Reporting to and working closely with the VP of Institutional Advancement, the Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations will develop and implement a national strategy to secure institutional and corporate funding for CDF. The Director will carry a portfolio of national funders and work closely with and support the VPs of Institutional Advancement and Programs and Strategy to build sustained funding partnerships that respond to CDF programmatic and general operating needs. The Director will also oversee and provide guidance to state offices in support of regional institutional fundraising efforts, including overseeing strategy implementation for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships with institutional funders including corporate entities for sponsorships, in-kind, and other opportunities. Taking an entrepreneurial approach, the Director monitors corporate philanthropy trends and the foundation funding landscape to identify opportunities that align CDF’s goals with potential partners. In time, the Director will also supervise two managers of corporate and foundation relations respectively who will provide grant-writing and corporate engagement support and be the primary contact for and oversee the work of a grants support consultancy that provides additional grant writing and prospecting support to State Offices, Policy, Leadership Development & Organizing, and Freedom Schools programs.
The ideal candidate will have a successful track record of institutional and corporate relationship management, a comprehensive understanding of and expertise in writing complex funding proposals using a theory of change model, and superior knowledge of the institutional funder landscape, particularly in the policy and advocacy space, along with strong personnel management, and excellent organizational skills.
A minimum of seven years of relevant experience working within the nonprofit sector. • Proven track record of success securing and stewarding six and seven-figure gifts and sponsorships from foundations and / or corporations and organizations. • Experience developing and implementing institutional and corporate funding strategy. • Knowledge of the institutional philanthropy landscape and trends. • Knowledge of the corporate giving landscape and trends. • Experience making public presentations with the ability to convey passion and enthusiasm to various audiences. • Experience supervising the work of others to ensure timely funding submissions and reports.
Proficiency in using office 365, relationship management software and foundations databases. • Bachelor’s degree required.
The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor children, children of color and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investments before they get sick, drop out of school, get into trouble or suffer family breakdown.
The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for more than 40 years to ensure a level playing field for all children. We champion policies and programs that lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation. Supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations, CDF advocates nationwide on behalf of children to ensure ch...ildren are always a priority.
We are a national organization with the capacity to work for children at federal, state and community levels across the country. We have our headquarters in Washington, D.C., and offices in California, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tenn., is our home for spiritual renewal, character and leadership development, intergenerational mentoring, and interracial and interfaith dialogue about children’s issues.
