Reporting to the Managing Director of Development, the Director, Grants Management & Operations will be the primary lead for managing our institutional grants and managing our development operations. This past year, we worked with approximately 20 institutions who collectively donated close to $3 million to Teach For America - New York (approximately 20% of regional contributions), and we are seeking to grow this partnership base, while providing high level stewardship to our current partners. The successful candidate is someone who: believes deeply in TFA’s national and regional vision, is invested in the unique impact that successful donor partnerships have on our work, is a strong communicator and relationship builder, and is exceptionally well-organized and detail-oriented. The Director, Development will play a key role in reporting, grants management, prospect research, and corporate engagement.
Grants Management
- Support MD, Development in proposal and case development for our largest funders and complex partnerships
- Serve as point of contact to colleagues on TFA national federal funding, foundation and corporate partnership teams
- Oversee the entire cycle of our corporation and foundation proposals, and manage others to meet deadlines
- Manage corporate engagement strategy, including school visit logistics and other volunteer engagement opportunities
- Manage invoicing and cash collection process for our portfolio of partner schools (~$2M)
Developing Compelling Cases of Support
- Work with the Managing Director of Development, members of the External Affairs team and staff from across the region to develop and refine compelling cases for support that are aligned to Teach For America - New York’s regional vision, programming, and impact goals and supported by program data and landscape analysis
- Develop pitch decks, proposals, 1-pagers and other collateral materials for institutional funding prospects, and talking points, in collaboration with the Director of Communications
Cultivation and Stewardship of Institutional Funding Partners
- Manage a multi-year pipeline of institutional giving towards the goal of raising $4M from corporate, foundation and government funding
- Serve as primary portfolio manager for the institutional giving portfolio (foundation, corporate, government)
- Develop and execute stewardship and cultivation strategies to increase investment and engagement of current funders and grow our base of funding partners
- Lead prospect strategy for institutional giving, with emphasis on increasing corporate partnerships, and oversee prospect management strategy across all streams
Leading Across the Organization
- Operate with a deep commitment to our core values, including fostering a diverse movement by partnering with people in the communities that may offer differing perspectives such as parents, teachers, and school leaders
- Support broader regional and organizational priorities, including selecting new corps members, supporting staff recruitment, attending regional team meetings, and supporting other functional regional initiatives
Prior Experience
- At least 4 years of work experience with increased responsibility; previous work in development required, grants management a plus
- Experience in project management, including managing people vertically and laterally to meet outcomes and deadlines
- Experience vertically and laterally managing people to meet outcomes and deadlines
- Experience in the K-12 education sector, experience working in New York City, or experience in large public school systems, a plus
- Knowledge of leading education grantmakers required, knowledge of broader New York City’s philanthropic landscape, a plus
Skills
- Exceptional writer and effective communicator, with ability to tailor approach to diverse constituents
- Strong project management skills, ability to handle multiple projects with competing priorities
- High emotional intelligence; outstanding judgment and discretion
- Meets goals, deadline-driven and detail-oriented
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
Approach to Work
- Deep commitment to Teach For America’s mission of achieving educational equity
- Utilizes courage, relationships, and high degree of trust to bring achieve outcomes
- Highest ethical standards and commitment to responsible stewardship
- Enthusiasm for working with diverse communities and stakeholders
- Operates with proactivity and a sense of optimism
- Sense of humor
Work Demands
- Willingness to work occasional early mornings, evenings or weekends (for Board meetings, donor events, etc.)
- Comfort traveling around NYC via public transportation and outside the NY area at least twice per year for conferences