OPEN POSITION: FOUNDATION GRANTS AND CORPORATE RELATIONS OFFICER (Full-time position)

(Posted 10/17/08)

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION

The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice works for social, racial and economic justice in the U.S. and internationally. Our grantmaking, capacity-building and philanthropic advocacy programs promote and support the work of Lesbian, Trans and LGBTI social change organizations in the U.S., Africa, Asia/Pacific, the Caribbean, Latin America, Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Middle East. We also support individual artists through the Lesbian Writers Fund and the Astraea Visual Arts Fund.

Position

Astraea seeks a Foundation Grants and Corporate Relations Officer to support all aspects, strategic and functional, of the Foundation's outreach through grant writing and management as well as outreach and solicitation of foundations and corporations.

The Grants and Corporate Relations Officer is in charge of developing strategies, work plans and funding proposals to solicit Foundations and Corporations to support the mission, increase awareness of the foundation and increase philanthropic support.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an annual overall plan to communicate with foundation and corporation prospects through careful calendaring of proposal and report deadlines.
• Develop operating plans to monitor progress toward yearly institutional (foundations and corporations) goals.
• Research potential new sources of foundation and corporate support.
• Expand the base of private support for Astraea's grantmaking programs with foundations and corporations.
• Create a viable corporate support plan and then work to implement and grow that plan through proposals soliciting outright grants as well as gifts-in kind.
• Function as a member of the Foundation's Development/Communications team, working cooperatively with team members to create and actualize a dynamic fundraising program.
• Work cooperatively with Program and Grants staff to get the most current and useful information to use in writing donor specific grants for the Foundation's program.
• Responsible to verify, create, maintain, update, and disseminate content related material for the development function.
• Help develop a variety of flexible cases for project support to respond to institutional directions and priorities.
• Create appropriate language and texts to describe Astraea's work to prospective grantees.
• Review proposals from Major Gifts and Annual Fund staff to provide content control and consistent messaging.
• Serve as a resource to other development functions for the enhancement of Annual Fund, Major and Planned Gifts, Donor Relations and Special Events, as it relates to communications with prospects and donors.
• Submit proposals to Foundation and Corporate entities to meet the project and annual funding goals.
• Provide development and program/grants staff with information regarding new funding opportunities that could influence current and new projects.
• Stay current with organizational strategies and operational plans in order to recommend potential funding opportunities to enhance programmatic success.
• Assist the Development and Fiscal Departments by drafting policies, written communication, reports and compliance surrounding donor restricted funding and the associated prospect work surrounding donor-restricted funds and donor—advised funds to ensure proper gift stewardship.
• Work with other staff to ensure proper financial stewardship of restricted and donor advised funds.

Qualifications

• At least three years of successive responsibilities in fundraising.
• Two years plus of grant writing experience for foundations and corporations.
• One year plus of budgeting experience or financial oversight of financial activities related to grant funding.
• History of successful development, submission, and acquisition of foundation and corporate grants in the $25K to $1M plus range.
• Ability to manage your own portfolio of donors and prospects, with experience in cultivating relationships, asking for gifts and positioning others to ask.
• Compute proficiency with knowledge of Raiser's Edge, Microsoft Office software and Internet and database experience.
• A strong sensitivity to the mission and work of the Astraea Foundation and confidence in ability to enhance that mission.
• Education: BA or BS required.

Reports to: Director of Development

No phone calls, please - only applicants being considered for interviews will be contacted.

Astraea is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, multicultural work environment. People of color, people with disabilities and people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities are encouraged to apply.