Climate Partnerships Manager - Individuals

About VertueLab

VertueLab's mission is to unleash innovation and entrepreneurship to solve environmental challenges and catalyze shared economic prosperity. Through a decade of work, we have proven that our model can accelerate the climate solutions that are key to reversing the climate crisis.

 

Why we need you

VertueLab is a nonprofit fighting the climate crisis by providing funding and holistic entrepreneurial support to cleantech startups. We are embarking on a period of ambitious growth informed by our 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. We are building our Fund Development Partnerships Team to scale our work across the Pacific Northwest Region to meet the demand for our services and the urgency of the climate crisis. We are seeking talented, entrepreneurial and mission driven individuals to grow our relationships and revenue in partnership with like-minded partners and funders.

 

The Climate Partnerships Manager: Individuals is accountable for the development, planning, and implementation of fundraising strategies for VertueLab’s mid-level and major giving programs. The position orchestrates the efforts of Board members, Major Gifts committee and staff by providing leadership, support, and direction to the major and mid-level giving programs.

 

This position serves as a key member of the Development Partnerships Team. The role develops positive relationships with Board members, volunteers and staff to achieve ambitious fundraising goals and to ensure positive donor and volunteer experiences. The position sets the vision for mid-level and major donor engagement. The position conducts the outreach, engagement and calendar of stewardship activities with portfolio owners for the organizations mid-major donor pool. This position is also responsible for their own portfolio of donors.

 

Pay and Benefits

$75,000-$80,000 annual salary accompanied by a competitive benefits package including:

• 20 days of paid vacation per year
• 10 days of sick leave per year
• 4 days of volunteer leave per year
• 11 paid holidays
• Medical and dental insurance
• 401k with a 100% match up for the first 3% of employee’s compensation contribution and an additional 50% match for the 2% of an employee’s compensation contribution
• Mostly remote work and some flexibility in work schedule

 

Our Work Environment

VertueLab staff work in a hybrid work environment, with most work being conducted remotely. Some business-related travel and in-person meetings may be required with the understanding that flexibility to any changes in public health guidance may need to be considered.  VertueLab offers each employee a $250 reimbursement per year for equipment or furnishings for their home office.

 

 

 

Travel

Regional and national travel to events and to meet with prospective funders is required on occasion.

 

  Responsibilities

Fundraising

 

• Plans, schedules, and implements fundraising activities to advance the mid-level and major gift pipeline and maximize private fundraising support to VertueLab. Develops detailed major gift and impact investing opportunities tailored to the interest of potential donors in the areas consistent with VertueLab’s fundraising priorities.
• Provides support to major donor/impact investor portfolio owners including the Executive Director, Deputy Director, Director of Strategic Partnership and Director of Impact Investments.
• Interacts frequently with high-level donors within own portfolio to keep them informed on the progress of our work and impact of their giving.
• In partnership with VertueLab’s Marketing Manager plans and implements special fundraising campaigns (GivingTuesday, EarthDay, GiveBig,).
• Oversee the mid and major gifts program: plan for and manage each step of the donor pipeline including discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Engage with and support board members, staff and volunteers in their fundraising and prospecting efforts
• Develop and implement a calendar of high touch donor engagement and stewardship opportunities throughout the year include virtual and in-person events, strategic mailings and reports and stewardship.
• With VertueLab program staff, identify programs and projects aligned with VertueLab’s goals and strategies which may fit with funders priorities and develop donor proposals.
• In partnership with the Director of Strategic Partnerships and with input from staff, board, and partners, establish a set of policies, tools, and procedures that support equitable fundraising partnerships.
• In partnership with the Marketing Manager create, maintain and project manage the execution of annual giving calendar, ensuring the full cycle of individual cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgement, and stewardship is occurring in a timely manner for each unique individual donor pool.
• With support from the Marketing and Development Coordinator, ensure high data integrity in Salesforce for all individual donors related contacts and records.
• Lead the content production of individual donor proposals, briefings, presentations, solicitation letters, articles, newsletters, and reports.
• Lead the planning and outreach work for periodic donor stewardship tours and events.

