Associate Director of Institutional Partnerships

At Summer Search, we believe in 'No Ceilings' and envision a world in which young people, regardless of circumstances, can chart their own destiny. In the United States, students from underserved communities – disproportionately BIPOC and first-generation – face systemic inequities in school, in the workforce, and in life. Nevertheless, these young people possess unique strengths, resilience, and limitless potential.

Since 1990, Summer Search has partnered with young people during their transition from adolescence into adulthood by connecting them to expansive opportunities, professional mentoring, and a community of support. Summer Searchers recognize their potential and build a toolkit to navigate and challenge systemic barriers, break new ground for their families and communities, and achieve economic equity and a life of purpose.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Summer Search National is seeking an Associate Director of Institutional Partnerships to play a vital role in institutional fundraising org-wide. This dynamic role will manage a portfolio of institutional partners and lead a team of two staff responsible for writing and coordinating grants.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced institutional fundraiser to lead a collaborative team, interface with external partners, and be a part of a team tasked with raising $7MM+ in crucial institutional fundraising critical to Summer Search’s mission. This hire will report to the National Director of Strategic Partnerships and will be a part of a dedicated team of six institutional fundraisers on the National Development Team.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Specifically the Associate Director will:

• Manage a $1.5-2MM+ annual portfolio of institutional accounts
  • Lead the full donor life cycle for the portfolio from identification and cultivation, through solicitation and stewardship of portfolio, using moves management to retain donors and upgrade gifts at the 5-6 figure level.
  • Secure and track pledge fulfillment and verbal collection across portfolio
  • Identify and qualify new foundation, corporate and government prospects to strengthen the institutional pipeline.
  • Secure and build strategy for 15+ donor meetings per quarter.
  • Develop donor strategies, that include leveraging organizational leadership, board members and natural partners.
  • Coordinate with the Senior Development Manager and Development Coordinator on grant deliverables for the portfolio.
  • Maintain accurate donor records in Raiser’s Edge.
• Directly supervise, coach, and mentor up to 2 direct reports, a Senior Development Manager and Development Coordinator, Institutional Partnerships
  • Oversee the institutional teams grant writing and reporting process, supporting effective collaboration between Relationship Managers, and key stakeholders across the organization to ensure proposals and reports are high quality, accurate and submitted on time.
• Partner with Site Development Leads to advance institutional fundraising across Summer Search
  • Develop institutional donor engagement strategy leveraging local boards and site-based staff.
  • Partner with Development Leads to develop and execute strategy for board / associate board participation in institutional fundraising.
• Support corporate engagement in partnership with the National Director of Strategic Partnerships, who leads this work
  • Oversee the corporate engagement work of direct reports including partner benefits fulfillment and corporate volunteering event logistics.
  • Actively use Summer Searching corporate partnership and engagement structure to build and deepen relationships with corporate donors and prospects in the portfolio. Co-leading virtual and in-person engagements with the Career and Program teams.
• Represent Summer Search with current and prospective funders and partners, in donor meetings and at external events

WHO YOU ARE

The Associate Director of Institutional Partnerships calls for an experienced institutional fundraiser who thrives in relationship building and takes a strategic and data informed approach. Specifically, this hire will bring:

• EXPERIENCE: 5+ years of experience in institutional fundraising with demonstrated ability to meet fundraising goals inclusive of experience managing staff and developing fundraising strategies.
• FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES: You approach fundraising through an analytical and data-driven lens and are hands-on in translating strategy into tangible activities and goals.
• PEOPLE MANAGEMENT: You coach, guide and support members of your team towards achieving individual and collective goals. As a leader you embody practices to effectively hold space, facilitate professional growth, amplify strengths, and hold staff members accountable. Your management style reflects your ability to be adaptive, responsive, and supportive of your team to show up as their authentic and full self.
• RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: You partner with prospects and donors by building lasting relationships to support the organizational mission and meet fundraising goals.
• PROJECT MANAGEMENT: You take initiative to create systems and structures to achieve goals and objectives. You succeed at managing multiple workstreams and motivating, coordinating, and directing others to stay on track.
• CRITICAL CONCIOUSNESS: You have an understanding of the root causes of societal discrimination and injustices and are self-reflective about your own privilege and positional power. You apply critical thinking and take action toward liberatory and inclusive practices.
• TECHNOLOGY SKILLS: Command of Donor Database (RE NXT preferred) for Moves Management.

In addition, all Summer Search staff bring a commitment to our mission of unleashing students’ potential through mentoring and transformative experiences, as well as the ability to thrive in an environment that values excellence, gratitude, well-being, diversity, authenticity, and collaboration.

LOCATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

This is a hybrid role with two days of in-person work required at one of our site offices. This hire must be located within commuting distance of one of our offices by their first day.

Site offices include Bay Area (in Oakland, CA), Seattle (in Tukwila, WA), New York City (in Manhattan, NYC), Boston (in Jamaica Plain, MA), and Philadelphia (in Philadelphia, PA). Additional in person work is required as needed for events and donor meetings.