Foundation Relations Coordinator

Reports to: Director, Foundation Relations
Staff reporting to this position: None
Department: Development
Position classification: Exempt, full time; Nonunion - Level 2
Minimum compensation: $51,000

American Progress is seeking a Foundation Relations Coordinator to join its Development department. The Foundation Relations Coordinator will work under the direction of the Director for Foundation Relations and in close collaboration with the other directors in the Development department to drive a robust foundation fundraising program centered around American Progress’ institutional priorities, designed to increase the amount of support from American Progress’ constituency over the next several years. This individual will research prospects; stay abreast of the philanthropic landscape; help develop foundation briefings; compile and copyedit proposal and report materials; help track donor outreach and submission of proposals and reports; and update American Progress’ Salesforce database on an ongoing basis, among other activities. This position is ideal for a deadline-driven, detail-oriented, and well-organized development professional who is committed to a progressive policy agenda. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who is able to effectively manage multiple priority projects in a fast-paced environment.

The Foundation Relations team works with program staff at both the Center for American Progress, a 501(c)(3) organization, and the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization.

Responsibilities:

• Manage prospect research for the Development department by monitoring the philanthropic landscape; identifying and profiling prospective donors and new funding streams centered around American Progress’ crosscutting institutional priorities; and helping to track prospect outreach and measure outcomes in Salesforce.
• Help prepare briefings for policy staff and leadership in advance of meetings and telephone calls with prospects and/or donors.
• Maintain library of American Progress institutional language for use in funding proposals and reports and liaise with internal contacts—including staff from the Legal, Finance, and Human Resources teams—to update these materials.
• Regularly draft donor correspondence and institutional language for proposals and reports.
• Compile attachments to letters of inquiry, proposals, and reports as required by foundation guidelines, and when appropriate, work with the Legal and Finance teams to obtain necessary signatures for submission.
• Enter application and reporting materials into foundation portals as needed.
• Manage internal grant announcements and related administrative correspondence as well as external donor acknowledgement and disclosure materials.
• Issue reporting prompts containing the necessary information for relevant staff to develop grant reports. Provide initial review of grant reports for consistency with American Progress style guides, grant expectations, and donor intent.
• Coordinate with Finance staff to track grant spending and identify potential issues that could affect reporting or projected renewals.
• Coordinate with the Director for Foundation Relations to use Salesforce to track performance metrics on a quarterly basis and report out to the Development department.
• Maintain accurate and complete Salesforce database records using report dashboards, in coordination with the Foundation Relations and Development Operations teams.
• Manage a monthly data integrity audit for the team and assist with resolving audits as needed.
• Manage and maintain agenda and meeting minutes for internal weekly foundation team meetings and joint meetings with the Finance team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• At least one year of experience in a development department, or relevant work experience supporting the cultivation and stewardship of donor relationships.
• Experience conducting research using secondary source material.
• Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and donor databases is preferable. Salesforce, Smartsheet, SharePoint, and Power BI experience is a plus.
• Commitment to American Progress’ mission and the ability to translate that commitment into compelling donor communications.
• Commitment to the departmental values of being progressive, donor-centric, and entrepreneurial; demonstrating integrity; making decisions driven by data; and fostering a culture of mutual respect.
• Knowledge of current affairs and familiarity with progressive issues, causes, and organizations.
• Excellent organizational, research, and written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to think strategically and anticipate and orchestrate next steps.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Familiarity with the basic tenets of fundraising and nonprofit management.
• Comfort working with basic financial data.
• Ability to initiate, prioritize, and follow through on plans.
• Ability to balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail.
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

American Progress offers a full and competitive benefit package. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. This position is not represented by a union and has a minimum salary of $51,000.

We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and the levels of community spread and adjust plans as needed for in-office work. Any changes to our current hybrid office work policy will be communicated at the time of hire. Updates will be posted on American Progress’ Jobs page.