Summary

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation seeks nominations and applications for the position of Learning Director to lead the foundation’s learning journey and support the impact strategy of its grantmaking in the next 10 years of its spenddown.

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation has made more than $180 million in grants to improve the quality of life for residents in Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes region since launching its grantmaking in 2008. Funding has been focused on improving water quality in the Great Lakes basin; promoting environmental health and justice; advancing Alzheimer’s research; strengthening sustainable business; and supporting the arts.

In May 2022, the Erb Family Foundation announced it will shift from a perpetual foundation to a spenddown model and conclude its grantmaking by 2034-35. That work is being guided by the Foundation’s new mission and vision:

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation envisions a flourishing, healthy, and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem and a culturally vibrant, sustainable southeast Michigan. Toward this end, we strengthen the cultural and environmental organizations that share our vision to make this a reality for generations to come.

The Foundation’s grantmaking and way of working will be guided by its values, which are: to make a lasting transformative difference; embrace possibility; work and learn in partnership; and pursue fairness and respect.

The new grantmaking strategy was announced in October 2024. It includes six areas of focus: Great Lakes, Arts and Culture, Sustainable Business, Democracy, Alzheimer’s Research, and Legacy Giving. In addition to its grantmaking, the Foundation will also be working closely with grant partners to learn how to better invest in their organizational health and long-term durability. The Foundation will also work to inspire a new generation of leaders and philanthropic partners to pass on Fred and Barbara’s passions long after the Foundation is gone.

To Apply

More information about the Erb Family Foundation may be found at: www.erbff.org.

This search is being supported by Katherine Jacobs, Phuong Quach, and Ashley Jones of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s candidate portal. The position will be filled as soon as the right candidate is identified. For more information, please email ashley@npag.com. All communications will remain confidential.

Erb Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, citizenship status, and genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.