Director of Advancement, Social Innovation Forum
Director of Advancement, Social Innovation Forum
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Job Description
Social Innovation Forum Seeks
Director of Advancement
About Social Innovation Forum (SIF)
The Social Innovation Forum (SIF)s mission is to create positive social change in Eastern Massachusetts by engaging leaders strengthening organizations and building networks. SIF connects innovative nonprofit organizations with an evergrowing community of volunteers investors and practitioners who contribute their time talents resources and money to drive positive social impact. With 130 social impact organizations in the SIF portfolio the organization is helping to improve lives and build stronger healthier communities all across Eastern Massachusetts.
SIF started in 2003 as a program of Root Cause and was incorporated as an independent nonprofit in 2015. SIF takes a marketplace approach to social change by leveraging its unique position at the intersection of philanthropy and nonprofit innovation to educate funders support nonprofit leaders and build partnerships. SIFs highly regarded programs include:
- The Social Innovator Accelerator offers capacitybuilding support to grassroots nonprofit organizations through consulting coaching presentation training and access to other resources.
- The Funder Learning Program provides numerous opportunities for philanthropists funders community leaders and others to come together with nonprofit leaders to learn about social justice philanthropy strategize about and implement more equitable practices and build meaningful longlasting relationships with nonprofits.
- Through the Alumni & Nonprofit Network SIF supports a growing network of nonprofits with topical workshops cohort learning and probono services.
True to its name innovation has been a core principle behind SIFs growth over the past 20 years. The organization has excelled at generating creative new initiatives that are responsive to the needs of its partners. As a current example of this SIF recently launched the Social Innovator Fund a vehicle to help donors direct resources to local grassroots organizations efficiently and effectively with a $1m leadership gift.
The SIF team consists of 13 staff members (including one parttime employee) several consultants/contractors and students from Northeastern Universitys coop program. The organization operates with an annual budget of $2.8m and is supported by an engaged and committed 12member Board of Directors. Please visit SIFs website for more information about its history team values and impact.
Opportunity Going Forward
The Director of Advancement (DoA) will join SIF at an exciting time in the organizations development. The team led by Executive Director Wyona LynchMcWhite recently launched its 2025 Social Innovator Cohort and is preparing to engage in a strategic planning process to chart SIFs future path to growth and impact. As a member of SIFs leadership team the DoA will play a key role in developing SIFs future through their engagement in this planning process as well as their leadership of SIFs philanthropic strategy execution and public engagement efforts. The DoA will be committed to increasing annual support by leading an advancement program that expands the SIF donor base and enacts strategies to grow annual revenue.
She/He/they will have a strong foundation from which to buildin its first twenty years of growth the Social Innovation Forum has attracted many of the areas leading funders and highnetworth private donors and inspired a broad range of investment in the nonprofit sector across Boston. More specifically the DoA will have the opportunity to engage the following resources in support of SIFs sustainability and growth:
- A department of four highly skilled and committed team members a Development Operations Coordinator a contract Grant Writer a Communications Manager and a Communications & Events CoOp student
- The Executive Director who has a strong track record of fundraising success across many nonprofit leadership roles;
- A Development Consultant who brings strong institutional knowledge and fundraising expertise;
- An experienced and missiondriven leadership team;
- Established donor relationships across individual foundation and corporate sources; and
- The dedicated members of the Board of Directors who bring skills and passion to the organization. Members come from diverse professional backgrounds and are leaders in both the business world and the nonprofit community. The board has been and will continue to be integral in cultivating the organizations donor base.
Key Responsibilities
The successful DoA will be an experienced frontline fundraiser a skilled team leader a strong relationship builder adept at creating fundraising and communication strategies and a compelling spokesperson for SIFs work and mission. Key responsibilities for the position include:
Development Strategy and Leadership
- Collaborate with SIFs ED Leadership Team members and Board to create a comprehensive development plan that supports the strategic objectives of the organization
- Identify solicit and steward relationships with highcapacity donors that include corporate foundation and individual prospects
- Create initiatives to expand SIFs prospect pipeline and donor base by accessing new and leveraging existing networks
- Oversee the preparation of highquality grant proposals reports mailings and acknowledgments that are required to support and steward ongoing fundraising activities
- Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer on the creation and monitoring of the revenue components of the annual operational budget including monthly updates and forecasts
- Serve as an occasional advisor and thought partner to nonprofit organizations and leaders within the SIF network and programs connecting funders and organizations when appropriate
- Act as an executive liaison to the boards Development and Strategy Committee to ensure the successful implementation of all development priorities
External Communications and Events
- Delegate and manage the creation of donorrelated materials including print and electronic appeals stewardship communications and event collateral
- Oversee the strategy planning and execution of SIFs main fundraising events
- Provide strong direction and management to members of the communication team including contract workers
Department Management and Systems
- Provide humancentered leadership clear direction and appropriate mentorship to the advancement team
- Ensure the effective useful and thoughtful building of systems processes and measurements to monitor project and guide fundraising results and activity
- Work with staff to set and evaluate individual goals develop and sustain appropriate training and identify and recommend professional development opportunities for staff members
Desired Credentials/Profile of the Ideal Candidate
Ideal candidates will demonstrate the following knowledge skills and experience:
- Strong passion for SIFs mission and core values
- Ability to serve as a trusted partner to leadership and senior management
- Successful track record of raising at least $1M $3 M annually in partnership with staff and volunteer leadership
- Proven ability to manage the fast pace of development work via a strategic and collaborative approach
- A minimum of 5 years of development (or related) experience with progressively expanding accomplishments and a proven track record of working with 6 and 7figure donors
- Proven success in creating and executing fundraising strategies that leverage the existing donor base while simultaneously expanding it to include new partners and donors
- Strategic and analytical skills strong work ethic and ability to execute within a small resourceconstrained environment
- Previous experience supervising and supporting the work of staff consultants and volunteers
- Strong management skills that include the ability to motivate influence and hold staff and themselves accountable to high standards and goals
- Comfortable working with donors and volunteers from all walks of life
- Excellent interpersonal skills with a high level of emotional intelligence and passion for creating relationships and drawing out the best in Board members colleagues and prospects
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with an emphasis on the ability to persuade and influence others around ideas decisions and financial support.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a fulltime salaried exempt position with a starting salary range of $115000$140000 commensurate with experience and qualifications. SIF also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical (75% covered by SIF) dental (75% covered by SIF) life and disability (shortterm and longterm) insurances; generous paid time off that includes December 24January 1; a retirement plan with up to a 3% match; a professional development stipend; and a wellness benefit.
SIF has a hybrid working environment. Employees should plan to come into the office 23 times per week depending on programming and team needs. All SIF employees must reside in Massachusetts and be available to commute with some consistency to and from SIFs Bostonbased office.
Application Process and Additional Information
Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of the Social Innovation Forum. If taking the job requires a candidate to move to the Boston area s/he/they should mention why that is a good fit for them at this time. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. Upload required documents to: Transition Partners consultant Erin Cox is managing this search. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential and any questions can be submitted to Erin at and
SIF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin sex religion age disability sexual orientation gender identity or expression veteran status height weight marital status pregnancy or parental status in employment or the provision of services. Knowing its importance to the success of our work SIF is committed to diversity and inclusion and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
