wfn.org | Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief seeks new executive

[John Rollins <rollins@intac.com>]

Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief seeks new executive

     (ENS) The presiding bishop has announced that he is
seeking a new executive director of the Presiding
Bishop's Fund for World Relief, the Episcopal Church's
primary vehicle for its compassionate ministry of relief,
rehabilitation and development throughout the world.
The director would not only have significant management
duties, but would also be responsible for a major
expansion of the church's outreach through the fund.
Applications for this position are due by November 1,
1998. The new executive director will be named later this
Fall.

     The fund, which will mark its 60th anniversary in
2000, grew out of the church's response to refugee and
humanitarian challenges in the wake of World War II-and
has continued to help the victims of natural disasters
and civil disorders, as well as those fighting poverty,
hunger and injustice. For example, the fund last month
aided flood victims in Texas and China, helped support
refugees from fighting in Senegal and Guinea Bissau and
provided money to buy fish to respond to a food emergency
in Alaska.

     In each of the past five years, an average of 21,500
individuals and 6,300 groups within the church have given
$4.6 million to the fund. An 18-member volunteer board
appointed by the presiding bishop sets policy, oversees
the fund and awards the grants--some 250 each year.

     In a major effort to expand the fund's efforts, the
board has agreed to raise its annual fund-raising goal to
$20 million. This will require a number of steps, such as
increasing the scale of its direct mail effort, more
actively soliciting leadership gifts, and establishing a
strong planned giving program.

     Grants are awarded in several ways. An emergency
situation such as a flood, drought, or civil unrest or
medical disaster can generate a instant, electronic fund
transfer of up $25,000 to a local Episcopal diocese or
Anglican authority. General or special support grants
respond in a more deliberate fashion to a wide range of
rehabilitation or development projects and needs.

     Some special ecumenical or cooperative agency relief
grants connect the Presiding Bishop's Fund to disaster
areas where there is limited Anglican presence. Special,
often multi-year, initiatives periodically target
substantial projects beyond the normal scope of the fund,
such as rebuilding burned churches, substantial relief
for Haiti, and a major effort on behalf of Native
American youth.

     Grants have been made in over 100 countries during
the life of the fund. Requests in a particular year
typically exceed available resources by a factor of five
or six.

     The executive director leads and oversees all
aspects of the fund and must balance fund-raising, grant-
making and significant management responsibilities, as
well as guide the Presiding Bishop's Fund through a
significant expansion.

     Inquiries, referrals and resumes should be sent with
a cover letter and in confidence to Jerry Pieh, vice
president; Internal Box 1720; Isaacson, Miller; 334
Boylston Street, Suite 500; Boston, MA 02116-3805. E-mail
address: jpieh@imsearch.com.