Director of Philanthropy

THE OPPORTUNITY

For more than 25 years Citizen Schools has been a pioneer in educational equity. Since opportunity, unlike talent, is not equally distributed, we have provided hands-on learning experiences that ignite curiosity, build confidence and expand horizons for over 50,000 underrepresented middle school students. Together with our partners, including 25,000 career mentors, we have exposed students to ideas and connections, helping them access even better opportunities than previous generations.

Today, we engage students from underserved communities in hands-on experiential learning. Our students are creators and problem-solvers, not just consumers. They become scientists, artists, mathematicians, engineers, writers, and programmers. We also apply best practices from our direct service work to systems-level advancement of STEM mentorship and learning by working with communities.

Together, we are transforming education in school, after school, and across communities.

THE ROLE

The Director of Philanthropy will cultivate and steward relationships primarily with corporate partners and identify new funding opportunities on both a national and regional scale to support Citizen Schools' program. The Director of Philanthropy will be an innovator, creatively seeking and designing new ways to engage donors in the Citizen Schools model. This role will drive new and existing funding to support our work across the organization in collaboration with other team members on the Philanthropy Team and the organization at large, including programming, partnerships, marketing, and technology.

We are looking for a dynamic, results-oriented, ambitious, and charismatic relationship builder who brings experience in sales, partnership building, fundraising, and/or relationship/account management to support the sustainability and growth of Citizen Schools.

This is a hybrid position located within California's Greater LA. You are not required to work within an office building and you have the flexibility to define your ideal work environment as long as you have physical access to the Greater LA or for community engagement and to schedule funder meetings.

Potential 10-20% travel needed to attend events and visit schools and in-person meetings.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Alignment & Execution of Philanthropy (75%)
  • Actively identify, cultivate, and solicit new sources of unrestricted revenue from corporations and individuals
  • Manage and grow relationships with current funding partners, stewarding a portfolio of donors with a goal of increased year-over-year giving
  • Diversify the CS revenue portfolio to better reflect the communities we serve by building relationships and securing financial support from BIPOC-owned businesses and organizations that represent minority groups
  • Build and manage a clearly defined stewardship strategy for donors
  • Collaborate with the Impact team to establish new and current corporate partnerships that result in both funding and an ongoing volunteer pipeline
  • Collaborate with the Marketing team to recognize donors and sponsors in social media, through blog posts and other traditional media channels as appropriate
  • Produce high-quality grant reports and proposals for portfolio donors, and collaborate with other grant writers
  • Play a lead role in creating opportunities for virtual and in-person donor engagement through events and small gatherings
  • Participate in and assist with special events, including stewardship with donors and prospects in attendance
  • Serve as a key external-facing representative for the organization; including – but not limited to - cultivating relationships with community members, media, prospective donors, and volunteers to effectively communicate the mission and build a strong reputation for Citizen Schools

• Data Evaluation & Innovation (15%)
  • Input, manage and track data for all revenue opportunities within a personal fundraising portfolio using the Salesforce database, ensuring the accuracy of donor information and revenue within the system
  • Analyze donor data within your portfolio to inform decision-making, prospecting needs, and solicitation methods
  • Log donor communications and activities within Salesforce consistently
  • Support annual revenue planning

• Fundraising Design & Delivery (10%)
  • Conduct landscape research to identify new revenue opportunities aligned with Citizen Schools' Theory of Change and strategic plans
  • Stay informed of philanthropic trends and key happenings in the education field to best engage with prospective donors, external partners, and peer organizations
  • Collaborate with the Managing Director of Philanthropy in developing the fundraising strategy, cultivating new donor pipelines, and contributing to the learning and development of a team of experienced fundraising professionals

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• 5+ years of direct experience in fundraising, relationship management, and prospect development; possess a track record of exceeding goals in donor cultivation and fundraising targets
• 3+ years experience in leadership roles with clear accountability & feedback structures; proven ability to influence and motivate others to action, direct management of teams preferred
• Proven track record as a partnership builder and relationship manager
• Proven track record of turning strategic thinking and planning into successful outcomes
• Strong alignment to the Citizen Schools mission and desire to serve the needs of students in low-income communities
• General understanding of the education ecosystem, lived experiences of teachers and students within under-resourced schools, and the terminology used across the landscape
• Ability to balance big-picture, goal-driven focus with attention to detail
• Proven ability to influence and motivate others, with a keen understanding of how to impact mindset, as well as knowledge and skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Exceptionally strong project management skills; proven ability to develop and execute complex volunteer recruitment and fundraising plans, with a fierce detail-orientation
• Excellent time management and organization to efficiently manage multiple tasks/priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Solution-focused individual and collaborative partner
• Salesforce and Google Suite experience a plus
• Proactive attitude, out-of-the-box thinking, good sense of humor, and an ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Desire and excitement to model Citizen Schools' core values: Confidence, Curiosity, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Perseverance, and Teamwork
• The fundamental belief that all students can achieve academic and professional success regardless of background, and a commitment to Citizen School's mission and strategic vision

While no one person will possess all of these qualities, we will look for a balance of skill sets and experiences.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The salary for the Director of Philanthropy is $86,000 and it aligns with Citizen Schools' values on equitable compensation practices. New hires are compensated at the base of the salary range and compensation increases are driven by demonstrated role proficiency over time. You will also receive a robust benefits package that offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match, flexible Paid Time Off (plus 22 days of org-wide holidays), employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, and more.

COVID VACCINE POLICY

Citizen Schools active personnel, including Service Members, employees, volunteers, and consultants must either be fully vaccinated or undergo acceptable testing if working or serving in person. For personnel working or serving fully remotely, we will not require proof of vaccination or weekly testing at this time however, we strongly encourage all employees to get vaccinated. Please visit vaccines.gov (https://www.vaccines.gov/) to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.

ABOUT CITIZEN SCHOOLS

Citizen Schools helps all students to thrive in school and beyond through hands-on learning and career mentors. Our vision is that all students have experiences and career mentors that ignite curiosity, build confidence, and help them develop into the next generation of leaders. Together we are transforming education in school, after school, and across communities.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.citizenschools.org (http://www.citizenschools.org).

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Citizen Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status. Citizen Schools is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team. If specific accommodations are needed, please contact us (https://www.citizenschools.org/contact/) and we will work to accommodate your needs.