Institutional Giving Manager
A Better Chance

A Better Chance is the preeminent national resource for identifying, recruiting and developing leaders among young people of color throughout the United States.  Through its historic signature program, the College Preparatory Schools Program, A Better Chance has placed more than 12,000 middle, junior and high school students in over 300 of the nation’s finest college preparatory schools, both private and public.  Once students graduate from their A Better Chance school, they become the organization’s “Alumni.”

Overall Function

The Institutional Giving Manager will be responsible for soliciting, closing and stewarding more than a half-million dollars in cash and in-kind contributions from corporations, foundations and possibly government sources.   With over 12,000 Alumni who are current or emerging leaders of color across the country, a pool of talented students of color, and a strong history of corporate and foundation support over the past 47 years, the Institutional Giving Manager has a tremendous opportunity to assume responsibility for a key area of giving for a national nonprofit organization, enhance our current institutional giving partnership program, and leverage opportunities to build greater funding support around the organization’s 50^th anniversary in 2013.

Reports to the Director of Development.

Responsibilities:

Corporate Giving

1. Identify and prioritize corporate prospects, with special attention given to past funders; companies with an interest in reaching out to people of color communities; companies with an interest in education/racial equity; and companies with people of color employee resource groups that can be cultivated for corporate funding support.
2. Prepare drafts of grant proposals and reports as required by corporations/corporate foundations.
3. Promote, and secure new partners for the National Partnership Program, A Better Chance’s corporate partnership platform among a wide range of corporations/industries.   Review the Program’s structure/benefits and propose enhancements that would make it more attractive to corporate supporters.
4. Secure corporate sponsorships for the A Better Chance Awards gala.
5. Develop creative ideas and draft proposals that highlight the visibility premiums a corporation might receive in partnering with A Better Chance.

Foundation Giving

1. Conduct prospect research using the Foundation Center Directory online and other resources.
2. Prepare drafts of grant proposals, letters-of-inquiry and other solicitation materials.
3. Consult regularly with colleagues in our Programs department to get the latest updates, statistics and anecdotes to create the most compelling packages for funder solicitations and reports.
4. Consistently maintain contact with foundation prospects, and find ways to keep A Better Chance top-of-mind for foundations that might consider funding us in the future.

General

1. Serve as part of the editorial team for the organizational newsletter, Class Notes: propose article ideas, coordinate with editorial team, write/edit articles, secure photographs, and ensure with the Editor-in-Chief the timely production of the newsletter (both print and e-newsletter versions) three times a year.
2. Regularly seek and assess Federal/state/local government opportunities for funding.
3. Coordinate appointments with key executives with institutional funders/prospects.
4. Maintain monthly income tracking and provide support with cash-flow projections and budget re-projections as necessary.
5. Conduct research and prepare written recommendations / briefs for the Director of Development and the President on current and prospective institutional funders.
6. Maintain a master calendar of deadlines for proposals, reports and other solicitation/reporting materials, and ensure timely internal review and submission thereof.
7. Maintain contact and familiarity with the roster of current institutional funders.
8. Maintain and update records for institutional contacts in Raiser’s Edge, including solicitations, with an expectation of personally conducting a minimum of 5 qualified prospect meetings/calls per month.
9. Actively manage both income and related project expense budgets, and provide quarterly re-projected forecasts throughout the year.
10. Ensure accurate and timely gift entry and acknowledgment with the Finance & Database Associate.   Create customized acknowledgements, as needed.
11. Generate reports for analysis of institutional giving campaign results and to anticipate the future course correction(s).
12. Conduct thorough prospect research as needed through Internet-based and other sources.
13. Oversee institutional funder cultivation/appreciation events with the support of the Development Associate and Director of Development.

Administrative

1. Work with Director of Development to set quarterly, annual and longer-term objectives, strategies and tactical action plans in support of overall business plan. 
2. As necessary, hire, manage and retain an intern to support institutional giving efforts.
3. Produce documentation in preparation for regular board meetings and on the results of various solicitation campaigns.
4. Assist the Director of Development in preparing key solicitors (President, Board Members) for cultivation and stewardship calls and meetings.

Other duties as assigned, including participation in A Better Chance organizational and programmatic efforts.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate for this role would be an energetic and committed team member who is ready to roll up the sleeves, proactively support the Development Department’s efforts, and deepen one’s knowledge and skills in fundraising and relationship building.   The ideal candidate will have a positive can-do attitude, and be personable, resourceful and creative to achieve the department’s and organization’s goals.

1.      BS/BA or commensurate professional experience.  Master’s degree a plus.

2.      2-3 years fundraising experience with an emphasis on grant-writing and corporate and foundation giving.

3.      Superior writing skills – the ability to create clear, compelling and logical arguments that would promote A Better Chance’s main program and any future programs.  This skill is an absolute priority for this role.  A writing test will be administered during the interview process.

4.      Ability to learn and synthesize a wide range of statistics, budget information and other data and translate them as needed for different audiences (funders, etc.)

5.      Track-record in prospecting, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding foundation and corporate contributions/partnerships.

6.      Entrepreneurial and proactive drive to seek out and reach the right decision-makers within a large corporation who would have the ability to say “yes” to a corporate funding request.

7.      Impeccable time management skills and the ability to meet all internal and external deadlines.

8.      Natural tendency to be proactive in offering ideas and new ways to enhance our work, all the while having the ability to take into account the department’s current operations, goals, priorities and resources.

9.      Meticulous attention to detail and strong follow-through skills.

10.  Excellent presentation skills, and honed ability to anticipate and proactively cater to the needs and interests of varying constituencies (e.g., consumer goods corporations, professional services firms, private foundations, employee-resource groups, etc.)

11.  Excellent organizational skills and the ability to map-out/think-through the various components needed to design and execute a program (these skills would primarily be applied in grant proposals, ensuring that all questions a funder may ask about any component of a program are proactively addressed.)

12.  Willingness to travel, with some evenings and weekend work required.

13.  Ability to prioritize multiple assignments and to handle complex tasks in fast-paced, high-standards environment.

14.  Experience or ability to report to and respond proactively to the needs and demands of senior-level management; experience with board members a plus.

15.  Ability to work as part of a team, both departmentally and organizationally.

16.  Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge and Internet-based research engines.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume, cover letter (indicating salary requirements – cover letters without salary requirements will be prioritized lower) and one 1-3 page writing sample (ideally one that is directed to a private – not corporate or family – foundation) to (Mr.) Sunil Oommen, Director of Development at Careers2@abetterchance.org.    No phone calls, please.