President & CEO

Overview of the Opportunity

The Georgia United Methodist Foundation (the “Foundation") seeks an inspirational, faith-centered President and Chief Executive Officer who will combine strategic thinking with disciplined execution, build trusted relationships, encourage innovation, inspire generous philanthropy, and lead the Foundation into its next era of growth and impact. The Foundation is an independent, nonprofit ministry with a staff of six, serving United Methodist congregations and institutions and Wesleyan congregations across Georgia. A leading Methodist foundation nationally, the Foundation manages over $262 million in assets and works closely with the newly combined Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The Foundation empowers congregational partners through investment management services, loans, and endowment services. It empowers individuals, churches, and church-related institutions by offering endowment development and management resources, financial literacy training, and investment vehicles. The Foundation provides “how to give” information, financial tips, and timely advice, through various media.

This is a consequential moment for the Foundation and the Church. Following disaffiliations and the unification of Georgia’s North and South United Methodist Conferences into one Georgia Conference, congregations and ministry partners are navigating new financial, relational, and organizational realities. Other Wesleyan congregations and communities face similar pressures and opportunities.  The Foundation is committed to offering strategic partnerships and services that help meet these evolving challenges and strengthen long-term ministry sustainability.

The new President and Chief Executive Officer must be an inspirational leader who can guide the Foundation through significant change in the Church and financial markets.  The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with disciplined execution, will be deeply perceptive of the needs of clients, prospects, and staff, and build trusted relationships with Trustees and other stakeholders.  An understanding of the different Methodist denominational structures and challenges is critical, along with the ability to encourage and shepherd new ideas, advance innovation, and inspire generous philanthropy.

The new CEO is called to a bold mandate, grounded in faith: to lead the Foundation forward by shaping and implementing strategic vision and valued services.

The President and CEO will be the Foundation's face and voice and serve as the chief relationship officer.  The President and CEO is expected to visit frequently with stakeholders and prospects, including donors, beneficiaries, clients, prospective clients, and the broader Wesleyan community of clergy, laity, and volunteers. He or she must champion Christian giving.

The President and CEO is also responsible to the Trustees for increasing revenues and stewarding Foundation resources. The Foundation is financially strong and offers high-quality products and services. He or she must look continuously for new opportunities to share faithful giving strategies, as well as new avenues for growth in the investment and loan portfolios.

The President and CEO must be a strong, encouraging, collaborative leader with demonstrated business, financial, and management skills. The times are challenging and will require a talented and insightful individual who can be a bridge builder and leader with Methodists throughout the state.

The Foundation is poised to grow through philanthropy and diversified, highly valued services and offerings, including loans and investments. As the Foundation grows, it creates more opportunities for investment in congregational communities across Georgia. The Foundation's growth magnifies Kingdom-focused philanthropic support and grant-making. The new CEO must be a strategist, relationship-builder, and grower on behalf of the Foundation’s mission and the Kingdom of God.

The Directive for the Next President & CEO

The President & CEO will lead the Foundation into its next era of innovation and impact by setting a clear strategic direction, strengthening organizational capacity, and deepening relationships across Georgia. This faith-centered leader will bring a record of success relevant to the Foundation’s mission and the evolving needs of the Church. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will:

1. Be an inspiring, transformational leader.The CEO will be strategic and forward-looking, called to lead and position the Foundation at the forefront of performance, mission, and innovation. The CEO will energize staff and the Board and will relate well with the new combined Georgia Conference Bishop and Treasurer, clergy, lay leadership, and congregational partners ranging from 50 to 8,000 members. The CEO will be a source of cohesion, fresh ideas, vision, and strategy. The CEO will lead growth and change in ways that are faith-based, inclusive and philanthropically impactful.

2. Grow relationships and giving.As the face and voice of the Foundation, the CEO will be a visible and passionate presence statewide. The CEO will be dynamic, engaging and effective at building relationships with clergy, volunteers, funders and donors across the community. The CEO will generate engagement, enthusiasm, and support—inspiring annual giving, endowment, planned and transformational gifts, loans, investments, and legacy commitments, in addition to greater awareness and participation across the Georgia Conference.

