Resource Navigator

Position Title: Resource Navigator

Budgeted Annual Salary Range: $45000-$50000

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Paygrade: 3

Business Unit: Alliance for Nonprofit Impact (ANI)

Organization Description:

Our vision is a Rhode Island where every individual in each community has an equal opportunity for justice and prosperity. Since our inception in 1926 the United Way of Rhode Island has effectively moved people from crisis to stability while working to shore up the systems that provide support across the community. When called to action in the face of a global pandemic we proved that we were built over the last 95 years to be uniquely equipped to effectively harness resources from government corporations non-profits and individuals to address the many significant crises affecting all of us.

The pandemic spotlighted how the war on poverty during the past 50 years has not created opportunity and prosperity for all community members. In particular whereyou live and the color of your skin can make it challenging to live learn and thrive in Rhode Island. That is why when launching our Live United 2025 strategic plan we committed to a new mission of uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders.

To deliver on the goals of Live United 2025 we must go deep rather than wide with investments and partners to target the root causes that have thwarted Rhode Islands ability to thrive. We serve all Rhode Islanders in need by tackling Rhode Islands great challenge: Reversing the racial inequities that have plagued Rhode Islands Black Brown and Indigenous communities for generations.

That means we are applying all our assets and approaches including delivery of direct services strategic community investments advocacy and coalition building to build a better Rhode Island for all. We are applying these tools in the following areas of need:

• Invest United:We build non-profit resiliency and leadership development through our Invest United pillar. We empower donors engage corporations and connect Rhode Islanders with giving and volunteering opportunities.
• Lift United:Through our Lift United pillar we invest in affordable housing improve care coordination and expand access to adult education and job training. We also support the growth and stability of women- and minority-owned businesses.
• Achieve United:Through our Achieve United pillar we work to ensure that all Rhode Island children walk into the classroom with the tools to learn. This includes increasing literacy levels and expanding access to after-school and summer-learning programs.
• Advocate United:Through public policy and research we drive systemic change through our Advocate United pillar. And because democracy is not a spectator sport we train Rhode Islanders to be advocates and work to increase voter turnout.

A key strategy in our Invest United pillar was the launch of the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact in January 2024. This new statewide resource hub is designed to support nonprofit staff strengthen nonprofit organizations and improve the ecosystem in which nonprofits work. While the Center will have resources available to all nonprofits the priority audience is community-based organizations led by leaders of color and smaller organizations.

Position Summary: The Resource Navigator at the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact ensures that nonprofit members are connected to the Alliance resources that will be most helpful to them. It can be especially challenging for BIPOC-led and smaller organizations that struggle to find adequate funding and staffing to get connected to resources that can be helpful for operations and sustainability so the Resource Navigator will be able to meet with them individually and provide support and technical assistance to address their specific challenges. The Resource Navigator will provide support in onboarding members help nonprofits understand resources available through the Alliance and other sources provide support and technical assistance to help members utilize the Alliances technology platforms and connect members to Alliance pro bono volunteers and Flash Consultants.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide onboarding support for new members and help them get their accounts set up on Alliance technology platforms like Alliance HQ Give4GoodRI 401Gives Volunteer Center and MyBoardPacket.
• Provide individual and group support orientation and technical assistance with Alliance technology platforms including Alliance HQ Give4GoodRI 401Gives Volunteer Center and MyBoardPacket.
• Meet with member organizations help them assess which Alliance and external resources would be helpful for their operational and strategic needs and help them get connected with pro bono expertise.
• Ensure that the Alliances priority audience of BIPOC-led nonprofits and smaller nonprofits as well as other members are able to understand and access Alliance resources and support that meet their needs.
• Help coordinate pro bono volunteers for office hours and Flash Consulting (one hour consults with content experts) and connect nonprofits with appropriate pro bono support as available.
• Help develop a Resource Library for members that includes best practices toolkits templates and links to relevant capacity building organizations.
• Provide assistance for members in response to queries.
• Work with Alliance Communications and Program Manager on the development and implementation of professional development sessions member resources and benefits that are responsive to the needs articulated by members in organizational assessment conversations and member inquiries.
• Develop positive working relationships with diverse pro bono and contracted service providers ensure thorough working knowledge of pro bono and contracted provider areas of expertise for member referrals and help onboard new pro bono and contractual service providers.
• Support the Operations Manager on data and evaluation efforts to better understand the impact of Alliance resources on nonprofit effectiveness efficiency and sustainability.
• Establish and foster positive relationships with United Way of Rhode Island staff and governing and advisory boards Alliance members speakers and capacity-building partners and other stakeholders including other nonprofit staff/board members funders policymakers and community members.
• Represent the Alliance at nonprofit and community events including staffing information tables and doing presentations about the Alliance and resources available to members.
• In partnership with other Alliance staff supervise volunteers and interns as needed.
• Manage other special projects and reports as needed.

