Nonprofit Remote Digest - Issue #548
Our country's education and workforce systems have been failing to support low-income Americans, and it is hurting our young people, employers, and our economy alike.
Propel America Forestall income to pursue higher education and build debt while earning no income, or go straight to a low-paying job, entry-level job without options for advancement. We believe there’s a third way forward. Students can prepare for and begin a well-paying job while setting the stage to earn a college degree.
Development and Communications Director
Location: Flexible (Eastern time zone preferred)
Application deadline: April 1, 2021
The Organization:
Our country's education and workforce systems are inequitable, and it is hurting our young people, employers, and economy. Despite increases in national high school graduation and college enrollment rates, college persistence continues to be low, and youth who start but do not complete college can find themselves in significant debt, beginning or continuing the cycle of financial insecurity. At the same time, many employers struggle to find and sustain entry-level talent, especially in middle-skill jobs requiring a postsecondary credential.
Propel believes a better system can exist—one that seamlessly connects education and employment. We do this by bringing together high schools, community colleges, and employers in a unified system of skill-building, job placement, and ongoing planning for young adults. The model includes a “core course” pursued during or directly after high school, in which students determine and begin to prepare for a job pathway. Propel supports students in applying to affordable training programs, pays a modest stipend, provides mentorship and support, and guarantees a job interview for every “Propel fellow” who successfully completes their training. This process empowers recent high school graduates with the skills, credentials, experiences, and social networks to attain a well-paying job within one year, with opportunities for advancement and higher education.
Propel is currently operating in Louisiana, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, leveraging extensive relationships and credibility with key philanthropic, government, industry, and education leaders. Our current pathways span healthcare, technology and engineering, automotive and manufacturing. Propel is also in the process of piloting a new blended model that provides both online and in-person support, and shifting the long-term strategy to a blended model of credentialing, student support and job placement. The core values that drive our work as an organization are: innovation, courage, joy, team, equity, and impact.
The Opportunity:
We are seeking a tenacious, strategic and result-oriented Development & Communications Director who will spearhead Propel America’s development and fundraising as well as communications efforts in close collaboration with the CEO and Chair of the Board. A new position in the organization, the Director will have the opportunity to build the development and communications functions, fundraising strategy and related processes for Propel. The role will report to the Senior Director of Strategy & Operations and work in close coordination with the CEO, as well as with Propel’s regional Executive Directors. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
National Fundraising Strategy and Execution
Drive the development and execution of Propel’s annual and multi-year fundraising plan in conjunction with the CEO, COO, and Board Chair
Coordinate directly with the CEO to develop and execute external discussions, pitches, and other presentations
Research, identify and build cultivation plans for a pipeline of individual contributors
Develop grant proposals for foundation and corporate contributors
Relationship Management
Ensure Propel maintains positive ongoing relationships with potential, current and historical donors, especially individual contributors, in coordination with the CEO and Board Chair
Track communications and relationships with current and potential funders and ensure follow up as appropriate
Communications Strategy & Execution
Coordinate and drive a multi-channel communications strategy
Support development of and manage communications materials, including blog posts, newsletters etc.
Coordinate the creation of digital, video, audio and print content alongside Propel’s operations team
Maintain and develop brand standards in coordination with the operations team
Track engagement across various platforms (e.g. owned media) and make data-driven decisions
Regional Team Fundraising Support
Create systems and processes to enable regional teams to meet local fundraising goals
Build capacity of regional Executive Directors in partnership with leadership with leadership team to generate revenue through prospect research, content generation, and pitch support
Development Materials and Reporting
Build and update development materials, including fundraising pitch decks
Manage and write grants, proposals and reports for all foundation and corporate fundraising
Skills/Experience:
Experience working with and developing relationships with individual contributors, foundations and/or corporations
Demonstrated excellence in building communications and/or development materials and written communications to donors and other audiences
Strong communication and listening, including the ability to communicate verbally and in written form to multiple audiences
Commitment to Propel America’s mission and core values - innovation, courage, joy, team, equity and impact
Excellent creative thinking skills
Strong detail orientation, execution, and follow-through
Comfort in leveraging technology to research, track and build relationships with potential funders
Excellent collaboration and problem solving skills
Familiarity and experience using G Suite, Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe to build development materials
Experience working with youth at the high school or college level (preferred)
Minimum Qualifications:
At least 4-5 years of experience working in external relations, communications or development role
Education credentials highly valued by industry are preferred, including but not limited to a bachelor’s degree
Propel America is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
We encourage candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply.
Benefits
Propel offers a competitive total rewards package. We cover 90% of premiums, unlimited vacation and a flexible work environment.
Salary
$66,000 - $90,000
How To Apply
The application deadline for this position is April 1, 2021. After this date we do not guarantee review of submissions. Please apply here.