Foundations Director

About MVP

MVP is a best-in-class advising platform connecting progressive donors to the most effective and promising grassroots organizations in the country working at the intersection of movements, community organizing, and elections. We aim to increase investment in frontline organizations led by the most impacted communities to increase turnout among the progressive base, build long-term political power, and ultimately to transform our country at the local, state, and national levels. In the 2020 cycle, MVP successfully moved over $120 million to over 600 local groups across the country, focused in the most critical states.

Our Approach:

We are organizers, and the heart of our work is organizing donors through MVP to support local groups in order to build, sustain, and amplify their impact. We work in service of local groups, and we try to be aware at all times of the power dynamics of being a funder and to be careful about incentivizing actions that could alter an organization’s own priorities; we work hard not to impose on our partners. We are also striving to continuously scrutinize and dismantle the ways we manifest and reproduce white supremacy culture both internally and externally.

We focus on building from our assets, and taking a positive approach to growth and change that helps groups and donors to feel comfortable being vulnerable about their areas of improvement. We believe in a non-competitive, non-divisive, whole ecosystem approach; we are always seeking opportunities to support and encourage collaboration among groups and donors.

Position Overview

The Foundations Director leads strategic fundraising efforts focused on foundation giving, playing a crucial role in securing and maintaining relationships with private, corporate, and family foundations to support our organization's mission and programs.

Essential Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Primary Responsibilities

Foundation Relations & Grant Management

• Develop and execute comprehensive foundation fundraising vision and long-term goals and strategies to meet annual revenue goals
• Build and maintain relationships with foundation program officers and trustees
• Lead the full grant lifecycle including prospecting, proposal development, submission, and reporting
• Create compelling narratives and grant proposals aligned with foundation priorities
• Ensure timely submission of all required grant reports and maintain grant compliance

Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Work closely with the Chief Development Officer to set foundation fundraising goals and strategies
• Collaborate with program staff to identify funding needs and opportunities
• Develop and maintain foundation fundraising projections and pipelines
• Provide regular updates to leadership on foundation giving progress and opportunities

Team Management & Collaboration

• Coordinate with program staff on proposal development
• Partner with Finance team to develop grant budgets and financial reports
• Work with Programs team to gather impact data and success stories
• Collaborate with Communications team on foundation-specific messaging
• Maintain accurate records in donor database and grant management systems
• Maintain calendar with deadlines shared with those who participate in the submission and reporting process

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of foundation fundraising experience
• Proven track record of securing six-figure and seven-figure grants
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project management and organizational abilities
• Experience with donor databases and grant management systems
• Knowledge of local and national foundation landscape

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in the organization's mission area

Skills & Competencies

• Outstanding relationship-building abilities
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Strong analytical and research capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
• Detail-oriented with excellent follow-through
• Strategic thinking and planning skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and grant management software

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Full-time, remote, exempt position
• Some travel required for foundation meetings and site visits
• Occasional evening/weekend work if deadlines require it

Travel required

• 10-25% Travel
• Occasional, optional travel for internal team gatherings (2-5 times per year).

Direct Reports

• None

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample demonstrating grant writing experience.

Salary Range: $130-160k (based on experience), plus generous benefits package.

Movement Voter Project isn’t just an equal opportunity employer. We are actively seeking to build a diverse and inclusive team with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to support the incredible diversity of grassroots organizing across the country. MVP does not discriminate based upon race/ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a veteran, formerly incarcerated or convicted persons, status as an individual with a disability, or any other characteristic.