Description

Asphalt Green is a non-profit organization focused on sports and fitness. We transform lives and build community through sports, fitness and play for all. We are in search of an exceptional fundraising professional to join the organization’s growing development program. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations will drive efforts to recruit institutional partners and will be responsible for developing strategies to attract strategic investment by foundations and corporations. This position is an on-site role at Asphalt Green’s Upper East Side campus.

The Director will lead efforts to engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects at all major gift-levels ($50K ), with a focus on securing six and seven-figure grants. Qualified candidates will have a history as an experienced development professional with strong relationships with corporate and other foundations that are aligned in mission with Asphalt Green.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and steward relationships with institutional funders and develop funding opportunities that align with regional and national foundations and their priorities. Conduct prospect research to identify new potential foundations and corporate partners for Asphalt Green.
• Build and manage a portfolio of foundation prospects and serve as a primary partner to the Chief Development Officer and program and executive team members to build a strong prospect pipeline for Asphalt Green.
• Identify six and seven-figure grant opportunities for Asphalt Green and prepare compelling proposal ideas that align with foundation priorities and motivate investment in Asphalt Green’s mission and capital spaces.
• Serve as a partner to the Chief Development Officer and executive team on the development of a comprehensive capital campaign for Asphalt Green.
• Write and edit grant proposals, letters of inquiry, concept papers, and reports in appropriate language for donors. Successfully manage the process of preparing and submitting proposals, letters of intent, budgets and reports and meet all donor/prospect deadlines.
• Write and execute gift agreements and terms for grants.
• Organize and prepare for site visits, presentations, and events with foundation donors. Prepare leadership briefings for the executive team and Board members as needed.
• Prepare timely fundraising progress reports. Comply with all grant terms and reporting as required by donors. Provide necessary follow-up and stewardship. Meet all grantor deadlines.
• Develop training materials to coach program leaders in grant strategy and best practices.
• Create and manage a stewardship calendar and associated communications and touchpoints to support successful long-term partnerships with institutional funders.
• Develop strong and collaborative working relationships with members of the organization to best understand Asphalt Green’s mission and programs, and effectively articulate this information to donors and the public.
• Document all development activity related to donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship using the Salesforce/CRM system.
• Create and manage systems for pipelines and forecast data analysis and tracking. Report regular progress against goals, including key donor engagement, solicitation and closed gifts metrics, and moves management progress.
• Recommend potential prospects for the board and volunteer committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, is required.
• 7 years of relevant development experience (at least 5 years of experience in foundation relations), including strong existing relationships with large foundations, and a proven record of success in grant writing and grants management.
• Experienced in creating project budgets, and tracking outcomes and financial progress throughout the grant cycle.
• Comfortable with aggressive goals, and the ability to independently solicit and secure private gifts.
• Experience building and sustaining trusted relationships with large corporations and foundations.
• Success supporting organizational leadership in donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs in a way that is compelling to prospects, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Knowledge of software and web-based applications, including Excel budget spreadsheets, MS office, development database experience (Salesforce), and Foundation Center and other foundation directories.
• Results-oriented self-starter with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit.
• Passion for Asphalt Green’s mission and the ability to serve as an ambassador for the organization.