Director of Philanthropic Engagement

About EmbraceRace

Established as a national nonprofit in 2016, EmbraceRace supports parents, guardians, educators, and other caregivers working to raise children who are thoughtful, informed and brave about race so that multiracial democracy in the United States can thrive. EmbraceRace provides essential tools, resources, and networks needed to nurture resilience in children of color; nurture inclusive, empathetic children of all stripes; raise kids who think critically about race; and support a movement of kid and adult racial justice advocates for all children. At a critical growth phase following increased demand for its resources and partnerships after George Floyd’s murder, EmbraceRace is poised to launch significant new initiatives aimed at empowering parents, educators, and caregivers in building a more inclusive and equitable future. 

EmbraceRace is fiscally sponsored by the Proteus Fund. Visit www.embracerace.org. 

About the Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund connects philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice. We strive to advance the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer and disability justice, and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. To do our work effectively and with significant impact, Proteus Fund creates dynamic relationships between progressive philanthropists, movement leaders, and other allies that go far beyond transactional grantmaking. Our trusted position among funders and field actors enables us to support, both through collaborative grantmaking and other efforts, a broad array of strategies to achieve social justice victories. Our donor collaboratives are best-in-class models for bridging responsive philanthropy and cutting-edge social justice movements for deeper impact, aligning resources to address critical needs, and shaping strategy alongside our partners. Through our fiscal sponsorship program, Proteus Fund partners with initiatives which play a powerful role in the larger ecosystem for social change, providing them with tailored and comprehensive organizational support.

To date, Proteus Fund, and its affiliated 501c4 organization, the Proteus Action League, have distributed $280 million in grants, and provided other essential tools to support activists, advocates, networks, coalitions, and issue-specific campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Proteus Fund is headquartered in New York City, with staff based across the entire United States.

The Role 

EmbraceRace, with a 2023 operational budget of $1.7 million, seeks a dynamic Director of Philanthropic Engagement to play a pivotal role in our growth. Our goal is to generate and manage at least $2 million in revenue in 2025, with annual growth to fuel our mission of developing race-brave kids of all racial identities.

We seek a self-directed, energetic leader who is passionate about racial justice and  eager to develop and deepen relationships with individual donors, particularly those with major giving potential. This mission-aligned leader will be excited by the opportunity to move our small-but-mighty organization to significantly higher levels of programmatic and movement-building impact. 

This is a full-time (40 hour per week) position. The person who occupies the position can live anywhere in the United States. 

You will do this by:

Designing and modifying our core fundraising strategy (20%)

• Work with the Executive Director to develop a comprehensive strategy to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and institutional funders aligned with EmbraceRace’s mission, strategy, and approach.
• Set the big picture for evolving our fundraising, building a prospect pipeline, maximizing engagement of funders with the organization, and investing all staff in building a culture of philanthropy. 
• Develop key performance indicators to systems to monitor progress and ensure continuous improvement of fundraising efforts.

Implement our core fundraising strategy  (60%)

• Oversee all fundraising efforts to ensure we are raising our annual revenue budget (goal in 2025 will be $2M) and making progress toward growth through a diversified fundraising plan, including developing a major gifts program
• Individual Giving
• Design and implement strategic fundraising campaigns targeting individual donors at various giving levels.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward a portfolio of major gift prospects.
• Develop and execute personalized engagement plans for major donors, including regular communication, impact reporting, and events.
• Build authentic relationships with major donors, fostering long-term partnerships and a deeper connection to EmbraceRace's mission.
• Organize and execute engaging events for smaller donor groups, fostering community and deepening their connection to EmbraceRace.
• Institutional Giving
• In collaboration with the Co-Executive Director, oversee and manage relationships with institutional donors, including foundations and corporations.
• Assist in the development and submission of grant proposals and reports.
• Cultivate new institutional funding opportunities and maintain strong relationships with existing funders.

