Founding Leader, SEMCOG Cares - Tech-for-Good Corporate Foundation

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Fully remote (U.S. only)/Preferred Washington DC Area. 

SEMCOG’s Mission Reminder

We harness AI to solve humanity’s hardest civic and social problems. SEMCOG Cares is our independent 501(c)(3) that deploys capital, technology, employee talent, and partnerships to drive measurable social progress.

Role Purpose

You will be the founding leader of SEMCOG Cares, building and scaling it into one of the most respected tech-for-good corporate foundations in America. This is a highly visible, mission-critical executive role that combines corporate social impact leadership with civic technology innovation. You will have full authority and accountability for SEMCOG Cares as its operational head and public face.

Core Responsibilities

• Design and execute the full strategy, budget, and operating model for SEMCOG Cares (initial $3–5M annual commitment, scaling rapidly)
• Build and lead all grantmaking, signature programs, employee volunteerism, nonprofit partnerships, and tech-for-good product donations
• Embed impact into SEMCOG’s core business, e.g., AI tools donated or co-developed with nonprofits, employee time/talent deployment, cause-marketing campaigns
• Own all external storytelling: keynote speaking, op-eds, annual impact report, media relationships, social media presence
• Develop rigorous measurement framework (OKRs, theory of change, third-party evaluations) to prove quantifiable social outcomes
• Serve as the public face of SEMCOG’s commitment to AI for humanity, speaking at Clinton Global Initiative, TED-style stages, Aspen Ideas, etc.
• Partner closely with Chief Marketing Officer on brand/impact integration and with Chief People Officer on employee engagement/volunteerism strategy

Required Experience & Proven Strengths

• 15+ years in social impact, corporate philanthropy, foundation leadership, or equivalent (corporate CSR + foundation leadership strongly preferred)
• Track record of building/scaling impact organizations or programs from <$5M → $20M+ budgets
• Hands-on grantmaking experience (portfolio strategy, due diligence, grantee partnerships)
• Exceptional storyteller, must have examples of op-eds, keynotes, or campaigns that moved the needle on public perception
• Proven ability to measure and communicate impact with data (not just activity metrics, actual outcome/ROI stories)
• Experience leading employee engagement/volunteerism at scale (preferably tech company)
• Deep nonprofit/NGO/civic sector relationships nationally
• Passion for AI/civic technology and its potential to solve social problems

Preferred (But Not Required)

• Experience running an independent 501(c)(3) or corporate foundation
• Existing relationships with major foundations (MacArthur, Ford, Gates, Knight, etc.)
• Published thought leadership on tech-for-good, AI ethics, or civic innovation
• ESG reporting experience

Who You Are

• Mission-obsessed, you get emotional about solving big social problems
• Builder mentality, excited to create something from a blank sheet that will outlast all of us
• Politically savvy, can navigate nonprofit, government, corporate, and media worlds with ease
• Data-driven but deeply human, you can talk spreadsheets and tears in the same meeting