Senior Manager, Foundation Partnerships

at  Education Design Lab

ABOUT EDUCATION DESIGN LAB

Education Design Lab ("The Lab") is a national nonprofit that co-designs, prototypes, and tests education-to-workforce models through a human-centered design process focused on understanding learners’ experiences, addressing equity gaps in higher education, and connecting learners to economic mobility. The process helps higher education leaders consider the needs of employers, using curriculum and program design as a gateway to make skills more visible to students and employers alike.
The Lab is unlike other organizations in the nonprofit education space. We are boundary spanners and work across disciplines and alongside schools, employers, entrepreneurs, government, foundations, nonprofits, and innovators. We are known for our work on the ground and have significant experience managing national and local learning cohorts, working with organizations such as Ascendium, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citizens, Carnegie Corporation of NY, Charles Koch Foundation, Walmart, and a variety of state and regional community college systems. To learn more about the work we do and what we care about, visit www.eddesignlab.org.

EDUCATION TO WORKFORCE SPACE

• Demonstrate advanced familiarity with the education-to-workforce space, providing nuanced insights and strategies to align philanthropic efforts with workforce development goals.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Successful Candidates will have a majority of these skills or qualifications:

• Sector-Specific Expertise: Significant and proven experience in fundraising and development within the education, workforce, and/or education-to-workforce sector, including an existing network of foundation relationships.
• n-depth understanding of the unique dynamics and challenges within these domains.
• You identify with the mission and vision of Education Design Lab and aim to leverage your skills and networks to support the skills-based hiring movement.
• You are a people person, embodying warmth, friendliness, thoughtfulness, helpfulness, and sociability. You excel in advancing relationships with every interaction, big or small.
• Demonstrated senior-level experience in fundraising and development, with a focus on managing corporate foundations.
• Proven ability to handle larger scope, increased complexity, and critical decision-making.
• You thrive in thinking and working creatively, collaboratively, and strategically, especially in determining how, when, and why to engage foundations and corporations to generate excitement about an idea or issue.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with a track record of leading multiple projects simultaneously.
• Mastery of budgeting, creativity, adaptability, and research skills.
• In-depth knowledge of project management systems and tools, fundraising technologies, and CRM systems.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Commitment to the Cause: A strong affinity with our mission of education-to-workforce transformation and skills-based hiring.
• Remote Work Skills: Experience working successfully on a remote team.
• Project Management Tools: Professional knowledge of project management systems and tools, including Excel, Slack, Miro, or comparable tools.
• Fundraising Technology Skills: The ability to use common online portals (Fluxx, Cybergrants, GivingData, etc.) to submit grant proposals, reports, and/or software to research donors and foundations
• CRM Technology: Knowledge of customer relations management software used for fundraising to record interactions with donors, including emails, donations, and meeting notes (in the case of the Lab, Salesforce)
• Grant Writing: The ability to write clearly and persuasively to develop concept notes, grant proposals, grant reports, and external emails in the process of securing funding from organizations or individuals, and stewarding those relationships.
• Budgeting: Budgeting is a skill that is needed in order to properly manage finances and create budget proposals.
• Creativity/Adaptability: Creativity is an important skill for fundraisers because it allows them to come up with new and innovative ways to raise money.
• Research: Experience with foundation research tools, including Foundation Directory Online, Philanthropy News Digest, and other philanthropic tools and sources

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of 7+ years of demonstrable senior-level experience in fundraising and development, specifically within the education, workforce, and/or education-to-workforce sector, showcasing a deep understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and intricacies within this dynamic space, as well as strong existing relationships with foundation staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and efficiently, manage multiple projects simultaneously, take initiative, and problem-solve.
• Proven track record of meeting deadlines responsibly, showcasing excellent organizational skills, delivering high-quality work, and demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and follow-through in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong writing skills; demonstrated experience developing thoughtful, succinct, and compelling written communications, pitches, and summaries.
• Excellent interpersonal skills along with the ability to listen and communicate professionally verbally and in writing.
• Relationship-focused mindset and the ability to exercise good judgment by handling key relationships and sensitive information with discretion.
• Strong written and verbal skills in English.
  Data shows that women and BIPOC candidates more frequently do not apply for a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed. Our job descriptions are general overviews, not a mandatory comprehensive list. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe you have the skills to succeed in this role, we want to hear from you!
  Additionally, given the Lab’s mission and programming, applicants with lived experience as first-generation college students, community college students, those who attended minority-serving institutions (HBCUs, HSIs, AANAPISIs etc.), those who have experience as non-traditional students, and other underserved populations, are particularly encouraged to apply for this role. We do not require a college degree for our applicants for the role.

ABOUT THE SENIOR MANAGER, FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIPS ROLE

The Senior Manager, Foundation Partnerships is a strategic and results-driven professional responsible for enhancing Education Design Lab’s relationships with the philanthropic community. This role involves overseeing and elevating engagement plans, communication strategies, and impactful touchpoints to educate, connect, and inspire foundation staff about the mission of Education Design Lab. The Senior Manager, Foundation Partnerships will play a pivotal role in managing the department’s overall operations, including directing the fundraising calendar, conducting high-level research, maintaining comprehensive foundation records, and fostering deep relationships within the foundation community. The focus extends to foundations supporting Opportunity Youth and targeted populations (K-12, BIPOC, parenting learners), as well as corporate foundation partnerships.