March 20th, 2024
EmbraceRace
Director of Philanthropic Engagement
( massachusetts | Remote )
About the Organization
Established as a national nonprofit in 2016, EmbraceRace supports parents, guardians, educators, and other caregivers working to raise children who are thoughtful, informed and brave about race so that multiracial democracy in the United States can thrive. EmbraceRace provides essential tools, resources, and networks needed to nurture resilience in children of color; nurture inclusive, empathetic children of all stripes; raise kids who think critically about race; and support a movement of kid and adult racial justice advocates for all children.
At a critical growth phase following increased demand for its resources and partnerships, especially after George Floyd’s murder, EmbraceRace is poised to launch significant new initiatives aimed at empowering parents, educators, and caregivers in building a more inclusive and equitable future.
EmbraceRace is fiscally sponsored by the Proteus Fund.
Job Description
Position reports to: Andrew Grant-Thomas, Co-director
Position salary range: $96,600 – $125,000
We are looking for a Director of Philanthropic Engagement to help us generate and manage at least $2M dollars in revenue in your first year, with expected growth annually to fuel our journey to develop race-brave kids of all racial identities. The Director of Philanthropic Engagement will help shape and implement our fundraising development strategy at a crucial time for the organization. We seek a self-directed, energetic leader eager to develop and deepen relationships with individual donors, foundations and corporate partners, someone genuinely passionate about our racial justice mission and excited by the opportunity to move our small-but-mighty organization to significantly higher levels of programmatic and movement-building impact.
This is a full-time (40 hour per week) position. The person who occupies the position can live anywhere in the United States.
You will do this by:
LEADING IDENTIFICATION AND CULTIVATION OF NEW DONORS (25%)
Developing and executing against cultivation plans for both institutional (foundations and corporations) and individual prospective donors to bring in new revenue opportunities and secure funding
Conducting comprehensive research to expand the funding pipeline and design solicitation strategies tailored to different donor segments, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional partners
Creating and maintaining high-quality external materials to support fundraising, including pitch decks and one-pagers
Authoring outreach to current and prospective funders to ensure the Executive Directors are set up to successfully support fundraising
MANAGING A PORTFOLIO OF EMBRACERACE DONORS (25%))
Serving as a key external representative for EmbraceRace, developing and executing engagement and renewal strategies for a diverse donor base (current and incoming) alongside the co-Executive Director
Designing and implementing targeted campaigns, stewardship, and engagement plans to renew and/or upgrade existing funders
Create meeting prep materials to ensure meetings with donors are purposeful, engaging, and tailored
LEADING GRANT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS (20%)
Overseeing the full grants cycle, from drafting compelling grant applications to managing reporting calendars and deliverables, ensuring alignment with donor expectations and organizational needs.
Spearheading individual giving campaigns and events, utilizing strategic segmentation and personalized communication to increase donor engagement and recurring contributions.
DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO REACH PHILANTHROPIC GOALS (20%)
Leading the creation and execution of a comprehensive development strategy to achieve and surpass philanthropic targets
Designing a fundraising strategy attached to our inaugural Conference on Children’s Racial Learning in spring 2025
Developing and maintaining systems and infrastructure to support gold-standard fundraising and tracking
Implementing a dashboard with key performance indicators to monitor progress towards goals, ensuring active cultivation and stewardship of new and existing funders
LEADERSHIP AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS (10%)
Partnering with the EmbraceRace team to create an active and collaborative culture of philanthropy within the organization.
Partnering with the Co-Executive Director to engage the National Advisory and manage the fundraising committee, leveraging their expertise to foster fundraising initiatives.
Collaborating with the Communications Manager to bolster EmbraceRace’s visibility, aligning communication efforts with fundraising goals to attract and retain donors.
Potential for supervisory responsibilities.
Occasional travel.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING SKILLSETS:
Strategic Planning and Execution: Ability to set clear goals, develop comprehensive strategies, and implement plans to achieve philanthropic targets. This includes the skill to navigate the complexities of various giving sectors (individual, foundations, corporate) and to adjust strategies based on performance metrics and external factors.
Relationship Building and Management: Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of donors, partners, and team members. This encompasses both the ability to engage effectively with high-level stakeholders and to collaborate with internal teams and advisory committees.
Communication and Persuasion: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the capacity to create compelling narratives for different audiences. This includes the development of grant applications, campaign materials, and the ability to articulate EmbraceRace's mission and impact persuasively to inspire and secure funding.
Analytical and Research Abilities: Proficiency in donor research, data analysis, and the use of CRM systems (like Salesforce) to inform decision-making. This skill is vital for understanding donor histories, predicting future giving patterns, and identifying new funding opportunities.
Ability and Ease with Discussions about Race: High degree of thoughtfulness and attention to how to communicate respectfully about children's racial learning and the mission of EmbraceRace. Ability to engage donors and stakeholders in meaningful conversations about race, inclusivity, and equity.
THE PERSON
Successful candidates will see themselves in the following examples:
You possess a growth-oriented mindset: You believe in the potential for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement within yourself and the organization. You encourage a proactive approach to challenges, seeing them as opportunities to learn and expand the organization's impact.
You operate with equity and inclusivity: You have a deep commitment to understanding and valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially regarding racial equity. You recognize that this mindset is crucial for effectively communicating EmbraceRace's mission and engaging with a diverse group of donors, partners, and communities.
You are collaborative and adaptive: You demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a dynamic, team-oriented virtual environment, adapting to changing needs and priorities while maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, donors, and partners.
You are positive and tenacious: You demonstrate determination and optimism, even in the face of challenges or setbacks. You know, through experience, that this approach is crucial to navigating the complex landscape of philanthropy, building relationships, and securing the resources necessary for EmbraceRace to achieve its ambitious goals.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree (Required)
5+ years of experience with fundraising in a non-profit environment and/or in philanthropy (Preferred)
Ability to set up systems and processes to streamline fundraising (Required)
Excellent oral and written communications skills (Required)
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite (Required)
Comfort with CRM platforms like Salesforce (Preferred)
Existing donor network and willingness to leverage it on behalf of EmbraceRace (Preferred)
BENEFITS
Proteus Fund is committed to ensuring that its employees are supported holistically, from compensation, benefits and resources to an enriching work environment and collaborative culture. Proteus Fund leads the market in a number of its offerings, including a sector-leading retirement plan contribution and robust benefits package. The recruiting team will share more information regarding this commitment and offerings.
Medical and dental benefits for employee and eligible dependents available on the first day of work.
Retirement savings account (401k) with an organization contribution of 10% of annual salary
Three weeks’ paid vacation in first year of work; four weeks in subsequent years
Fifteen sick days per year
Three personal days per year
Fifteen paid holidays
Professional development initiatives for growth
Life Insurance
Paid Family Leave, short-term, and long-term disability
INTERESTED IN APPLYING?
The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 22.
If you are excited about the role and see connection between your experiences and what we are looking for, please submit only a resume and answers to the following two questions to applications@embracerace.org. Put “Director of Philanthropic Engagement” in the subject line.
(1) In 250 words or fewer, tell us why you believe you are a good fit for EmbraceRace.
(2) In 250 words or fewer, describe one of your biggest fundraising successes and what it reveals about you.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
Please note, in an effort to maintain and safeguard staff’s health, well-being, and safety, Proteus Fund requires all employees to be vaccinated prior to their employment and adhere to the regular upkeep of COVID-19 vaccination requirements as per CDC recommendations while employed. Proof of the CDC recommended level of COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment with Proteus Fund.
EEO STATEMENT
Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at Proteus Fund/EmbraceRace, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.
Contact email for applicants applications@embracerace.org