Director Of Institutional Giving

Position Summary:

The Director of Institutional Giving is responsible for the implementation and management of a well-coordinated, comprehensive strategy for cultivating and soliciting $12 million in private grant support annually from foundations (including corporate foundations) in support of Children’s Aid’s mission. The position works closely with the Director of Public Funding in order to foster consistency, alignment and synergy between public and private grant requests and leverage content expertise. This position also promotes cross-collaboration in the interest of corporate engagement. As a member of the Development Department’s senior leadership, the Director works in close partnership with agency and programmatic leadership to ensure an understanding of programmatic operations, innovations, and funding needs. The Director analyzes divisional programs and budgets and works in close coordination with the Fiscal department, especially around agency budgets. The Director reports to the Chief Development Officer and manages a team of four grant writers.

Children’s Aid prioritizes the professional development of our employees and fosters a community of learning and growth. We provide opportunities that directly align with employee goals and offer supportive feedback to steer ongoing professional development.

This position has a hybrid work schedule including days each week at Children’s Aid’s headquarters and sites.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures
• Develop, implement and evaluate the Department’s annual action plan that focuses on maintaining, expanding and enhancing institutional and corporate foundation partnerships in support of a cross-section of agency programs, special projects and capital support, when applicable
• Drive then support executive leadership with outreach and engagement strategies to maintain and increase grant revenue, inclusive of funder priorities, histories and alignment in interests; provide regular reports and updates to the Chief Development Officer and other executive staff
• Ensure strategic alignment through collaboration with other departments by:
• ­Work in close partnership with program leadership to ensure an understanding of programmatic innovations and funding needs and to communicate that information to a funding audience
• Partner with the Fiscal department and divisional budget directors in the agency’s annual budget process
• Work with the Policy and Performance Management teams to uncover data relevant to funding opportunities
• ­Delegate and oversee a close relationship with the Marketing/Communications team to develop materials and promote social media opportunities
• Ensure strong consistency and alignment in messaging and approach
• Engage in cross collaboration with the Public Funding team to strategize around funding gaps and opportunities resulting from public contracts, understand policy implications on programming and services, and coordinate and leverage written content
• Collaborate and execute strategy in coordination with Development’s Corporate team to maximize impact and partnership with corporate foundations
• Support and strengthen agency programs through opportunities for public-private partnerships based on programmatic needs, budget analysis, and funder priorities

Donor Stewardship and Grant Management

• Ensure close collaboration between Development and other internal departments to create informed proposals responsive to programmatic needs, direction and capacity, and ensure accuracy and consistency with organizational priorities and communications standards
• Work with divisional budget directors and fiscal staff to ensure proper classification and designation of grants, monitor use of funds, and ensure high level of communication and accurate reporting on all project budgets
• Actively maintain existing funding and seek new sources of support by leading the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of relations with private and corporate foundations, with a focus on the agency’s identified priority areas
• Promote ongoing stewardship with funders through customized communication as appropriate and the distribution of publications including annual reports, newsletters and event invitations; guide staff in proactively identifying cultivation opportunities among funders in respective portfolios
• Field incoming inquiries from prospective partners and manage a pipeline of both prospective and active funders; serve as primary contact for funding representatives
• Arrange and conduct site visits and ensure timely, accurate and strategic follow-up with funders and prospective supporters
• Lead and direct grant writing staff in prospect research, proposal writing, grant reporting, and targeted donor correspondence and outreach
• Monitor the grant life-cycle and manage the workflow of grant writers to respond to the balance of deadlines, and ensure efficient submission and follow-up
• Oversee the utilization of the Raiser’s Edge database for relationship management, including tracking grants received, reports due, proposals pending, and new prospects
• Track industry best practices, relevant industry articles and newsworthy information (e.g., Chronicle of Philanthropy) and attend informational meetings as required by funders and potential funders

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent; in lieu of Masters, seven to ten years related experience and/or training
• A minimum of five to seven years of successful, results-oriented experience in proposal writing, preferably for a child welfare/youth development organization or equivalent

Key Competencies:

• Demonstrated success in identifying, developing, and stewarding relationships and securing funding from private grant resources such as foundations and corporations
• Knowledge of Development software (Raiser’s Edge preferred), Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, presentation, and networking skills with large groups of people as well as with individuals; must work well as a supervisor, independently and as a team member
• Strong and demonstrated supervisory and team-building experience
• Ability to succeed in a deadline-driven environment and handle multiple priorities with professionalism
• Excellent writing and editing skills and demonstrated ability in grant and proposal writing at appropriate levels for varied proposal development
• Ability to work with program staff to develop an idea into a concrete proposal for funding, including a clear statement of need, program goals and outcomes, evaluation methods and budgets
• Strong fiscal acumen
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong commitment to and passion for helping children in poverty succeed and thrive

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.