Posted on September 13, 2012

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Director of Foundation Relations

Position Overview:

As City Year seeks catalytic growth capital to achieve our ambitious Long Term Impact goals, the Director of Foundation Relations is responsible for the implementation of City Year’s strategy to enhance and grow its national partnerships with leading philanthropic institutions and national foundation leaders. Working closely with City Year senior leadership, the Director of Foundation Relations will identify, cultivate, and steward a growing portfolio of national foundations. In addition, City Year seeks an entrepreneurial, collaborative system builder who can help create a centralized writing capacity to serve the broader needs of City Year markets and other revenue streams. A strong project manager, talent developer, and relationship builder, this individual will play a leadership role in City Year’s development team and report to the Chief Organizational Advancement and Alumni Officer.

Responsibilities:

In the first year, the Director of Foundation Relations will be responsible for:

1. Stewarding $5 million of already committed partnerships and, as a priority, securing $2-4 million in new foundation revenue sources. Tactics should include:
1. Leverage City Year’s assets to develop and implement personalized strategies for donor cultivation, stewardship, and recognition for each foundation;
2. In partnership with City Year’s prospect research team, identify new opportunities for national foundation support through proactive prospecting as well as ongoing cultivation;
2. Develop a centralized writing capacity that will enable City Year markets to experience significant growth in foundation investments and create efficiency for other revenue streams;
1. Design and implement a pilot effort to centralize writing of proposals, reports, concept papers, etc. in a manner that increases both efficiency and effectiveness in securing resources;
2. In partnership with other City Year departments, ensure deep understanding of programmatic innovations and ongoing research, with an eye to communicating developments to City Year stakeholders;
3. Lead a national community of foundation relationship managers to share best practices, create a centralized library of templates and resources, and, in partnership with other departments, enhance the professional and skill development of this community;
3. Support the growth, professional development and career trajectory of one manager and one associate as they secure/steward/ recommit partnerships and develop compelling proposals, reports, letters, and meeting materials. Retain high performing staff (measured through performance reviews) and develop them as leaders to help fuel City Year’s long-term impact plan.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Business, Education, Public Policy, other related field preferred;
• Minimum 5-8 years of experience in foundation relations, writing and editing, philanthropy or program management; including experience managing relationships with nationally-focused foundations and experience securing and stewarding grants of approximately $500,000 or more;
• Relationship Management and Partnership Development: Relationship management (both internally to City Year and with external partners) is key to success in this role. Demonstrated ability to develop and manage complex relationships with foundations, across various levels and functional areas is required. Ability to manage “up” and across all levels of the organization to ensure timely follow through with foundation deadlines and other organizational needs;
• Outcomes-orientation and a track record of extraordinary results with regards to fundraising/sales: Lead with a focus on measurable results;
• Experience in and passion for education reform strongly preferred;
• Excellent team management: Build and develop an exceptional team, including attracting, motivating, coaching, and developing a pipeline of talented and diverse staff, and can achieve extraordinary results;
• Passion for our work: Demonstrate deep commitment to City Year’s mission, core values, and our commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. Ability to tie City Year’s work into the larger education landscape and goal of increasing high school graduation rates.

Organization’s Mission and Goals:

City Year is an education-focused, nonprofit organization that partners with public schools to help keep students in school and on track to graduate. In communities across the United States and through two international affiliates, City Year’s innovative public-private partnership brings together diverse teams of young AmeriCorps members who commit to a year of full-time service in schools. Corps members support students by focusing on attendance, behavior and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring and after school programs. This year, more than 2,500 City Year corps members are serving in schools and communities nationwide.

City Year has been recognized by Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator, as a four-star rated organization for its sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency for each of the last eight years. Only 1% of the organizations rated by Charity Navigator have received at least eight consecutive four-star evaluations. City Year is a five-time winner of Fast Company Social Capitalist Award and has been recognized in leading business and management books including Built to Last and Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits.

City Year was founded in 1988 with the idea that young people are an untapped resource to help solve this country’s pressing problems and in the process become more engaged citizens. Since then, City Year has established programs in 24 U.S. cities, including Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbia, SC, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, Little Rock/North Little Rock, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Miami, Milwaukee, New Hampshire, New York, Orlando, Greater Philadelphia, Rhode Island, Sacramento, San Antonio, San José/Silicon Valley, Seattle/King County, and Washington, D.C., and international affiliates in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England. City Year is a proud member of AmeriCorps.

City Year Service:

As one of the fastest growing nonprofit organizations in the country, City Year is laser-focused on reducing the dropout crisis in America. Corps members provide a continuum of care working in third through ninth grade in America’s highest-need schools. Over the next decade, City Year will focus its growth in the communities with the lowest graduation rates by scaling its impact in the 23 U.S. cities where City Year corps members already serve, as well as expanding into carefully selected new markets. By tapping into the thousands of young people who are eager to serve, City Year can provide the extra people power in the classroom to help implement the right interventions for the right students at the right times.

City Year corps members accelerate whole school reform by helping schools implement research-based best practices by strengthening supports for tiered students, improving coordination of teaching and learning, increasing teacher effectiveness by allowing more time for differentiated instruction, and expanding and optimizing learning time with before- and after-school tutoring. As near-peers, corps members are uniquely able to help improve student attendance, behavior and coursework - which research confirms are indicators of a student's likelihood of graduating from high school. This school-based service is at the heart of City Year’s approach to helping students and schools succeed.

To Apply: Send resume, cover letter, and references by e-mail to:

Amy Born
Director of Talent Acquisition and Development
E-mail: cyexecutivejobs@cityyear.org
Subject: Director of Foundation Relations Search

City Year is committed to a diverse workforce. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.