Address
Form of workAbout IMS: Independence Mission Schools (IMS) educate students of all faiths living throughout Philadelphia. Our inspiring new network of 14 schools blends the best of Catholic education with innovative teaching strategies designed to meet the unique learning needs of all students.
Since our inception in 2012, our enrollment has grown over 20%, our students are outperforming 80% of their neighboring public and charter schools in Reading, and we have received increasing recognition as a network that successfully integrates faith, character, and academics to create warm, energizing schools that are sustainable for students, staff, and community. Ultimately, IMS recognizes that our students are on track to make their own choices in pursuit of college and career opportunities because they are on grade level academically and enrolled in a high-quality high school.
Perks of IMS: Full-Time staff at IMS enjoy ongoing development through coaching, mentorship, and professional development and a benefits package that matches 403b contributions, provides low-cost healthcare, and guarantees paid sick time and personal time. Learn more here.
The Director of Grants and Foundation Relations is responsible for planning, implementing and coordinating a comprehensive grant program for Independence Mission Schools (IMS). This includes partnering with IMS staff to develop programs and projects that align with and advance organizational strategic priorities as well as identifying, cultivating, and soliciting support from corporations, affiliated corporate foundations, private and public foundations, businesses, and other organizations. A strategic mindset and strong technical writing skills are vital to this role. Developing good relationships with partners who can leverage the corporate partnerships will be essential. The Director will create, write, and submit proposals and stewardship reports; work to increase the amount of corporate and Foundation support, and grow the income visibility of IMS. The Director will systematically expand the pipeline of corporate and Foundation support in cooperation with the other advancement staff and data analytics. This position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer.
Specific Responsibilities
• Develop a comprehensive grant program that aligns with and advances strategic priorities.
• Partner with IMS staff to build out programs and projects attractive to prospective philanthropic
partners and aligned with IMS's strategic plan and mission.
• Meet goals and objectives that include raising the budgeted grant income goal.
• Solicit a minimum of 50 institutional donors annually with formal grant requests. Target 25%
new prospects each year. Develop a portfolio of qualified prospects, submission dates and
deadlines.
• Write, coordinate, and implement corporate and Foundation grant proposals, reports, and
delivery of donor benefits and recognition. Prepare materials and presentations, case
statements, and solicitations to corporations and Foundations, members of the board,
organizations, and donors and prospects to obtain financial support.
• Arrange for face-to-face meetings on site with the corporate and Foundation contacts, involving
the CEO, CAO, other executive staff, or Board members.
• Coordinate donor visits and tours of IMS as part of an on-going stewardship plan to further
cultivate relationships with donors affiliated with institutional philanthropy.
• Work with others to obtain information necessary for proposals including budget information.
Produce interim and final grant reports to funders. Maintain a schedule of submissions for
Grants and reports that will guide the work of this area. Develop and monitor an agreed upon
metrics plan.
• Maintain electronic and hard copy files of important correspondence and records for grant
tracking and report generation, including updating and tracking of database records in Donor
Perfect.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporations and Foundations to make major investments in
support of IMS by matching the strategic initiatives, business plan and fundraising priorities with
prospective donors'/grantmakers' interests.
• Assist in writing direct mail appeal and newsletter copy.
• Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Appreciation and passion for the mission and vision of Independence Mission Schools.
• Minimum of five to seven years of experience in a development/advancement office with
proven experience in writing grant proposals and reports, as well as identifying, cultivating and
soliciting support from corporations and Foundations, business partners and other
organizations.
• Ability to think strategically and map out programs and/or projects linking them to the strategic
plan and mission required.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience with government grants preferred.
• Proven experience discovering prospective donors/grant makers, developing and submitting
proposals to increase the amount of corporate and Foundation support.
• Strong interpersonal skills and energetic personality with demonstrated ability to build, foster
and maintain positive relationships with both internal and external constituencies including
administrators, teachers, trustees, alumni, donors and prospects.
• Superior writing (to include technical writing) and communication skills with the ability to
articulate the mission, vision and philanthropic priorities of IMS and with clarity and passion to a
wide audience of stakeholders that includes donors, business leaders, and community partners.
• Attention to detail combined with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks
simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and to prioritize responsibilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft and Google Suites.
• Previous experience and proficiency working in fundraising software.
• Must be willing to work nights and weekends at times.
• Must be willing and able to travel at times; valid driver's license and access to a car are required.
• Successful candidates must be able to clear all required background checks.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
Equal Opportunity Employer: IMS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrates staff diversity. We strive to be and build a diverse team that is representative of our students and the communities in which we serve. If you identify as an individual of color, we highly encourage you to apply!
