Grants, Communications & Fundraising Manager

OVERVIEW

Focusing Philanthropy is an innovative foundation with a rare open position for a motivated and capable professional to contribute to the next phase of Focusing Philanthropy. Duties include leading essential relationships with several grantees, writing, and participating in fundraising. A future teammate should be passionate about social impact, experienced in the nonprofit sector, and a consummate team player who thrives in closely collaborative work environments. The team works in person from our Santa Monica office in Los Angeles with some travel as part of our commitment to on-site diligence before and after adopting nonprofit implementing partners. Initiative and the ability to follow projects through to completion are key attributes for the role, as are excellent writing skills with a particular strength in communicating concisely and persuasively.

ABOUT US

Focusing Philanthropy identifies, evaluates, and promotes exceptional nonprofits improving the life trajectory of people facing serious challenges in the United States and worldwide. Through a rigorous diligence and monitoring process, we create tailored campaigns in partnership with the grantees and then raise funds from individual donors to implement them. These services are provided free to both donors and our nonprofit partners in an effort to scale interventions that work. To date, we have raised and deployed more than $120 million that we conservatively estimate has profoundly improved the lives of over 13 million people.

THE POSITION

We are seeking to fill a full-time position as part of our eight-person team. Primary duties of this role will include leading relationships with several grantees, crafting persuasive written communications, and fundraising. 

Grantee relationship lead

• Manage relationships with several grantees. Become our in-house expert on each, including the partner’s accomplishments, goals, and challenges, and earn the respect of grantees sufficient to be a welcome thought partner.
• Review written reports, budgets, research, impact assessments, and other information supplied by grantees, with substantial follow-up as needed.
• Serve as a hands-on, collegial problem-solver with the ability to manage processes and enforce accountability.
• Through regular interactions with grantees, this individual is expected to be sufficiently knowledgeable to present impact reports, organizational assessments, and human-interest stories to various constituencies, including our team, our Board, current and prospective donors, and funding allies.
• Help develop matching campaigns in concert with grantees. Planning entails formulating a specific use of funds, budget, reporting metrics, timeline, and fundraising/communications appeals. This collaborative activity involves other Focusing Philanthropy team members and the nonprofit's senior representatives.
• Travel to conduct program site visits of grantees and visit organizations that are candidates for addition to our portfolio. Write detailed reports summarizing diligence visits. Potential locations include the US, sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, and possibly southeast Asia.

Communications team member

• Prepare and present clear, analytical, and compelling written reports on grantees’ impacts achieved.
• Craft written materials, including, but not limited to campaign memos, campaign reports, impact reports, customized appeals to donors, PowerPoint presentations, letters, emails, etc.
• Create such written materials for 1) potential donors on Focusing Philanthropy’s purpose and value proposition, 2) donors and prospects to expose them to giving opportunities with our nonprofit partners, and 3) incumbent donors on the impact of their contributions.
• Participate in meetings, work collaboratively with the team, and perform independent research to create the materials described above.
• Help develop and coordinate an innovative, effective, and personalized program of communications and experiences for donors.

Fundraising and donor relations team member

• Help identify donor prospects and collaborate with the team and others to pursue introductions and make presentations to potential donors.
• Help the fundraising team maintain connections and strengthen relationships with donors through written reports, mailings, special appeals, donor lunches, small events,
• Help the fundraising team plan small fundraising events for cultivation and stewardship purposes.
• Use the database daily to help acquire, retain, and engage with donors.

QUALIFICATIONS

• The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience as part of a nonprofit or as a grantmaker.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Experience in marketing and communications.
• Strong writing skills are essential.
• Experience with fundraising and presenting to individual, high-net-worth donors.
• Strong analytical skills are required to review budgets, academic research, strategic plans, etc.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to coordinate with others, prioritize workflow, including managing multiple tasks, setting schedules, meeting deadlines, organizing events, and trip planning.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with a wide range of individuals and groups, both internally and externally. Build respectful, long-term relationships with team members, grantees, and donors is essential. In addition, he or she will communicate transparently and honestly, promoting inclusiveness and cooperation.
• Information gathering expertise that includes not only internet research but direct engagement with expert individuals and organizations, as well as representatives of the people to be assisted.
• Passion for and experience with travel in the US and developing countries.
• A foreign language facility, preferably Spanish, is helpful though not required.
• Knowledge of customer relationships management databases (e.g., Blackbaud).
• At least 4-year degree.

 PAY AND BENEFITS

Salary will be commensurate with experience and competitive with others in comparable roles.

 HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume and a short cover note to bessie@focusingphilanthropy.org. Due to the number of expected submissions, we will not be able to respond to all inquiries. We wish you the best of luck in your search.