Associate Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Relations (apply by 10/3)

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: In 10 years, 75 million people facing barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.    

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of close to 300 people across the country, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.  Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

Equal Employment Opportunity at JFF  

Inclusion, belonging, and well-being are core to JFF’s North Star and mission, and we seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve as it is important to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and career advancement opportunities for all.  

JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply to our open roles. 

About the Position 

JFF is funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Fundraising from institutional sources currently accounts for almost all of JFF's annual $80M+ operating budget. At any given time, JFF is pursuing 200+ discrete funding opportunities - some invited, and some competitive - often in partnership with organizations in communities and regions across the country.  

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and serving on a small Development Leadership Team with colleagues in charge of Government Development and Development Operations, the Associate Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Relations (AVP, CFR) will lead a talented team of four fundraisers dedicated to the pursuit of corporate and foundation revenues, working in close partnership with the programmatic leaders and subject matter experts and senior leaders who drive JFF's work and engage directly with funders in funding pursuit as well as project execution.  

The AVP will have the opportunity to build upon JFF’s current $60M+ corporate and foundation   portfolio to renew current funders and increase overall funding through leadership of the CFR team, collaboration with program leaders, and the strategic management of new and existing high value relationships. Along with the Chief Development Officer and others on the Development Team, the AVP will advise business units and leaders of cross-cutting bodies of work on fundraising strategy and planning. The AVP will continue to build JFF's success in securing capacity and unrestricted investments as well as promoting a "OneJFF" narrative among funders with multiple points of programmatic engagement.    

The ideal candidate for this role brings extensive experience in corporate and foundation fundraising and possesses deep fundraising knowledge and expertise. They will be a seasoned solicitor, a creative relationship manager, and a top-notch communicator. The ideal candidate is a strategic and consultative partner who is energized by serving as a thought partner to senior leaders across JFF while also having the ability to own their own fundraising portfolio and executing on that work. They will have experience leading a CFR team to accomplish ambitious goals in a complex and multi-faceted organization where most funding is driven by programmatic priorities. Finally, the ideal candidate will possess working knowledge and experience in the domain of workforce development and career-related education and the key funders and organizations that are active in this domain. 

What You'll Do  

Lead the Corporate and Foundation Relations team and the strategic direction and management of corporate and foundation fundraising efforts to advance JFF’s mission 

• Advance JFF’s influence and market position in the field by leveraging specialized knowledge in compelling institutional fundraising strategies and approaches aligned to JFF's organizational goals and revenue targets  
• Partner with the CDO and the rest of the Development Leadership Team on strategy development and overall direction for the Development team 
• Serve as Development relationship manager for a personal portfolio of 40+ key funders and prospects, including some of JFF's most significant institutional funders and those with multiple intersection points with JFF; provide strategic insight and advice on funder priorities and development strategy to program teams 
• Seek and capitalize on opportunities to secure unrestricted and flexible gifts/grants while retaining and growing support for programmatic initiatives and bodies of work 
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of four CFR development professionals to achieve ambitious fundraising goals, providing guidance on prospect qualification, proposal development, and relationship management. Oversee the team's collective pipeline management 
• Model inclusive leadership, stewarding a team culture that celebrates what each individual brings to the team and ensures that each person has equal opportunity to thrive at JFF 
• Develop and track metrics that capture both CFR team performance and the effectiveness of program team fundraising activities 
• Effectively accommodate and adapt management style and mentorship to the varied levels of experience and knowledge of JFF on the team. Mentor and support staff development and learning opportunities for the CFR team 
• Leverage personal networks, strategic communications, and participation in convenings to advance the Development team's work and drive JFF's impact  

Foster deep and effective collaboration with program teams in order to collectively achieve fundraising goals 

• Partner with executive, development, and program leadership to identify funding priorities and effectively leverage JFF's relationships and expertise, program subject matter expertise, and program team relationships to achieve fundraising goals 
• Work closely with program teams to identify fundable initiatives, support concept development, and ensure proposals align with both funder interests and programmatic expertise 
• Facilitate knowledge sharing between program staff and development team to maximize relationship-building opportunities, cultivation strategies, and proposal quality 
• Become thoroughly familiar with a wide array of JFF programs and develop the ability to communicate them in a compelling manner – both verbally and in writing – to funders and prospects 
• Advise program and business unit leaders on fundraising strategy and tactics to help them achieve their goals 
• Foster productive collaboration between development staff and program teams by establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and ways of working, promoting transparent communication and excellence in execution, and earning trust 
• Partner with leadership to anticipate, manage, and resolve competition among program teams for prioritization with specific funders, creating clear and transparent processes for coordination and communication and supporting team members to navigate and resolve challenges 

Champion the Development Team’s strategy 

• Steward a OneJFF strategy throughout the Development Team, ensuring a consistent voice through all interdepartmental corporate and foundation relations strategies and relationships 
• Collaborate with the Development Team leadership to set JFF’s enterprise-wide fundraising strategy 
• Partner with Development leaders to achieve buy-in for the team’s systems, processes, standards, and norms 
• Identify and elevate trends in your team’s successes and challenges with the Development leadership to inform decision-making, strategy, and opportunities across the department 

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You bring substantial experience developing, scaling and managing institutional fundraising programs and teams, ideally within a national organization of some scope and complexity in the nonprofit or social impact sector (new hires at the Associate Vice President level at JFF typically bring 15-20 years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)  
• You have extensive knowledge of foundation and corporate philanthropy processes, practices, and vehicles for giving; you are up-to-date on emerging trends in the sector 
• You have a proven track record in relationship-building, donor cultivation and solicitation and securing multi-million dollar support from foundations and/or corporate sources 
• You have relationships and a network of corporate and/or foundation donors in the learn-to-work ecosystem 
• You have a track record of serving as a thought partner to senior leaders and SME's around institutional fundraising and are energized by balancing advisement with execution 
• You are able to conceptualize funding needs in a way that is compelling to prospects and donors; You know how to communicate with multiple audiences, including adapting the message contents, formats and delivery channels for optimal impact and influence 
• You are excited to roll up your sleeves and contribute actively to writing and editing proposals, qualifying and cultivating funders, and developing initiatives or processes that will improve the effectiveness of fundraising at JFF 
• You are an experienced people manager; you bring experience mentoring and empowering mid- to late-career professionals to allocate resources and manage priorities effectively to keep them focused on results 
• You are authentic, inclusive, values-led and growth oriented, and know how to engage, inspire, develop, and manage others to achieve objectives 
• You prioritize opportunities to stay current with advances in the field; you are able to share best practices and relevant trends to inform your team's and the organization’s work 
• You have the ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities simultaneously while meeting internal and external deadlines 
• You listen actively, ask effective questions, and foster an environment of open dialogue, candid feedback, and psychological safety 
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work   

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

The hiring range for this role is $160,000 - $200,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Associate Vice President salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.   

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Daphne Layton, EVP and Interim Chief Development Officer, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

Applications submitted by 5pmEST on Friday, October 3rd will be prioritized for review. We encourage interested candidates to apply by that date in order to be considered with the first slate of candidates, early on in the hiring process. Applications submitted after that date may not be prioritized for review, depending on the strength of the pool. We will ensure that all candidates will receive updates on their candidacy before the search is closed out.   

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.