After nearly four decades of leadership, Abell President Robert C. Embry Jr. has announced his plan to retire. Bob’s legacy in Baltimore is almost impossible to overstate. From his tenure as the city’s first housing commissioner to his decades of leadership at the Abell Foundation, he has been a visionary, a risk-taker, and a dogged champion for his hometown. With an unwavering focus on addressing Baltimore’s challenges, he has nurtured countless institutions and individuals dedicated to creating opportunities for our neighbors, and he has been fearless in challenging unjust systems and advocating for public policies to help those who need it most. He has unquestionably made Baltimore a better place.
We are seeking a leader who shares Bob’s unwavering dedication to Baltimore, his curiosity and determination, and his abilities to think strategically and innovatively — someone who will honor the foundation’s legacy while defining a forward-looking vision to continue its impact for years to come.
A full job description is available here. Interested candidates should submit a resume and brief written responses (no more than two pages) to the following three questions.
- Your Why: Why are you interested in leading the Abell Foundation?
- Baltimore in Focus: Identify one challenge facing Baltimore City. How would you, as a foundation executive, approach being part of the solution?
- Your Giving Philosophy: If you could donate to any nonprofit organization, which would you choose—and why?
Please email your complete application and a statement certifying that you are providing your independent and original work product to abellfoundation.search@gmail.com by June 6, 2025.