Teach For America-Twin Cities is seeking a Managing Director of External Affairs and Development (MD-EAD). The MD is directly responsible for raising funds, building awareness, and stewarding impactful relationships that enhance philanthropic support for the Twin Cities Region. This is an organizational leadership role accountable for the supervision and coaching of the external affairs and development team. The MD will lead development and execution of fundraising strategies to secure grants and gifts from government, corporation, foundation, schools/districts, and individual donors during a time of revitalization and revenue growth for Teach For America Twin Cities.
The MD will report directly to the Executive Director (ED) for Twin Cities region and will work closely with the ED, Regional Board, and TFA National Team. The MD will provide leadership and oversight of the external affairs and development team staff and consultants to design and implement an ambitious, but realistic multi-year strategy to increase support from federal, state, county, schools/districts, foundation, corporate, alumni, and individual major and annual fund donors. The MD’s high priority goals will be to enhance annual giving from $1.35 million to $1.8 million and build progress towards sustainable revenue sources and supports to scale to $3 million organization within the next several years. This position is at the forefront of securing the philanthropic investment and strategic relationships needed to advance TFA’s efforts to improve the state of education in Minnesota, influencing the future of thousands of children in the Twin Cities Metro and surrounding communities.
This high impact position is a central leader on the regional team that will foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization that engages staff, Regional Board members, alumni, and key stakeholders in advancing the long-term sustainability of the region. The MD is responsible for creating a vision for and managing implementation of a more robust and differentiated engagement and communication strategy for key stakeholders, donors, civic and corporate leaders, and alumni. In addition to philanthropic stewardship, the MD will work to ensure collaboration, alignment, and progress toward regional priorities and collaborate closely with the ED and regional leadership team to enhance regional team culture, financial sustainability, and community impact awareness. MD will monitor the broader state of strategic support and investment in teaching, learning, education, leadership development and social justice across the Twin Cities Metro area, share the challenges and successes, and ensure we are responsive to the needs of the community and opportunities identified to enhance the development of our students and leaders.
Team Leadership, Strategic Development Planning, and Analysis (40%)
- Maximize the impact and productivity of External Affairs and Development team by supervising and managing team execution, training, and professional development. Team currently includes Director of Alumni Strategy and Policy, Development Coordinator, and institutional advancement consultant.
- Design, implement, and conduct continuous evaluation of a three-year strategic development plan with yearly development goals objectives that will grow annual giving from over $1.35 million to $1.8 million and progress towards building sustainable revenue sources and support to scale to $3 million organization within the next several years.
- Oversee research on new or additional funding sources, major donors, and trends with foresight to make strategic recommendations that position TFA ahead of major funding changes or trends.
- Track and analyze portfolio activity and provide regular updates to the Executive Director and Regional Board, working closely with External Affair and Development Team to ensure data integrity while conducting sound data analysis and continuously improving team strategy.
Relationship Building and Stewardship (40%)
- Design and execute engagement and stewardship plans that engage of current and prospective individual, government, corporate, schools/districts, and foundation donors throughout the entire donor cultivation cycle.
- Leverage best practices and lessons learned to create and/or revise infrastructure, systems, and processes to strengthen organizational fundraising efforts and tactics.
- Collaborate with External Affairs and Development Team to create development tools, i.e. solicitation proposals (pitch decks), materials, speech talking points, formal presentations, etc. for ED to use in regular meetings and larger scale events.
- Develop and launch compressive major donor and alumni giving initiatives as well as move management strategies for growing portfolio of campaigns, events, and annual giving as well special and major gifts.
- Leverage understanding of donors and prospects to support TFA outreach and awareness building efforts to create and deliver compelling and meaningful communications (monthly newsletters, social media posts, proposals, reports, semi-annual campaigns, etc.) and fundraising events (board hosted events, donor school visits, 10th Anniversary Celebration, volunteer initiatives, etc.) that authentically engage donors, prospects, and volunteers in TFA’s work.
- Manage a portfolio of donors with the capacity to donate four-to-five figure gifts and support the stewardship of leadership donors with capacity to provide five-to-seven figure gifts with the Executive Director.
Fundraising Financial Management and Operations (20%)
- Develop and manage TFA fundraising budget consistent with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes as well as expense and revenue forecast projections set forth in yearly plans and three-year strategic development plan.
- Oversee the grants management process for corporations and foundations state, and federal funding, including identifying and prioritizing grant opportunities, developing/refining grant proposals, meeting submission deadlines, arranging site visits, communicating with foundation staff, filing required grant and financial reports.
- Manage all development consultants, vendors, and contracts to ensure execution of defined responsibilities, high quality performance, attainment of key outcomes, and value proposition for services provided to TFA.
- Ensure External Affairs and Development Team utilization of donor management software (TFACT – salesforce platform) to track donor cultivation efforts, ensure progress within development pipeline, record contribution activity, acknowledge gifts, and reconcile with TFA’s accounting records.
Prior Experience
- 10 to 12 years of relevant experience with progressing team leadership responsibilities in philanthropy, non-profit fundraising, corporate social responsibility, marketing, and/or business development required.
- Experience with development databases and software required; Salesforce preferred
- Experience with Digital communication platforms including social media required; familiarity with mass email software preferred
- Strong preference for candidates familiar with the philanthropic community in the Greater Twin Cities Metropolitan area, Minnesota, and/or Mid-West Region and a proven track record for noteworthy results.
- Experience with Teach For America or similar situated education, leadership development, teacher preparation, and/or youth development organization preferred but not required.
Skills
- Knowledge of fundraising principles and processes with a proven record of achieving ambitious development goals within emerging organizations experiencing significant growth.
- An effective leader capable of managing both big picture development strategy as well as the hands on implementation of that strategy and operational processes.
- Excellent team management with aptitude for building and developing an exceptional team, including attracting, motivating, coaching, and developing a pipeline of talented and diverse staff that can achieve extraordinary results through collaborating with and influencing others
- Highly organized and detail-oriented with ability to initiate and multi-task while demonstrating impeccable follow through on ideas and projects.
- Passion for educational access, equity, and reform as well as the success of diverse and economically disadvantaged young people within an urban education environment.
- Data informed decision maker that understands the benefits of sound research and metrics as well as underlying assumptions and implications.
- A demonstrated ability to work with board members, volunteers, and community stakeholders to provide strong fundraising support.
- Analyzing multiple data sources (both qualitative and quantitative) to draw accurate conclusions and to inform team wide approach as well as individual priorities and actions.
Salary for this position is competitive and depends on prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included.