JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Title:                                        Manager of Funder Relations

 

Reports to:                          Director of Institutional Advancement

 

Service Center:                   Revenue Development and Communications

 

Organizational Context:     The Revenue Development and Communications Team conducts a range of activities to advance the goals of Forefront in the areas of communications, marketing, fundraising, membership recruitment, retention and supports the communications and marketing needs of Forefront staff. 

 

General Job Description:   The Manager of Funder Relations position is a vital revenue generating role responsible for Forefront’s grant operations – including cultivation, solicitation and grant writing, stewardship, reporting, and renewal of a portfolio of foundation partners.

 

Role is a hybrid of virtual + in-person, highly collaborative and cross-functional with an intentional focus on institutional stakeholders (foundation awards range from four- to seven-figure awards). The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial and responsible for managing the full cycle of grant logistics, administration, and stewardship, managing Forefront’s grants calendar, along with anticipating and fulfilling all grant-related deliverables. The Manager of Funder Relations is accountable for adhering to all external proposals, application, reporting, and acknowledgement requirements. Additionally, the Manager of Funder Relations will adhere to the highest level of fundraising/financial transparency, integrity, as well as complementing Forefront’s commitment to advancing racial equity and equitable granting processes.

 

The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience, 2-3 proposal-and grant report samples (as part of the interview process), and active knowledge of Illinois’ philanthropic community. In addition, The Manager of Funder Relations will strive to be strategic, anchored in service, outward-facing, results driven, and fluent in contemporary and equitable fundraising principles.

 

Essential Job Duties:

·       Actively contribute to reinforce Forefront’s values, mission, and impact.

·       Manage and grow a portfolio of foundation and corporate foundation accounts.

·       Cultivate and steward relationships with partners to achieve respective goals and objectives.

·       Responsible for writing compelling LOIs, proposals, applications, and reports for foundation organizations (and select individuals as necessary) to maximize funding for Forefront general operating support, programs, strategic initiatives, and special events.

·       Fully manage funder engagement including meeting (virtual or in-person) agenda creation, scheduling/facilitation/follow-up, donor communications and strategic ancillary touchpoints.

·       Responsible for the update and accuracy of Forefront’s grant calendar and tracking mechanisms.

·       Responsible for the timely submission of all grant deliverables and benefits (LOIs, grant applications/proposals, interim and final reports, sponsorship updates, and acknowledgement letters.

·       Provide personalized service for existing corporate and foundation partners.

·       Serve as a liaison with multiple Forefront teams (including finance) on all proposals and final report budget requests.

·       Manage all data profiles, track donor life cycle, and record gift activity in CRM database (Salesforce).

·       Provide quantitative projections of fundraising potential from corporate and foundation sources for budget purposes and for ongoing analysis. Meet annual budget goals set in annual planning process.

·       Actively partner with Communications Team to ensure strong alignment with Forefront’s organizational communications strategy, overall brand positioning, and revenue generation.

·       Actively partner with Forefront’s Executive Leadership Team, peers, broader staff, as well as Board of Directors to help cultivate a stronger organizational culture, fundraising infrastructure, value proposition, and resonating cases for support.

·       Actively support department efforts to research and identify prospective new sources of institutional support.

·       Serve as effective ambassador of Forefront at donor meetings, assigned events, community activities, and Forefront Board meetings – virtual and/or in-person).

·       Generally assist with department-wide special events throughout the year, and perform other duties as assigned.

 

As the business evolves, so may this role. These duties may change as Forefront leadership identifies the need at any time.

 

Position Qualifications:

·       Minimum of 3 years of experience in prospect research, grant writing for non-profits (or equivalent experience), along with knowledge of the philanthropic process and the local/national donor community.

·       High-level writing and oral communication skills, copy editing, and proofreading.

·       Strong organizational, interpersonal, and customer service skills are essential.

·       Working knowledge of and comfort working with:

o   Microsoft suite of products, including Teams

o   Virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet, etc

o   CRM expertise

o   Prospect research databases

·       A high degree of initiative, willingness to collaborate with a diverse team, and energy to achieve ambitious goals, meet deadlines, and stage multiple projects efficiently.

·       The ability to work transparently, respectfully, and collaboratively with others.

·       Ability to work independently and cross-functionally (virtually and/or in-person), to secure supports as needed.

 

EOE M/F/V/D