Organization

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Bureau of Indian Education, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. CCSSO seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.
 
Summary

The Council seeks a Managing Director, Foundation & Corporate Relations to serve as a vital member of the Council’s Development Team. The Managing Director is responsible for advancing a robust portfolio of funding partnerships with private foundations, corporate partners, and government agencies. This writing-intensive and comprehensive role involves coordinating the internal systems of CCSSO to steward and cultivate our institutional donors, ensuring the timely development, submission, and management of grant and sponsorship proposals, and applying best practices for tracking, acknowledgment, and reporting to our institutional partners. Managing Director, Foundation & Corporate Relations will have three development professionals reporting directly to her/him who will be responsible for implementation and support.
 
We are looking for an accomplished grants writer with a proven record of developing winning proposals and compelling reports. In line with our high standards for donor stewardship, this individual must also provide proactive updates to institutional supporters, organize successful site visits, and participate in meetings, calls, and events that advance these vital relationships.
 
Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Foundation Relations Management

• Provide strategic leadership, formulating and executing fundraising practices to increase support from corporations and foundations in alignment with CCSSO’s strategic goals and revenue needs.

• Design and write high-level grant requests and proposals, including detailed needs assessments, program descriptions, budget narratives, logic models, etc.,

• Conduct prospect research and attend related events to grow networks and identify new prospects for key programs and initiatives.

• Demonstrated success with leading and achieving sales goals with a minimum of $10 million in annual sales.

• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, sales management, and communications and brand management.

• Manage a portfolio of funders and prospects with a special emphasis on new and enhanced gifts.

• Directly solicit six and seven-figure asks to meet defined fundraising goals. Secure in-person and phone meetings held alone and with CCSSO leadership.

• Effectively use CRM for account management, data tracking, and historical analysis of institutional funder relationships.

 
Corporate Relations Management

• Collaborate with colleagues and external audiences to engage donors and prospects strategically in CCSSO’s programming and events to enhance engagement and the value proposition.

• Work collaboratively with CDO to develop creative corporate cultivation and sponsorship opportunities with value-added benefits for donors.

• Develop collateral material to support fundraising initiatives and solicitations including case statements, one-page overviews, grant requests and sponsorship audits. 

• Accountable to develop and steward a portfolio of relationships from the corporate community to provide funding for our mission (sponsorship, retail campaigns, events and other partnerships).

• Support development of an annual business plan to meet financial targets.

• Develop revenue projections and financial analysis.

• Oversee stewardship activities; ensure a high-touch response to partners.

• Contribute to the overall success of the development department, share best practices, and stay abreast of philanthropic trends.

Education and Minimum Qualifications:                  

• Bachelor's Degree in communication, marketing, non-profit management or other relevant field.

• 7+ years of experience in a fast-paced, high volume development operation with a proven track record of successful proposal writing and grant management.

• Demonstrated experience meeting ambitious annual targets in previous position(s).

• Proven record of directly soliciting and securing five and six-figure corporate & foundation gifts.

• Proven success with prospect/donor research and moves management.

• Experience/compliance with development department protocols and processes (i.e., prospect review).

• Experience in Salesforce, or other database management software.

• Ability and willingness to travel (up to 30% of the time).
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• An exceptional ability to multi-task carry out numerous projects at the same time, and deal with frequent interruptions.

• Diplomacy and an ability to interface with high-level officials.

• Strong attention to detail and standardizing procedures.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Proven ability to articulate organizational objectives and development goals.

• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills, with an ability to:

           Create and present effective solicitations.
           Write successful proposals, including budget development.
           Draft professional correspondence and reports for senior executives.
           Convey complex ideas succinctly.

• Proficiency in MS Office with strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word.

 
Technical Skills  
 
To perform this job successfully, an individual should be able to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and have created or used charts, spreadsheets, and databases. Successful incumbents are proficient at using WebEx, Outlook, and Intranet/Internet tools.
 

Physical Demands
 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
                                                                                                           
Work Environment
 
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.