Director of Strategic Investments

About Power of Place Learning Communities: Power of Place builds regional learning networks by offering unique professional learning experiences to help educators from neighboring communities develop the cultures, mindsets, pedagogies, and practices necessary to support the success of all learners, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. Everything we do is grounded in our adaptive, relational model, and is aligned with the science of learning and development. We seek to increase the organization’s footprint in Massachusetts and beyond. For more information about the organization, please see: powerofplacelc.org

About the Role: In partnership with the Founder & Executive Director and the Board of Directors, this part-time position is responsible for attracting strategic investments from mission-aligned philanthropists to advance the organization’s mission and vision. The successful candidate will help forge new relationships to build Power of Place Learning Communities’ impact and financial resources. The individual will increase revenue through the solicitation of institutional gifts from national, regional, and local foundations and corporations and major gifts from philanthropic families and individuals. The Director of Strategic Investments will expand and diversify Power of Place’s donor base and work closely with other team members to secure funding.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Raise the philanthropic resources necessary to support and grow Power of Place Learning Communities programs and initiatives.

a. Manage a portfolio of institutional and major gift prospects and donors who have the potential to make significant investments to advance the organization’s mission and vision. Cultivate, solicit and close strategic investments to fuel the organization’s growth, including annual, major gift and multi-year contributions. Achieve revenue goals.

b. Identify new funding prospects to support the organization.

c. Develop and lead Power of Place’s grant strategy, maintaining regular correspondence with foundations, donors, and board members with a long-term relationship approach.

d. Serve as a passionate proponent of the organization and its mission.

e. Appropriately represent the organization, its board and staff.

2. Implement a comprehensive fundraising program.

a. Lead all fundraising activities for Power of Place, including identifying and cultivating individual and institutional prospects, managing a portfolio of major donors, and supporting the Executive Director’s development efforts.

b. Implement fundraising strategies and programs, including a special emphasis on major giving, corporate partnerships, and foundation relations initiatives, and, in time, deferred and planned giving opportunities that increase the organization’s support from individuals and families, foundations, corporations, and other sources.

c. Provide leadership, strategic direction, management, and coordination for all aspects of the program’s development efforts.

d. Prepare a multi-year fundraising strategy and plan in collaboration with the Founder & Executive Director for presentation to the Board of Directors; provide detailed reports about the fundraising progress to the Founder & Executive Director and Senior Management on a regular basis.

e. Oversee donor stewardship and recognition programs.

f. Contribute to grant proposals and reports.

g. Develop non-gala event strategy designed to cultivate and steward strong relationships and support the organization’s development goals.

h. Ensure that appropriate systems and procedures are in place to support the fundraising and development operations.

3. Work collaboratively with volunteer and staff leadership to enhance their fundraising skills and to support their revenue generating efforts.

a. Partner with the Founder & Executive Director to deploy her time and attention to leverage the greatest revenue generating opportunities. Coordinate fundraising efforts of Founder & Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and other key fundraising team members.

b. Work effectively with the Board of Directors and other key volunteers, leveraging their talents, resources, networks and ideas to enhance fundraising activities; understand the Board’s giving patterns and desired involvement; enhance board members’ ability to identify fundraising opportunities, and encourage their ongoing participation as donors and solicitors.

c. Build strong relationships with the program’s leadership and staff; work collaboratively with program staff to integrate innovative development strategies throughout the program.

d. Strategically grow staffing capacity as growth in resources allow. Create working environment that is rewarding to staff and volunteers.

e. Recruit and motivate community and business volunteers to increase philanthropic attainment.

f. Lead staff and volunteers to institutionalize philanthropy and fund development within the organization. Foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization.

g. Assure that the organization’s culture, systems and procedures support fund development and vice versa.

4. Serve as a member of Power of Place LC’s senior management team to advance the organization’s goals.

a. Maintain focus on achievement of the organization-wide goals, and build and implement the comprehensive fundraising program to support achievement of the goals set forth in Power of Place’s annual and long-term strategic plan/s.

b. Provide counsel and guidance to the Founder & Executive Director and members of the senior staff team to incorporate the development perspective.

c. Embrace a culture focused on strong vertical and horizontal communication lines throughout the organization.

d. Serve as a proactive problem solver.

e. Ensure that philanthropy and fund development are carried out in accordance with the organization’s mission, vision and values.

f. Help establish performance measures, monitor results and help the Founder & Executive Director and Board of Directors evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’s fund development program. Monitor all donor information; provide and present analysis to the Board and Founder & Executive Director as needed.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required

• 7-plus years of professional experience in a nonprofit organization; demonstrated success in a development function (creating and managing relationships with multiple donor sources)

• Experience with development systems

• Demonstrated experience in managing people and budgets

• Demonstrable track record of personally identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing individual donors, corporations and foundations

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with and quickly gain the respect and support of various constituencies, including board and staff members, donors, foundation and civic leaders; experience recruiting and organizing volunteers

• A solid understanding of nonprofit/for-profit fiscal management, principles and best practices

• A track record as an effective communicator; highly developed skills in writing and speaking; competence at crafting proposals, donor correspondence and other kinds of materials; receptive and responsive to feedback; the ability to communicate the Power of Place’s mission and interests to a broad audience

• Ability to give and receive feedback as a tool for growth

• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives

• Strong commitment to and passion for the mission of Power of Place and the ability to articulate the importance of the organization’s work to prospective and current funders

• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail

• The ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time

• Outstanding customer service skills

• Passion for philanthropy and nonprofit work

• Works well under pressure to meet deadlines

• A commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and passion for social justice.

Personal Qualities and Mindset

• Inclusive leadership and management: You approach leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others in decision-making. You have experience managing multiple projects and keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks.

• Relationship-building: You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. You know how to build alliances and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests.

• Drive to achieve results: You have a track record of accomplishing ambitious goals and getting results even when there are obstacles. You set a high bar and meet it, because you think a few steps ahead to anticipate hurdles and come up with pragmatic solutions. You plan backwards and involve stakeholders appropriately.

• Strategic thinking: You keep the big picture in mind. You are practiced at defining priorities and setting goals to help advance the organization.

• Innovation and experimentation: You think outside the box and share new ideas or approaches. You welcome new information and unfamiliar ways of thinking and being. You have an entrepreneurial spirit and aren’t afraid to experiment and to learn from the process.

• Kindness and generosity: You recognize being a part of a larger team and the value of your coworkers. You share ideas, welcome feedback, offer assistance, and ask for help.

• Positive attitude and sense of humor: You take your work seriously but don’t take yourself too seriously. You know when to laugh at and learn from mistakes.

Salary and Benefits

Compensation for this part-time (approximately 20 hours/week) position is commensurate with experience. We have a small office in Burlington, MA, but the team primarily works remotely in home offices and in the field. The Director of Strategic Investments must be based in the Greater Boston area.

Power of Place is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

At Power of Place, we are committed to creating a culture of inclusion and accountability. We honor the wisdom, insights, perspectives, and experiences of diverse viewpoints and we recognize the many critical voices that have been underrepresented in American society. We welcome applications from people of diverse religious, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds. We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate, and administer all personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, culture, age, creed, disability, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship status, or any other protected status.

If you are interested in working in an ambitious and supportive organization that is committed to educators who are passionate about learning and leading across difference, please apply.

Interested candidates should send resume and cover letter to: Allyson Corey, acorey@powerofplacelc.org