Values:

The Alliance is the culmination of an inclusive design process led by a Design Team of 11 local nonprofit leaders. In partnership with the Design Team and in response to feedback offered by over 400 stakeholders United Way leadership has adopted the following values to guide the development of the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact:

• Centering nonprofits We are responsive to and led by Rhode Island nonprofits. We recognize the strength and autonomy each organization brings and we will continuously evolve to best support their work. We will raise the visibility of the nonprofit sectors important contributions and work to build a strong sustainable sector of growing thriving nonprofits.
• Racial equity We value the impact that organizations led by people of color bring to communities. We are committed to challenging unjust systems and ensuring that organizations led by people of color have the freedom access to resources and knowledge to thrive.
• Accessibility for all We work to ensure all services and spaces are accessible physically and with regard to disability language geography race ethnicity and financial means.
• Intersectionality We recognize that various identities are imbued with differential historical legacies of power and marginalization and make each of us individuals we work to build deeper understanding connection and support across identity-based communities so that together we can have a more meaningful impact for the people of Rhode Island.
• Cultivating connections We are stronger when we work together we connect nonprofits with each other for sharing knowledge and resources with funders in pursuit of more equitable access to resources and with policymakers to push for systemic change.

United Way of Rhode Island is looking for candidates who demonstrate their ability to carry out these Alliance for Nonprofit Impact values as well as United Ways core organizational valuesas follows:

• Impact through equity Apply an equity lens in the development and evaluation of the Centers programs and services be able to develop trust-based relationships with diverse constituencies and work to address structural inequities that have made it difficult for nonprofits led by people of color those led by people with disabilities and others to access resources and grow their impact. Help to support all Rhode Island nonprofit organizations to better understand issues of justice equity diversity and inclusion (JEDI) and to incorporate both internal and external policies and practices that reflect JEDI principles and lead to equitable outcomes.
• Respect and value all Be an inclusive team player who builds and fosters internal and external collaboration and partnerships and is receptive and responsive to input and ideas from various constituencies.
• Lead with a growth mindset Demonstrate a learning mindset and eagerness to develop new skills. Demonstrate commitment to empowering and equipping nonprofit staff and building the capacity of individual nonprofits as well as the sector as a whole.
• Be a legendary partner Develop strong working relationships with capacity-building partners funders and policymakers. Take initiative to share helpful resources and to develop programming in response to existing and emerging needs and requests.
• Strive for excellence Provide high quality programming and customer service to ensure that Center members experience significant value and benefits from their membership and engagement with the Center.

Qualifications:

The following qualifications listed represent our current thinking for the role. You can be a great candidate even if you do not check off everything we describe below. You can also have essential skills experiences and strengths we have not thought of. If so we encourage you to apply and tell us about yourself!

• Two years paid or unpaid experience in nonprofit work or educational programming/training.
• Excellent communication analysis and customer service skills ability to respond quickly to questions and inquiries ability to communicate with diverse audiences enjoyment of meeting new people and helping them to access appropriate resources.
• Adept with technology able to quickly learn new platforms and patient in providing training or technical assistance for others learning new platforms.
• Teaching or training skills ability to communicate technical instructions in easy to understand language without using jargon.
• Deep commitment to the vision of strengthening the capacity and impact of community-based organizations.
• Strong listening skills and the ability to understand the challenges articulated by nonprofit staff in order to connect them to relevant resources and to work with Alliance team to develop programming in response to challenges articulated.
• Commitment to principles of racial equity.
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus.
• Must be well organized detail-oriented able to manage competing priorities demonstrate persistent follow-up and meet tight deadlines.
• Willingness to learn to innovate and be comfortable in an evolving startup role.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of Rhode Island nonprofit community is a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 including Teams and database systems. Willingness to learn new technology as required.
• Must have reliable transportation as this job requires traveling to and from partnership meetings events and meeting with members around the state. Position involves walking ability to move tables and chairs and other room setup needs and/or carrying small packages and materials. Position will require evening and weekend hours as needed.
• Ability to work occasional evening or Saturday hours.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with relevant experience and skills and within a budgeted rangeof $45000-$50000.
• Benefits comprehensivebenefits package including healthcare dental and vision coverage; flexible spending account; retirement match; and more.
• Work-Life Balance 37.5-hour workweeks on average; earn 20 days of paid leaveannually;3floating holiday days 2 personal daysand 9 sickdays.
• Learning & Development individual and collective programs to support staff in achievingorganizational andcareer objectives e.g. CliftonStrengths by Gallup Strengths and Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI).

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.