Director of Fundraising (with Executive Leadership Responsibilities)

About FIRST Global

FIRST Global organizes an annual international robotics competition designed to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among youth worldwide. By bringing together high school students from over 190 countries, FIRST Global aims to inspire leadership, foster collaboration across cultures, and encourage innovation to address global challenges.

Purpose

The purpose of FIRST Global is to make FIRST global.

Founded by Dean Kamen, FIRST Global nurtures cross-cultural communication and cooperation among high school students around the world, preparing them to collectively tackle the world’s most pressing challenges and devise solutions that improve the quality of life for all.

The annual FIRST Global Challenge is the key mechanism for accomplishing these goals. It brings together youth from nearly every nation to design, build, and program robots to compete in a collaborative Olympics-style robotics event, themed around an issue of global importance.

Position Overview

The Director of Fundraising is a dynamic and visionary leader responsible for developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies to advance FIRST Global's mission. This role includes executive-level responsibilities, requiring strategic oversight of organizational goals, collaboration with senior leadership, and contributions to overall organizational strategy. The ideal candidate will blend expertise in philanthropy, corporate sponsorship, and partnerships with executive acumen to strengthen the organization's global impact.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and Execute Fundraising Strategies: Design and implement a robust multi-year fundraising plan to secure diverse revenue streams, including individual donors, corporate sponsorships, foundations, grants, and government funding. Expand and diversify revenue generation to support existing programs and operations.
• Major Donor Engagement: Cultivate and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals and key philanthropic stakeholders to secure significant contributions.
• Corporate and Strategic Partnerships: Identify and establish relationships with potential corporate sponsors, institutional partners, and international organizations to support FIRST Global’s mission.
• Grant Writing and Management: Lead the preparation and submission of compelling grant proposals and manage grant compliance, reporting, and stewardship.

Executive Leadership

• Team Leadership: Provide guidance and mentorship to staff, contractors, and volunteers involved in fundraising and outreach activities.
• Strategic Planning: Collaborate with the Executive Director and senior leadership to set organizational priorities, refine strategy, and develop operational plans.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as an ambassador for FIRST Global, representing the organization at events, in the media, and during stakeholder engagements.
• Organizational Oversight: Contribute to the development of policies, budgets, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to align with organizational objectives.

Operational Excellence

• Donor Stewardship: Ensure a personalized and high-quality donor experience, including acknowledgment processes, impact reporting, and ongoing communication.
• Technology and Data Management: Utilize CRM tools and analytics to track fundraising progress, measure success, and identify areas for improvement.
• Global Outreach: Engage with FIRST Global’s international network to identify localized fundraising opportunities and align efforts with global priorities.

Qualifications

Required Experience and Skills

• Proven experience in nonprofit fundraising, including securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating and managing donor relationships.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with experience in organizational strategy and operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in crafting compelling proposals and public presentations.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, donor databases, and analytics tools.
• Passion for STEM education and global initiatives.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in international fundraising or working with global organizations.
• Background in grant writing and reporting.
• Knowledge of robotics, technology, or STEM-related industries is a plus.

Personal Attributes

• Visionary Leadership: Able to articulate and execute a clear vision for growth and impact.
• Collaborative: Skilled at fostering relationships across diverse cultures, industries, and stakeholders.
• Results-Oriented: A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is committed to achieving measurable outcomes.
• Adaptable: Comfortable navigating complex, evolving priorities and working with a remote, globally dispersed team.
• Permanent U.S. work authorization required.