Senior Leader of Foundation Relations

Senior Leader of Foundation Relations   Note: DC candidates preferred, but virtual candidates will also be considered.   Position Summary In collaboration with the President & CEO, the Senior Leader of Foundation Relations is responsible for planning and implementing BoardSource’s foundation fundraising strategies and activities with the goal of deepening relationships within the philanthropic community and increasing philanthropic support for BoardSource on a year-over-year basis.   Primary Responsibilities The Senior Leader of Foundation Relations will serve as a key external representative of BoardSource’s work within the foundation community and engage with foundation funders and prospects to build and deepen relationships that generate philanthropic dollars and build BoardSource’s reputation and influence within the foundation community. This includes establishing relationships with all of BoardSource’s current funding partners, working to understand their philanthropic goals and priorities, their history of partnership with BoardSource, and cultivating long-term relationships that grow over time. Similarly, the Senior Leader of Foundation Relations will identify new potential foundation relationships building opportunities to expand and deepen funding for BoardSource’s essential mission.   The Senior Leader of Foundation Relations will be a high-level individual contributor, working to develop and guide a multi-year fundraising strategy as well as directly engaging with individual funders, developing proposals and agreements, and overseeing all aspects of grant stewardship, communication, and reporting. A growth opportunity for an individual in this role may be to represent BoardSource as a writer, thinker, and speaker within and amongst philanthropic audiences.   The duties that follow represent the primary responsibilities for this role. All employees are responsible for performing other projects and duties as assigned.

• Develop a multiyear fundraising plan and strategy that identifies, cultivates, and secures a diverse base of foundation support for BoardSource’s research and leadership agenda.
• Establish a firm understanding of BoardSource’s work – especially its leadership initiatives and research agenda – to support strategic and effective foundation fundraising strategies.
• Manage relationships with BoardSource’s foundation donors and prospects, with a focus on deepening relationships with existing funding partners and increasing the number of $10,000+ funding relationships that provide general operating support.
• Represent BoardSource and its work within the philanthropic community, working to establish reputation and relationships in ways that cultivate increased philanthropic support.
• Develop and oversee the foundation fundraising budget. Create and implement tracking mechanisms to ensure goals are on target.
• Partner with Chief of Staff and other program leaders to develop proposals and write grant reports.
• Provide oversight – but not direct supervision – to the development-related responsibilities of the Executive Coordinator (EC). This includes engagement with the EC around the scheduling of foundation meetings for the President & CEO and the preparation of meeting briefings for the CEO’s meetings with foundation funders and prospects.

Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree, or relevant experience, and a minimum of 7 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations
• At least5 years in foundation fundraising, ideally in an organization that is focused on research, leadership, or nonprofit sector support
• Demonstrated track record in personally identifying and closing foundation grants through relationship-driven cultivation and stewardship
• Strong writing skills and a demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas into clear and compelling grant proposals
• The ability to represent and embody BoardSource’s leadership and values – including our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity – in direct relationship with funders and potential funders
• Broad knowledge of the nonprofit sector, including an understanding of sub-segments within the sector and knowledge of emerging trends within the sector
• An existing portfolio of relationships with funders interested in nonprofit leadership desirable, but not expected
• Past or current nonprofit board service a plus
• An optimistic outlook and a flexible, innovative approach to problem-solving
• Able to travel up to 25% (in a post-pandemic reality)

About the Organization BoardSource is a globally recognized nonprofit focused on strengthening nonprofit leadership at the highest level — the board of directors. With expertise cultivated over more than three decades, BoardSource strengthens nonprofit leadership through research, thought leadership, and practical supports that help transform board structures, dynamics, and perspectives. It is widely recognized as the go-to resource for nonprofit boards and reaches more than 500,000 leaders each year.   Over the years, BoardSource’s leadership footprint in the nonprofit sector has expanded beyond “board leadership essentials” to research and proactively address critical issues that are impeding the nonprofit sector’s ability to achieve its full potential for impact. In addition to an expansion of its signature research study, “Leading with Intent,” BoardSource has also prioritized initiatives to address:  

• The urgent need for more diverse nonprofit boards that are committed to doing their work in a way that helps advance equity and justice;
• Advancing the understanding of a nonprofit’s purpose in the context of mission, vision, and values;
• The importance of understanding and engaging in public policy issues that impact or impede an organization’s ability to fulfill its mission, serve its community, or otherwise do its mission-driven work; and
• The opportunity to structure organizations for greater resilience and impact through strategic alliances and mergers.

Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity In the leadership BoardSource provides to nonprofit organizations across the social sector, we work to spark new awareness about why a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity is essential within nonprofit organizations, as well as provide practical support and guidance about how to create positive change. This work flows from our belief that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity is essential to realizing our vision of a world where every social sector organization has the leadership it needs to fulfill its mission and advance the public good. Given this commitment and effort, we work to ensure that our own team is diverse and inclusive, and that the entire team – regardless of background or identity – feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Our work is enriched by the lived experiences of our team members, and there is no replacement for lived experience when working on issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity. We are eager to welcome future team members who share our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity; we also strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.   Compensation and Benefits BoardSource offers competitive wages and excellent benefits, including high-quality health insurance with dental and vision coverage, life insurance, a retirement plan with employer match, and other work/life benefits.  The starting salary for this position is $106,000-$132,000, depending on experience.   Work Environment and Physical Requirements The physical requirements for this role are customary to an office setting, seated or standing at a desk with standard office equipment and technology. Reasonable accommodations will gladly be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.