3. Increase revenue.The CEO will foster growth in loans, investments, and endowment services and implement promising new programs and revenue streams to advance its mission of serving the Kingdom. The CEO will build awareness of quality programs like the Clergy Financial Literacy Academy and develop valued new programs and revenue streams, such as fiscal planning, stewardship, and digital offerings, that add revenue and enhance fiscal management across congregations.

4. Enhance the Foundation’s awareness and reach.The CEO will be active, visible, and a compelling communicator who builds the Foundation’s profile, relevance, and engagement. The CEO will be or become a thought leader in faith-based finances, stewardship and sustainability. The CEO will broaden reach, connection, relationships and impact with diverse audiences throughout the Georgia United Methodist Conference and among other Wesleyan congregations and communities.

5. Be a great business and financial manager.The CEO will be a strategic, faithful leader with business and financial acumen. The CEO will manage effectively through current and future challenges, analyze and advance current and new opportunities, and develop a sustainable and adaptive business model that ensures a thriving future for the Foundation.

6. Nurture a positive, engaged culture.The CEO will promote collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and a high-performance culture that makes the Foundation among the best places to work and projects positively across the state. The CEO will foster trust and will work to build the competency and confidence of individuals and congregational partners to achieve financial growth, sustainability, and impact.

Personal Characteristics

The ideal CEO is a dynamic, faith-based Methodist leader with personal magnetism, vision, financial acumen, and passion for mission.Knowledge of Methodist and Wesleyan history and traditions is prized. Personal assets will include:

• Strategic thinking with a passion for the mission and the potential of the Foundation
• Financial and business acumen for lending and investing
• Visible and deep engagement with strong marketing and relationship skills
• The ability to lead and inspire others
• Knowledge and commitment to the Methodist church
• Creativity, resilience and adaptive leadership skills
• Compassion, listening and communication skills
• A commitment to innovation
• Adaptability and a sense of humor
• A strong desire to serve and to build bridges
• Willingness and ability to learn new strategies
• A long-term commitment to the success of the Foundation

Essential and Preferred Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in relationship-building, external engagement, and communication with diverse stakeholder groups.

• 5-10 years of executive or senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, faith-based, philanthropic, financial services, foundation, or mission-driven organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit leadership, theology, finance, law, or a related field.

• Working knowledge of investment management principles, fiduciary oversight, institutional portfolios, and financial stewardship.

• Experience with fundraising, donor stewardship, planned giving, endowment development, or major gift cultivation.

• Experience working effectively with a Board of Trustees and Board committees.

• Strategic thinking with a leadership style grounded in integrity, humility, trust, collaboration, and accountability.

• Experience leading through organizational, denominational, philanthropic, or market disruption.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a United Methodist or other faith-based foundation, community foundation, or similar philanthropic/financial services organization.

• Familiarity with United Methodist structure, polity, Conference relationships, connectional giving, church finance.

• Professional credentials such as CFP, CTFA, CFA, CFRE, or comparable education/experience.

• Experience with technology modernization, stakeholder-facing reporting tools, or digital communication strategy.

• Advanced degree in business, nonprofit leadership, theology, finance, law, or a related field.

The Organization

Georgia United Methodist Foundation (the Foundation)was established in 1984 as an extension ministry of The United Methodist Church and serves churches, ministries, clergy, individuals, and Wesleyan organizations across Georgia. Its mission is to empower people to change lives through faithful stewardship, philanthropy, investment management, lending, and endowment services.

The Foundation ranks in the top 8 among Methodist foundations nationally, based on its assets of over $262 million.The organization manages $214 million in kingdom-focused investments, $27 million in loans to Methodist churches and ministries, and $75,000 in scholarships and grants. The Foundation has a deep history and strong relationships across Georgia. Its staff is talented and committed, and its Board of Trustees is strong and engaged as a governance body and partner to the CEO.

