Vice President – Foundation Relations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Provide strategic executive leadership for the fundraising initiatives of American Forests' foundation.

• Propel significant revenue increases and establish strong relationships with national, regional, and family foundations.

• Lead the foundation relations team while personally fostering and securing substantial institutional commitments.

• Collaborate with the President & CEO, senior philanthropy leadership, and program executives on initiatives that are fundable.

• Create and implement a thorough, multi-year strategy for foundation relations.

• Set and achieve both annual and long-term fundraising objectives for the foundation.

• Identify and qualify potential foundation partners in areas such as climate, conservation, environmental justice, public health, and workforce development.

• Manage a diverse portfolio of foundation partners and prospects through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Prepare executives and board members for engagements with funders, including meetings, site visits, briefings, and field tours.

• Supervise the preparation of impact reports, updates for funders, and recognition activities.

• Lead the development of letters of inquiry, proposals, and reports.

• Work closely with program and finance teams regarding budgets, logic models, measurable outcomes, grant compliance, and reporting deadlines.

• Maintain systems for grants management, portfolio tracking, revenue forecasting, and reporting.

• Collaborate with Programs, Policy, Communications, Finance, corporate partnerships, and major gifts teams.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop staff within the foundation relations team.

• Represent American Forests at philanthropic gatherings, affinity groups, and conferences.

• Define the vision, priorities, and annual goals for the department.

• Conduct portfolio assessments and performance evaluations.

• Enhance systems for grant development, internal reviews, approvals, and reporting.

• Report to the Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Philanthropy.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising.

• At least seven years dedicated to foundation relations or institutional giving.

• A minimum of five years showcasing leadership experience in fundraising teams.

• Proven history of personally obtaining multiple seven-figure commitments from foundations.

• Demonstrated success in formulating and executing institutional fundraising strategies.

• Experience in cultivating relationships with major foundations and securing complex, multi-year funding agreements.

• Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.

• Ability to collaborate across departments and forge productive partnerships within a complex, matrixed organization.

• Exceptional skills in writing and editing.

• Capacity to synthesize scientific, technical, and policy information into clear and persuasive narratives.

• Strong interpersonal skills for relationship-building with program staff, foundation executives, and program officers.

• Excellent project management abilities.

• Skill in managing multiple deadlines and priorities with accuracy.

• Strategic mindset with adaptability in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented setting.

• Ethical compliance with fundraising best practices as outlined by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Familiarity with project management software, CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge, and prospect research tools.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; equivalent professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.

• Genuine passion and commitment to the mission, vision, and culture of American Forests.

• Dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and community-centric fundraising.

• Willingness to work flexible hours and travel locally, regionally, and nationally for donor-related activities.

• Preferred: Existing relationships with funders in the environmental, climate, and conservation sectors.

• Preferred: Familiarity with forestry, natural resources, urban greening, or climate resilience.

• Preferred: Experience with collaborative or multi-partner grants and campaign fundraising.

• Preferred: Background with a national nonprofit that has field programs across various regions.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Employee Assistance Program.

• Flexible spending accounts.

• Disability, life, and AD&D insurance.

• Vacation and sick leave.

• Paid holidays.

• Parental bonding leave.

• Bereavement leave.

• Military leave.

• 401(k) plan with a 5% employer match.

• Technology stipend.

• Pet benefits.

• Remote work arrangement.

• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.