Executive Director
Executive Summary
In just a few short years, the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia has become one of the most impactful and influential philanthropies in the region. As the founding Executive Director has announced his intention to retire by year-end 2026, the Board of Directors has launched the search for a successor who can build on the exceptional progress made in the foundation’s early years to enhance the health and wellbeing of residents across Washington, Grayson, Russell, and Smyth counties.
The next Executive Director will build on the legacy of deeply respected leadership and a strong, committed staff. The new Executive Director will combine vision with disciplined execution, setting direction while ensuring that strategy is translated into action with clarity and follow-through.
This role calls for a grounded and values-driven leader. The Executive Director will be a visible and trusted presence in Southwest Virginia, engaging authentically with communities and partners. They will bring integrity, humility, and sound judgment, and will prioritize relationships, both externally and within the organization, as the foundation for sustained and transformational impact.
Opportunity
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide overall leadership and management of the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia.
The Foundation represents a significant long-term investment in Southwest Virginia and is positioned to influence systems, not just support individual initiatives. Its approach centers on understanding community needs, convening partners, and aligning resources to create durable solutions.
This includes planning efforts, cross-sector collaboration, and targeted initiatives that build momentum over time. Investments demonstrate understanding of complex issues at a systemic level, such as developing truly creative solutions for housing as a foundational consideration for all the Foundation’s impact areas.
The Executive Director will have the opportunity to:
-Guide a philanthropic strategy focused on long-term, sustainable change
-Convene and align diverse stakeholders across sectors and communities
-Build on and foster strong existing partnerships and community trust
-Lead and grow a capable and committed team with deep regional knowledge
-Ensure that planning efforts translate into coordinated action and measurable progress
Southwest Virginia offers a distinctive place to live and lead. The region is defined by strong community ties and a deep sense of place. Like other rural communities in America, the counties served by Wellspring Foundation face challenges related to transportation, access, and shifting economic opportunities, including changes in the coal industry. Leaders here have the opportunity to engage meaningfully with communities, to see the direct impact of their work over time, and to foster collaboration, long-term solutions, and hope in addressing intractable issues.
This role is well suited for a leader who is both forward-looking and grounded; someone who can see possibilities while staying closely connected to community voice, organizational culture, and operational detail.
Organization
The genesis of the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia started in 2008 as the Johnston Memorial Healthcare Foundation, originally created to support Johnston Memorial Hospital during its merger with Mountain States Health Alliance. Following the merger, the Foundation held a minority ownership stake in the hospital, which later became part of Ballad Health. In November 2021, the Foundation exited this joint venture, with Ballad Health purchasing the community’s remaining ownership interest through a structured payment agreement. This transition allowed the Foundation to convert from a supporting organization to an independent 501(c)(3) private foundation in 2022, adopting the name Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia to reflect its autonomous, community-focused mission.
Since becoming an independent foundation, Wellspring Foundation has rapidly built its organizational capacity and launched a strategic, community-driven approach to grantmaking and regional investment. Wellspring Foundation focuses on serving Washington, Grayson, Russell, and Smyth counties, reflecting the patient population served by the hospital. The Foundation has prioritized initiatives that address health, education, and community wellbeing through both large-scale IMPACT grants and smaller HOPE grants, alongside targeted funding for planning and research efforts.
The HOPE grant is designed for organizations requesting one-time funding up to $50,000 for a project. The HOPE grant has two cycles per year – May and October and is administered by staff. The IMPACT grant is designed for organizations requesting either a single-year or multi-year disbursement of funds for projects totaling more than $50,000. The IMPACT grant has one dedicated application window per year and is decided by the board.
In just a few years, the Wellspring Foundation has committed millions of dollars to community organizations and projects, demonstrating both strong demand for its resources and its growing role as a catalyst for coordinated, long-term change across Southwest Virginia.
Wellspring Foundation emphasizes collaboration, alignment, and sustained impact. Rather than addressing issues in isolation, the Foundation works across sectors to identify shared priorities and support coordinated solutions. You can read more about its impact and planning in Strategic Plan 2023–2028.
The current Executive Director is the founding leader of Wellspring Foundation and served as CEO of Johnston Memorial Hospital for nearly 14 years (2003-2016). It is his intention to retire at the end of 2026.
Currently, there is a staff of eight professionals that report to the Executive Director, including three staff dedicated to the Foundation’s wholly owned subsidiary, Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners (AHHP). Direct reports to the Executive Director include an Administrative Assistant, and four Directors: Engagement, Operations, Finance, and AHHP.
The Wellspring Foundation moved from the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator to its beautiful permanent office space in Abingdon, Virginia in late 2025. In addition to staff offices, the site has community meeting rooms and an office for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE), a capacity-building resource center for nonprofit organizations.
Mandate
The Executive Director will provide vision and leadership that drives alignment, deepens relationships, and strengthens the Foundation’s impact across the region. They will be responsible for the following core domains:
Strategic Leadership & Systems Change
-Guide long-term strategy focused on lasting, systems-level impact
-Ensure that planning efforts lead to coordinated, actionable outcomes
-Identify opportunities to accelerate progress through alignment and partnership
-Balance vision with attention to detail and execution
Community Engagement & Partnerships
-Build authentic, trust-based relationships across Southwest Virginia
-Convene diverse stakeholders, including nonprofit, healthcare, civic, and community leaders
-Foster collaboration and shared ownership of regional priorities
-Maintain a deep understanding of community context and culture
Organizational Leadership & Culture
-Lead, support, and develop a strong and committed staff including exploring opportunities for ongoing professional development
-Foster a culture that values collaboration, respect, and accountability
-Prioritize a whole-person approach to staff support, including a family-first orientation
-Maintain a workplace environment grounded in trust, transparency, and shared purpose
Operations, Stewardship & Governance
-Ensure responsible stewardship of the Foundation’s resources
-Partner closely with the Board of Directors
-Maintain strong operational systems and organizational effectiveness
-Uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability
Regional Leadership
-Serve as a visible and credible representative of the Foundation
-Communicate clearly about priorities, progress, and impact
-Strengthen the Foundation’s role as a regional leader and convener
Candidate
The next Executive Director must be a person of integrity, who appreciates the challenges facing rural communities and who demonstrates a forward-looking and visionary perspective grounded in practical execution. The Executive Director will demonstrate:
-Exceptional integrity, sound judgment, and ethical leadership
-A genuine, humble leadership style with the ability to build trust across communities, engage diverse stakeholders, and foster collaboration
-Commitment to supporting staff as whole people and fostering a collaborative work environment with respect for work/life balance
-Strong management and operational skills including leading teams and building organization effectiveness with tools, systems, and processes
-Understanding of Southwest Virginia specifically or rural communities broadly and their unique dynamics; ability to truly become part of the community and understand its needs
-Ability to consider immediate and long-term implications for complicated and transformational initiatives during times of planning and growth
-Financial acumen relevant to overseeing sophisticated, multi-pronged organizational budgets and resource allocation, with an understanding of the importance of long-term, financial sustainability
-Experience working with nonprofits including board-level engagement
Wellspring Foundation benchmarks executive compensation against the annual survey of foundations from across the nation produced by the Council on Foundations.
For potential consideration or to recommend a prospect, please email [email protected] or call Sam Pettway, Sarah Gaines or Lysondra Somerville, at 404-262-7392.
Read the full Leadership Profile here: https://boardwalkconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wellspring-Fo...