Want to learn more about IMS and our school locations? Please visit: https://independencemissionschools.org/schools/
Since our inception in 2012, our enrollment has grown over 20%, our students are outperforming 80% of their neighboring public and charter schools in Reading, and we have received increasing recognition as a network that successfully integrates faith, character, and academics to create warm, energizing schools that are sustainable for students, staff, and community. Ultimately, IMS recognizes that our students are on track to make their own choices in pursuit of college and career opportunities because they are on grade level academically and enrolled in a high-quality high school.
Perks of IMS: Full-Time staff at IMS enjoy ongoing development through coaching, mentorship, and professional development and a benefits package that matches 403b contributions, provides low-cost healthcare, and guarantees paid sick time and personal time. Learn more here.
The Director of Grants and Foundation Relations is responsible for planning, implementing and coordinating a comprehensive grant program for Independence Mission Schools (IMS). This includes partnering with IMS staff to develop programs and projects that align with and advance organizational strategic priorities as well as identifying, cultivating, and soliciting support from corporations, affiliated corporate foundations, private and public foundations, businesses, and other organizations. A strategic mindset and strong technical writing skills are vital to this role. Developing good relationships with partners who can leverage the corporate partnerships will be essential. The Director will create, write, and submit proposals and stewardship reports; work to increase the amount of corporate and Foundation support, and grow the income visibility of IMS. The Director will systematically expand the pipeline of corporate and Foundation support in cooperation with the other advancement staff and data analytics. This position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer.
Specific Responsibilities
• Develop a comprehensive grant program that aligns with and advances strategic priorities.
• Partner with IMS staff to build out programs and projects attractive to prospective philanthropic
partners and aligned with IMS's strategic plan and mission.
• Meet goals and objectives that include raising the budgeted grant income goal.
• Solicit a minimum of 50 institutional donors annually with formal grant requests. Target 25%
new prospects each year. Develop a portfolio of qualified prospects, submission dates and
deadlines.
• Write, coordinate, and implement corporate and Foundation grant proposals, reports, and
delivery of donor benefits and recognition. Prepare materials and presentations, case
statements, and solicitations to corporations and Foundations, members of the board,
organizations, and donors and prospects to obtain financial support.
• Arrange for face-to-face meetings on site with the corporate and Foundation contacts, involving
the CEO, CAO, other executive staff, or Board members.
• Coordinate donor visits and tours of IMS as part of an on-going stewardship plan to further
cultivate relationships with donors affiliated with institutional philanthropy.
• Work with others to obtain information necessary for proposals including budget information.
Produce interim and final grant reports to funders. Maintain a schedule of submissions for
Grants and reports that will guide the work of this area. Develop and monitor an agreed upon
metrics plan.
• Maintain electronic and hard copy files of important correspondence and records for grant
tracking and report generation, including updating and tracking of database records in Donor
Perfect.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporations and Foundations to make major investments in
support of IMS by matching the strategic initiatives, business plan and fundraising priorities with
prospective donors'/grantmakers' interests.
• Assist in writing direct mail appeal and newsletter copy.
• Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Appreciation and passion for the mission and vision of Independence Mission Schools.
• Minimum of five to seven years of experience in a development/advancement office with
proven experience in writing grant proposals and reports, as well as identifying, cultivating and
soliciting support from corporations and Foundations, business partners and other
organizations.
• Ability to think strategically and map out programs and/or projects linking them to the strategic
plan and mission required.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience with government grants preferred.
• Proven experience discovering prospective donors/grant makers, developing and submitting
proposals to increase the amount of corporate and Foundation support.
• Strong interpersonal skills and energetic personality with demonstrated ability to build, foster
and maintain positive relationships with both internal and external constituencies including
administrators, teachers, trustees, alumni, donors and prospects.
• Superior writing (to include technical writing) and communication skills with the ability to
articulate the mission, vision and philanthropic priorities of IMS and with clarity and passion to a
wide audience of stakeholders that includes donors, business leaders, and community partners.
• Attention to detail combined with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks
simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and to prioritize responsibilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft and Google Suites.
• Previous experience and proficiency working in fundraising software.
• Must be willing to work nights and weekends at times.
• Must be willing and able to travel at times; valid driver's license and access to a car are required.
• Successful candidates must be able to clear all required background checks.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
Equal Opportunity Employer: IMS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrates staff diversity. We strive to be and build a diverse team that is representative of our students and the communities in which we serve. If you identify as an individual of color, we highly encourage you to apply!
Want to learn more about IMS and our school locations? Please visit: https://independencemissionschools.org/schools/