The Foundation aspires to be a force for the future of the Methodist church in Georgia and the preferred partner for individuals and congregational communities, regardless of size, location, or perspective.

The Foundation’s multi-year strategic plan focuses on:

• Growing and deepening relationships across the state of Georgia.

• Continually assessing the needs of clients and developing or modifying services to better meet their needs.

• Marketing and building greater awareness of the Foundation by “telling the story.”

• Maintaining professional, auditable, appropriate policies and procedures and promoting staff growth and development.

The Foundation ministry goals include:

• Partnering with United Methodists and other Wesleyan denominations to grow God's Kingdom for the transformation of the world.

• Serving as the investment manager for long-term funds for Methodist churches and congregational partners across Georgia.

• Encouraging and equipping congregational partners and ministries to implement effective stewardship including a planned giving program, creating and managing endowments, financial literacy and church financial sustainability.

• Providing expert counsel, superior value and a wide range of stewardship services.

• Empowering clergy to achieve high levels of personal and church financial literacy.

Amid many external challenges, the Foundation is financially sound and well positioned for long-term sustainability and impact.In 2026, year-to-date through September, the Foundation is managing $262 million in assets, including $214 million in assets under care and $27 million in loans for refinancing, expansions, renovations, and new construction for Georgia Methodist churches and ministries. Two-thirds of the Foundation’s loans are in a prepaid position, and there have been no charge-offs. The Foundation has provided scholarships and other support to congregational partners, totaling $75,000 in philanthropic giving.

Revenues are currently generated through:

• Net income from loans.

• Management fees for the money the Foundation manages.

• Distributions from the Foundation’s own investments.

• Philanthropic contributions.

• Fees related to programs and ministries.

Learn more about the Foundation atwww.gumf.org and review the Foundation’s most recent Annual Report athttps://gumf.org/annual-report-2025/.

The Location

The Foundation is headquartered in Peachtree Corners (Gwinnett County) in the Atlanta metro area and serves the entire state of Georgia. Georgia is home to 11.3 million residents, about 17 Fortune 500 companies, including Delta Air Lines, UPS, Home Depot, and The Coca-Cola Company, and the world’s busiest airport.

The state hosts numerous institutions of higher learning, including Emory University, Candler School of Theology, Wesleyan College, Reinhardt University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, the University of Georgia, and Young Harris College.

Some of the world’s most significant governmental and nonprofit organizations are based in Atlanta, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CARE, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and The Carter Center.

The Relationships

The Foundation works closely with the now-combined North and South Georgia Conference of the UMC. At the Bishop’s request, current Foundation leadership serves on the Conference Extended Cabinet, highlighting the critical relationship between the CEO and Conference leadership.  The Foundation has worked closely with Conference and local church leadership to identify and build financial leadership in the local churches.  The Foundation has built equally important relationships with other Methodist churches, Methodist-related non-profits and other Wesleyan communities in Georgia.

The Foundation works with Wespath Institutional Investments to deliver advanced faith-based financial solutions that elevate the mission and ministry of the church. This partnership gives the Foundation access to a respected team of Wespath advisors who manage one of the largest reporting faith-based pension funds in the world.

The Foundation’s President and CEO manages a staff of approximately 5 professionals and reports to the Board of Trustees. The CEO’s current direct reports are the Chief Financial Officer, Regional Vice President, and Director of Lending.

Compensation Information

This full-time, in-office position is based in Atlanta and offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include:
 

• Expense reimbursements
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Employer 403(b) contribution
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid Time Off and Vacation Days

How to Apply

Candidates should submit a cover letter addressing interest in the position and how the candidate’s experience aligns with the Leadership Profile, along with a comprehensive resume.              

Materials must be submitted by November 4th, 2026.

References will be requested at a later date.

The Georgia United Methodist Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based organization.