 

 

Strategy and Forecasting

 

• Work in partnerships with the Marketing Manager in developing and executing an annual calendar of individual donor engagement, solicitation, acknowledgement and stewardship.
• With support from the Marketing and Development Coordinator, implement strategies to steward current donors and build relationships with new individual donors.
• With support from the Finance and Operations Manager track progress of individual donor revenue quarterly and annually; leverage historical data to forecast and project institutional revenue annually and over time.
• In partnership with the Director of Strategic Partnerships, set annual fundraising budget and revenue goals and report on progress to staff and board.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the organization's history, programs, current initiatives, financial goals, and strategic priorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Ideal Candidate Profile

With a combination of professional and/or lived experiences, the successful candidate for the Institutional Giving and Partnerships role will have:

 

• Alignment with VertueLab’s mission to unleash innovation and entrepreneurship that will solve environmental challenges and catalyze shared economic prosperity.
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as evidenced in past professional and/or personal experiences
• Proven success in leading and developing mid-level and major fundraising initiatives with quantifiable results that meet or exceed goals and objectives.
• 3-5 years fundraising experience; proven track record in major gifts fundraising
• Demonstrated success advancing relationships (both internal and external) and growing revenue and support from individual donors.
• Outstanding communication skills; ability to inspire donors through verbal and written communication; skilled at communicating complex ideas tailoring information to different audiences.
• Ability to identify new opportunities and strategies.
• Data management and CRM software experience (Salesforce preferred)
• Tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty
• Adaptability required to thrive in a small team and in a dynamic environment
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills
• Ability to initiate and work independently on projects.
• Demonstrated proactive approach to problem-solving
• Ability to commit to a full-time schedule that is conducive to working with a team that works regular business hours in the Pacific time zone.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of cleantech/climate tech, energy, and/or transportation sector
• Experience working with individual philanthropists, family offices and/or Impact Investing Funds

 

We welcome diverse backgrounds and experience, so even if you believe you don't check every box, we still want to hear from you!

 

We encourage applicants from all racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and functional limitations to apply, especially those from historically marginalized communities.

 

VertueLab is committed to building a culturally diverse organization and strongly encourages applications from people of color and members of other underrepresented groups. VertueLab is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other class protected by law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are mission-critical to VertueLab because…

• The root causes of climate change and racism were cultivated in extractive economies and inequitable practices.
• Communities of Color are often the first and worst impacted by climate change.
• People closest to the problem often have innovative solutions, but don’t have the capital or connections to fund and launch their innovation.

 

The mission of VertueLab sits at the intersection of these opportunities to move from DEI awareness to effective DEI action in ways that benefit people representing all dimensions of diversity. Learn more about our DEI journey at our website.

 

 

Our Values

BOLD, WISE LEADERSHIP

We take informed action, inspiring others, using our expertise as a trusted navigator with respect and humility, and driving to results.

 

COLLABORATION

We take a systems view of the world to leverage our network for powerful collaborations beyond what we can achieve alone. We recognize the urgency of the climate crisis and that relationships require time to build.

 

DEI IS MISSION-CRITICAL

We recognize the root causes of climate change and racism were cultivated in extractive economies and inequitable practices. Climate change impacts and opportunities to be part of the solution are not evenly distributed. Our mission puts us in a position to change that.

 

LAB = EXPERIMENTATION

We are always learning. We embrace uncertainty as a given. We are strategic and flexible. We have the knowledge to recognize opportunities, the tools to help ensure they are seized, and the patience and adaptability to see them through to the end.

 

CARING DEEPLY

We care about the work, each other, and our community. We laugh together and have each other’s back. We work hard, and value one another’s well-being.

  To Apply

Your online application to the Climate Partnerships Manager – Individuals position includes a few basic, voluntary demographic questions included as part of our commitment to ensuring that we have a diverse pool of applicants for this position, plus two fields for uploading supporting materials including a cover letter and resume.

 

We ask that in your cover letter you address the following:

• How your experience and skills make you a great candidate for this position and would set you up for success in this role.
• What most excites you about this opportunity, in terms of the job scope, our organization’s mission, or anything else.
• What you’d contribute to our team’s culture and diversity of lived experiences and perspectives.

 

In your resume, please identify two references. We will notify you prior to our contacting any reference.

 

Application Form: https://bit.ly/3zBow2H

 

Questions? Please feel free to contact VertueLab’s HR Manager, Marisa Messina at marisa.messina@vertuelab.org.

Timeline

We will begin reviewing applications on August 1st and continue until filled.