Vice President of External Relations

WHO WE ARE

We believe that community ownership of community assets is one of the most powerful tools for cultivating thriving communities, promoting economic justice, and building power.

As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we offer tailored financing solutions and expert advisory services to support community-led real estate projects in low-income communities in California. Our approach enables community-rooted organizations to acquire, preserve, and develop social purpose real estate that provides affordable and supportive housing, meets human needs, fosters artistic cultural expression, and builds income and wealth.

Since our founding in 1987, we have invested $613M+ in financing and distributed more than $38M in grants, leveraging another $2.5B+. Our team has empowered hundreds of nonprofits and social enterprises in navigating the complexities of real estate development and financing, helping our clients achieve permanency, well-being, justice, power, and equity.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Vice President of External Relations is a key leader and strategist, directing Community Vision’s resource development, capitalization, communications, marketing and related engagement events. In partnership with staff, the President, and the Board, and other key stakeholders, the Vice President creates and implements plans to grow and diversify the organization’s funding and capitalization sources—maintaining $130M+ in capitalization and securing additional investment and generating an additional $3M+ annually in programmatic and general operating support. The Vice President also oversees communications and marketing, including growing our brand and reputation through community centered storytelling and creative content.

This collaborative leader supervises a team of three to five experienced professionals while working effectively across departments. They serve as a pivotal member of the Executive Team, providing strategic insights related to their department and to the organization as a whole.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Resource Development: Philanthropy and Giving (25%)

• Create and manage an annual Development Plan that guides activities and achieves budget goals including programming and general operating support.
• Oversee institutional giving relationships, ensure high-quality applications and accurate and timely reporting are submitted.
• Work with the President, Vice President of Capital Solutions, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, and program and fundraising staff to develop fundraising strategies for programs and initiatives.
• Support federal grant applications, particularly to the CDFI Fund, including collaboration with outside consultants.
• Work with Community Vision’s Board to sustain a culture of philanthropy and strengthen the Board’s capacity to raise funds and secure investments.
• Oversee the planning, implementation and sponsorship of events ranging from small investor/funder gatherings to a large (250+ attendees) annual celebration, with a focus on authentic engagement.

Resource Development: Capitalization (25%)

• Develop and implement a scalable strategy that identifies and secures the investment capital needed to meet the organization’s community lending goals. This includes attracting new as well as retaining existing investments from impact investors, banks, corporations, religious organizations, health institutions, government, foundations and more.
• Partner with the President, Vice President of Capital Solutions, and Vice President of Finance to establish and monitor capitalization needs and set investment goals.
• Secure new equity into the loan fund through various sources including government, foundation and individual gifts and support.
• Create engagement and recognition opportunities that give investors quality opportunities to connect to the organization’s mission and clients.
• Oversee annual Securities Permit application, end-of-year interest payment, and other deadline-specific activities, including coordination with finance and compliance staff.

Strategic Communications + Marketing (25%)

• Serve as a strategic thought partner in the creation and implementation of marketing and communications priorities, social media campaigns, and other collateral that tell the story of Community Vision’s impact and lifts up our clients and communities.
• Oversee and engage in the production of annual and impact reports, the e-newsletter and marketing materials, and maintenance of website and social media channels.
• Develop and implement systems to evaluate the efficacy of external communications strategies, utilizing learnings to increase engagement.
• Serve as point of contact for the media as needed and lead Community Vision’s press approach.
• Work with and train staff and Board to maintain communication and brand standards.

Leadership and People Management (25%)

• Ensure department deliverables are met as outlined in annual organization budget and workplan, meeting or exceeding goals related to fundraising, capitalization, and marketing and communications.
• Serve as high-level strategic thought partner to the President, the Executive Team and department on fundraising, capitalization, marketing and communications.
• Engage the Board of Directors with the External Relations team’s work, report progress on goals and solicit advice and support on fundraising and investment prospects.
• Serve as the internal expert on External Relations staffing, partnering with Human Resources and other stakeholders to build and maintain a dynamic team of development, capitalization and communications professionals.
• Mentor, upskill, and grow individual contributors and managers to provide independent, autonomous, cross-functional work in service of the greater team and organization.
• Provide active contractor and consultant management, including strategy, direction, oversight, contract management and budgeting.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, investor relations, or external affairs, preferably in a CDFI, a nonprofit financial institution, and/or at an economic or community development organization.
• Demonstrated success securing seven-figure gifts or investments and managing large-scale fundraising or capitalization efforts.
• Successful history of applying for federal grants.
• Experience building relationships with financial institutions, philanthropic funders, and/or government agencies, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.
• History of cultivating and maintaining individual funder, investor and other high net-worth individual relationships.
• Experience developing and implementing communications plans and outreach campaigns, including overseeing the website, social media channels and other engagement strategies.
• Passion for the organization’s mission and commitment to advancing its goals in the community development sector.
• A track record of building and sustaining healthy teams for the success and growth of the department, and inspiring deeper intra- and inter-departmental collaboration.
• Commitment to mentor and upskill individual contributors and managers in support of creating an internal leadership pipeline and pathways to growth opportunities.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional facilitation and presentation skills to influence diverse audiences.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment with a focus on problem-solving and resolution.
• Lived experience in, working with, or organizing in the communities and geographies Community Vision serves, including counties outside of the Bay Area; knowledge of the Central Valley is especially desirable.

MORE ABOUT THE POSITION

The Vice President of External Relations is a full-time, exempt position. This position reports to the President. The salary range for this position is between $195,000 and $210,000 annually, depending on experience. Benefits include: comprehensive health and wellness package with 100% employer-paid insurance premiums for employees and a generous contribution towards dependent coverage; robust long-term disability and life insurance coverage; technology subsidy; valuable employer contributions to retirement savings; more than three weeks’ vacation to start (with longevity increases); access to and financial support of professional development; and, a demonstrated commitment to work/life balance.

The position will be based at either of Community Vision’s offices in San Francisco or Oakland, with flexibility for hybrid work. Regular travel during and outside of business hours to local/regional Bay Area events, meetings, and activities is to be expected as part of this role. The position requires regular computer and telephone use plus some minimal lifting.

TO APPLY

Apply online through Community Vision’s Career Center. Cover letters should be included and should discuss your interest in the position and in working at Community Vision. Incomplete applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Position will remain open until filled. For more information on our programs and services, please visit our website at: communityvisionca.org.

Community Vision is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing applicants and employees with a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Community Vision are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations where we operate. Community Vision will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics and encourages applicants with these characteristics to apply.

For positions based in San Francisco, pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.