Senior Director of Partnerships

WHO WE ARE

iCivics reimagines civic education for American Democracy. Founded in 2009 by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics is dedicated to advancing civic learning and leading the movement to make civic education a nationwide priority so all young people have the confidence to shape the world around them and believe in our country’s future. We work to inspire life-long civic engagement by providing high-quality and innovative learning resources, advancing policy for civics education, and engaging institutions, communities, and families in building a national movement. To date, we’ve served more than 9 million students and 145,000 educators in all 50 states.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

iCivics has grown tremendously in recent years. At the onset of a new strategic plan, we are seeking a Senior Director of Partnerships to build upon a strong financial base, expand our networks, and secure the support needed to continue to innovate and evolve our work. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Senior Director of Partnerships will:

• Set and implement strategies for engaging individual and institutional supporters with the capacity to contribute major (5-7+ figure) gifts to fuel iCivics’ growth.
• Build and expand ongoing partnership and engagement with key allies and stakeholders across the field, inclusive of educational, cultural, historical, and civic organizations and funders.
• Lead efforts to identify and pursue a robust pipeline of prospects with an affiliation for iCivics’ mission. Leverage iCivics’ deep networks and design individualized plans for outreach and relationship building.
• Serve as a knowledgeable ambassador for iCivics, representing the organization at conferences, panels, speaking engagements, meetings, social gatherings, and other events; deepen iCivics’ networks within the broader education and democracy space.
• In partnership with the Chief Development officer, strategically leverage CEO, CDO, and board members’ time and networks in donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Create meaningful opportunities for supporters to engage with iCivics’ mission, programs, and networks e.g., Civic Learning Week, CivxNow coalition.
• Ensure exceptional follow-through and a high level of responsiveness in relationship management; work with Development Associate to track all touchpoints, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with the program team in stewarding relationships and ensuring supporters remain well informed about the impact of their gifts.
• Contribute as a senior leader to the strategic direction of the organization and model iCivics values and culture in all aspects of your work.

WHO YOU ARE

• An enthusiastic supporter of civic education and iCivics’ mission and values. You are inspired to work for high-quality civics education for our country’s youth. You thrive on a fast-paced team that values collaboration, equity, and non-partisanship.
• An energetic networker who seeks out and seizes opportunities. You possess 8+ years of professional experience inclusive of fundraising, business development, partnership development, external relations, or a similar job function. You bring experience in and excitement for building a donor base, as well as personally closing major gifts.
• A thoughtful relationship builder who develops rapport easily and fosters long-term connections. You have a warm, energetic, and authentic personality that translates to building connections with a broad range of stakeholders. You have exceptional follow-through and effectively manage multiple relationships at different stages of cultivation.
• An engaging and clear communicator who draws people in. You are skilled in communicating in ways that inspire others to action. You demonstrate an understanding of the context surrounding an issue area and clearly articulate the “why” behind an organization’s mission and impact.
• A strategic thinker with the ability to implement tactically. You see the big picture and draw connections between and within networks to achieve mutually beneficial goals. You have a bias towards action and experience translating strategy into actionable activities.
• A self-directed and resourceful entrepreneurial spirit. You have a “get it done” attitude, with the ability to stay focused and nimble in a fast-paced environment. You are a self-starter and take initiative to run with and learn from new ideas.