Leadership and External Relations (20%)

• Partner with the EmbraceRace team to create an active and collaborative culture of philanthropy within the organization.
• Partner with the Co-Executive Director to engage the National Advisory and manage the fundraising committee, leveraging their expertise to foster fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Communications Manager to bolster EmbraceRace’s visibility, aligning communication efforts with fundraising goals to attract and retain donors.
• Create and maintain high-quality external materials to support fundraising, including pitch decks and one-pagers.
• Potential for supervisory responsibilities.
• Occasional travel.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess the following skillsets:

• Strategic Planning and Execution: Ability to set clear goals, develop comprehensive strategies, and implement plans to achieve philanthropic targets. This includes the skill to navigate the complexities of various giving sectors (individual, foundations, corporate) and to adjust strategies based on performance metrics and external factors.
• Relationship Building and Management: Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of donors, partners, and team members. This encompasses both the ability to engage effectively with high-level stakeholders and to collaborate with internal teams and advisory committees.
• Communication and Persuasion: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the capacity to create compelling narratives for different audiences. This includes the development of grant applications, campaign materials, and the ability to articulate EmbraceRace's mission and impact persuasively to inspire and secure funding.
• Analytical and Research Abilities: Proficiency in donor research, data analysis, and the use of CRM systems (like Salesforce) to inform decision-making. This skill is vital for understanding donor histories, predicting future giving patterns, and identifying new funding opportunities.
• Ability and Ease with Discussions about Race: High degree of thoughtfulness and attention to how to communicate respectfully about children's racial learning and the mission of EmbraceRace. Ability to engage donors and stakeholders in meaningful conversations about race, inclusivity, and equity.

The Person

Successful candidates will see themselves in the following examples:    

• You possess a growth-oriented mindset: You believe in the potential for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement within yourself and the organization. You encourage a proactive approach to challenges, seeing them as opportunities to learn and expand the organization's impact. 
• You operate with equity and inclusivity: You have a deep commitment to understanding and valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially regarding racial equity. You recognize that this mindset is crucial for effectively communicating EmbraceRace's mission and engaging with a diverse group of donors, partners, and communities.
• You are collaborative and adaptive: You demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a dynamic, team-oriented virtual environment, adapting to changing needs and priorities while maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, donors, and partners. 
• You are positive and tenacious: You demonstrate determination and optimism, even in the face of challenges or setbacks. You know, through experience, that this approach is crucial to navigating the complex landscape of philanthropy, building relationships, and securing the resources necessary for EmbraceRace to achieve its ambitious goals.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• Passion for EmbraceRace’s mission and approach
• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with emphasis on individual giving and major gifts
• Proven track record of cultivating and securing major gifts
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong donor relationships
• Excellent oral and written communications skills 
• Comfort with CRM platforms like Salesforce 
• Existing donor network and willingness to leverage it on behalf of EmbraceRace 

Benefits

Proteus Fund is committed to ensuring that its employees are supported holistically, from compensation, benefits and resources to an enriching work environment and collaborative culture. Proteus Fund leads the market in a number of its offerings, including a sector-leading retirement plan contribution and robust benefits package. The recruiting team will share more information regarding this commitment and offerings. 

• Medical and dental benefits for employee and eligible dependents available on the first day of work.
• Retirement savings account (401k) with an organization contribution of 10% of annual salary
• Three weeks’ paid vacation in first year of work; four weeks in subsequent years
• Fifteen sick days per year
• Three personal days per year
• Fifteen paid holidays
• Professional development initiatives for growth
• Life Insurance
• Paid Family Leave, short-term, and long-term disability

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

Please note, in an effort to maintain and safeguard staff’s health, well-being, and safety, Proteus Fund requires all employees to be vaccinated prior to their employment and adhere to the regular upkeep of COVID-19 vaccination requirements as per CDC recommendations while employed. Proof of the CDC-recommended level of COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment with Proteus Fund.

EEO Statement 

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at Proteus Fund/EmbraceRace, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.