anti-hate program work.
• Hire Community Response Manager and help to oversee the implementation of a community incident response framework; assess local community infrastructure; carry out due diligence for TAAF community incident response awards; and connect and convene community partners.
• Hire and co-manage an Analyst located at the Anti-Defamation League, providing assignments related to reports of AANHPI-targeted acts of hate and violence and content that promotes discrimination and harm.
This position requires frequent weekend, off-hours, and evening work. Some travel is required.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range for this position is $160,000 – 175,000. TAAF provides competitive compensation and benefits including health insurance (including dental and vision) and a 403b retirement plan to all employees.
Job Qualifications
Candidate Profile
While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, a successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:
Passion for the Mission
The Director of Anti-Hate will have a true passion for the vision of TAAF and be driven by the mission to prevent hate and violence and reduce anxiety in the community by building out partnerships needed to improve AANHPI advocacy and power and reduce anti-Asian hate across the country. Leading with an equity lens, the Director will embrace TAAF’s collaborative culture and will thrive in a cross-functional, entrepreneurial environment with a diversity of viewpoints and experiences. This leader will adeptly mobilize resources effectively through meaningful engagement of TAAF’s talented and effective contributors. Working strategically with transparency, accountability and empathy, the ideal candidate will embrace a culture of learning, work respectfully with compassion, kindness, and gratitude, and seek to be inclusive and collaborative in decision making.
Strategic Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset
The Director of Anti-Hate will lead with an entrepreneurial mindset, utilizing knowledge and experience in supporting AANHPI communities to inform program strategy and operations. With the ability to thrive in ambiguity and having a high tolerance for change, the Director will be flexible and nimble in adjusting to shifting priorities, balancing multiple tasks efficiently and effectively. Using keen analytical skills and excellent judgment, this individual will successfully address opportunities and challenges, consistently taking initiative to anticipate needs, address complex problems and translate plans into a cohesive program strategy, all while engaging with TAAF’s leadership, Board, and staff. This leader will have the willingness to develop new processes that will enact change and optimize organization-level impact across the Anti-Hate pillar.
Anti-Hate Content Expertise
Empowered with practice-based knowledge and experience leading through crisis in AANHPI communities, this leader will arrive with practical knowledge around community responses to hate crimes and the various applications and difference in federal and state hate crime laws. Able to successfully navigate the philanthropy landscape, this leader will apply a nuanced understanding of major AANHPI and civil rights organizations, coalitions, and key constituents and their evolution through the history of AANHPI and civil rights to advance TAAF’s Anti-Hate work.
A Collaborative Relationship Builder & Team Manager
With an ability to quickly establish credibility and rapport, this leader will adeptly build and sustain relationships with board members, staff, community leaders, partner organizations, and other constituent groups, harnessing their professional networks in support of TAAF. Acting with the highest integrity, the Director will be a key spokesperson, proactively messaging TAAF’s Anti-Hate priorities into the community while navigating coalition dynamics with a high degree of emotional intelligence. A natural consensus-builder, the Director will be a dynamic team manager, able to set priorities and mentor staff for the long-term success of individual staff and the team.
An Effective Communicator and Ambassador
An engaged, active listener, able to tailor communications to effectively reach a range of audiences, the Director of Anti-Hate will be a skilled and effective communicator with both internal and external constituents. Recognized as a leader in the AANHPI community, this individual will embody a personal sense of passion, a willingness to listen, discretion, and a keen mind. The ideal candidate will have persuasive verbal skills and the ability to present in professional and community settings.
How to Apply
TAAF is deeply committed to being a diverse, inclusive, and equitable place to work. We encourage people of all backgrounds, experience, and perspectives to apply.
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Michelle Bonoan, Marisa Chock, and Jennifer Smith of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. Express interest in this role. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
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 us. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.