Impact Investments Manager

Overview

Founded in 2001, Common Future works to close the racial wealth gap. We are building a future where all people—no matter their race and class—have power, choice, and ownership over the economy. Our current economic system does not work for everyone. Generations of Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color have been and are currently intentionally locked out of wealth and power. Centuries of policies that systematically favor a select few cause persistent economic inequities that hold us all back.

With a multiracial, women-led co-CEO team we are reimagining leadership, prioritizing sustainability, shared leadership and clarified decision making, and reflecting the communities we serve. We are audacious, expansive, and unapologetic thinkers and doers who bring lived experience to the problems we tackle. Our diverse team of strategists, community organizers, financial activists, and policy enthusiasts provides capital, operational support, and strategic partnership to budding solutions addressing racial and economic injustice. 

Our culture values include centering equity, being the communities we serve, embracing experimentation, reimagining what’s broken, collectively solving problems, and modeling a new way of working. We strive to be an innovator that prioritizes the well-being of our employees. Read more about us on our Medium page.

Job Posted on June 4, 2024

Purpose 

We are seeking a Manager that is innovative, a systems change thinker, and who is an earnest collaborator and power shifterto bring their professional, volunteer, and lived experiences as they source, diligence, structure and manage investments for the Community Credit Lab (CCL) Fund, Common Future’s impact-first investment fund. 

The CCL Fund seeks to provide catalytic lending capital and back office lending support to emerging funds and fund managers that build economic power and ownership in and for communities adversely impacted by economic and racial injustice. The Fund also aims to be an investment model for others in the ecosystem to showcase the type of capital and non-financial resources needed to invest in solutions designing the next economy. Investments from the fund are focused on increasing affordability and accessibility of capital and building power, choice and ownership for BIPOC communities. 

This role combines the skills of a business analyst with a passion for community advocacy to drive economic justice by uplifting Black and Indigenous communities through community centered approaches. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of racialized capitalism, emerging and innovative solutions, and community engagement strategies, with a focus on maximizing community benefit return. In the first year, you will fund $5mm to community led investments. 

• Investment Sourcing and Support (30%)
• Support engagement  with Common Future’s network (and beyond) to develop a waterway of impact investments. 
• Assist with inbound investment leads, schedule initial calls to gather information on the potential impact investment and communicate Common Future’s support and services offered. 
• Develop an initial assessment of the potential partner’s organization/entity,  connectivity to the communities served, approaches to work and partnerships, and priorities it seeks to address to assess alignment of potential impact investment with CCL’s Fund Investment Policy Statement. 
• Support investment team members to provide the strategic, investment, and financial analysis required to put forward recommendations.
• Manage active investment relationships through quarterly calls and make recommendations on continued support.

• Business Analysis and Due Diligence (30%):
• Assist Director and MD in financial analysis and due diligence on prospective investment opportunities, including support, research, and learning of financial modeling, risk assessment, landscape analysis, and market research to assess financial viability and social impact.
• Draft relevant sections of investment memos, term sheets, partnership agreements and other related documents for review. 

• Impact Support, Measurement, and Reporting (20%):
• Support community investment partners to develop metrics to measure impact and track progress towards goals.
• Surface key insights, learnings and portfolio performance for quarterly and annual reporting.
• Monitor, evaluate, document, and innovate strategies and disseminate learnings. 

• Cross Collaboration and Relationship Management  (20%)
• Refine internal and external processes for providing additional resources in partnership with the CF Accelerator and Insights Teams and communicate changes internally and externally to all relevant stakeholders; 
• Present virtually or in-person with partners on relevant webinars and conferences; 
• Coordinate with ecosystem partners to amplify collaborators, partners, investments, fund, and community-led initiatives to increase investment, amplify impact, and influence the field.

• Specific to this Role
• Proven experience in impact investing, business analysis, community economic development, or related fields, with a minimum of 2-4 years of relevant experience.
• Lived, learned, and labored experience and passion for addressing economic injustice and closing racial wealth gaps.
• Understanding of the case for impact-first investing and a desire to advance an investment strategy that focuses on shifting power, providing capital at a discount, and using non-traditional methods to increase the accessibility of capital.
• Demonstrated experience building collaborative relationships with a diverse range of partners across a diversity of communities, geographies, sectors, and ecosystems.
• Intermediate-level financial modeling and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate investment opportunities and assess financial viability.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills rooted in trust, transparency, and care. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, remotely,  and as part of a team, with a high standard of care and accountability. 
• Knowledge of impact measurement methodologies and best practices, with experience in developing social impact metrics and/or evaluation.

• Competencies for all Common Future team members
• Understands the Work and Organization
• Project Management/Planning 
• Relationship Building
• Strong Communication
• Strategic Thinking
• Practices Emotional Intelligence

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range is $79,500 to $85,800 and commensurate with competence and experience.

Our Commitment

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Common Future does not discriminate against applicants or employees due to their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical ability, hairstyle, previous incarceration, or length of time spent unemployed. As an organization, we are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve.

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Benefits

Common Future offers a work environment that is committed to the wellbeing and support of our employees. We embrace a human-centered approach to our practices and policies. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes: 

•Ongoing 4 day work week, Monday - Thursday, 32-hour workweek, 80% time at 100% pay

•Remote and flexible work options

•20 days of PTO

•18 paid holidays*, including a week off in the Spring and Winter

•Fully paid medical, dental, vision for employees. Dependents covered at 75%

•Access to a flexible spending account (FSA) for medical and dependent expenses

•Paid long-term disability and life insurance

•16-week paid parental leave

•$500 annual professional development stipend

•$500 monthly caregiver stipend in 2024

•Immediately vested 4% 403b retirement plan contribution after 90 days

•$800 one-time home office set up stipend for new employees

•$150 per month coworking, home office, and cell phone stipend

•Annual in-person retreat, and more! 

*Holidays that fall on Fridays are not rescheduled to another day.

Notes

Applications will be evaluated as they arrive and the position will remain open until filled.

Due to the high volume of applications, our hiring team is not able to field requests for feedback or informational interviews sent via LinkedIn or email. If you are a good match for the role, our team will reach out to you directly.