IDEA Public Schools Careers

Managing Director of Institutional Giving

Advancement

Role Mission:

The Managing Director of Institutional Giving is managed by the Sr. Vice President of Advancement, and will work closely with Advancement Lead team, and IDEA’s senior leadership team to ensure that IDEA strategically seeks investments that support key fundraising priorities including growth needs, region/school improvement investments, and college experiences from institutional donors.  The MD will lead and manage a team responsible for architecting IDEA’s public and private funding proposals and cultivating and developing purposeful relationships to garner support from mission-aligned institutional donors, defined as (1) public (state and federal), (2) private (private foundations) and (3) corporate partners. 

Specifically, s/he will serve as an internal consultant on philanthropic alignment and partnership for the programmatic and expansion needs of IDEA, working in concert with the President, Superintendent, Chiefs, and Executive Directors to pursue key fundraising priorities and evaluating alignment of investment opportunities.  S/he will also work in conjunction with the SVP of Advancement and the Advancement Lead team to set the vision and direction of the ADV team, establish ambitious goals, and create the conditions such that all team members feel supported, valued, and find joy and others aspire to join. S/he will manage the Institutional Giving Team, coaching and training a team of institutional giving fundraisers to achieve impactful results.

Overview of the Advancement Team: The Advancement team is responsible for building a network of IDEA supporters, funders, and elected officials across new and existing regions to invest in IDEA’s mission. This work includes (1) fundraising to support growth needs, school and regional improvement investments, and college experiences from individual and institutional donors, (2) engaging elected officials on IDEA’s behalf to continue a positive political environment for charter operators, and (3) creating a team culture where members in and outside of the team aspire to work.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will manage the Director of Public Grant Development, Directors of Institutional Giving (2), and Development Manager

Location: This is a full-time hybrid (remote/on-site) position based in (Texas/Louisiana/Florida/Arkansas/Ohio) with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

Raise target amount in cash or cash equivalent by 6/30/2025

• Plan, develop and execute relationship development strategies for a portfolio of significant (6- and 7+ figure) institutional donors that fall outside the region-based portfolios lead by the Directors.
• Strategize and partner on the prospect cultivation approach with team members, collaborating with the SVP, ADV and MD peers on application process with institutional funders, e.g., Bloomberg Philanthropies, Walton Family Foundation, Texas Education Agency, US Department of Education, to submit proposals supporting IDEA and aligned to organizational fundraising priorities.
• Serve as a key member of the ADV lead team to set vision and professional development opportunities to grow and develop the team, with a focus on creating the structures and protocols to successfully seek philanthropic investments across multiple states and entities.  
• Increase the number of significant donors supporting IDEA’s mission.
• Increase donor pipeline through prospecting and cultivation activities.
• Build relationships with national governing board and advisory board members to bring more supporters to IDEA through our growing leadership network.

X% of FY23 donors in the Institutional Giving portfolio will be retained through 6/30/2025

• Plan, develop, and execute relationship development strategies for a portfolio of significant current institutional donors.
• Steward multi-year pledge commitments from private national donors to ensure previously committed funding is received by year end. 
• Guide high-impact and high-engagement stewardship strategies from customized high-touch opportunities to broader points of contact.  Oversee team’s creation and implementation of content, and design of a year-long, individualized high-touch stewardship plans by donor.
• Assemble and lead cross-functional teams to implement initiatives detailed in awarded grant proposals and partner with Research & Analysis teams to improve IDEA’s impact through investments made and coordinating with the business department on budget alignment.   
• Collaborate with the Financial Compliance team to ensure compliance with all financial and programmatic reporting requirements expressed by institutional (public, foundation, corporate) donors through creating strong internal systems, workflows, and operating mechanisms.

Institutional Giving team raises $XM cash-in by target deadline

• Set the vision for institutional fundraising systems and processes at IDEA
• Oversees a diverse portfolio of investors across all regions, program areas, and giving levels. Institutional giving portfolio is comprised of 100+ active and inactive public and private donors with philanthropic investments ranging from $10,000 to $15+ million.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan, designed to seek critical investments aligned to IDEA’s fundraising priorities and which are aligned to IDEA organizational mission and goals.
• Build foundation of knowledge in the programmatic areas where the majority of proposal opportunities exist
• Collaborate cross-functionally (e.g., Office of the President, IST, R&A, Finance, Governance) to find best match for prospective donors to support IDEA
• Represent IDEA at national conferences, convenings of education philanthropists, ed reform leaders, peer organizations, etc. to network and build relationships with prospective funders

Implement 100% of corrective action plans and/or internal audit findings related to public and private grants within the institutional giving portfolio.    

• Partner with peers on Financial Compliance team to build, implement and track project plans to address areas for improvement related to grant workflows 
• Ensure grant expenditures are allowable within the guidelines of the grant and that all grant documentation required by law is collected timely and filed with the appropriate parties.   
• Assemble and lead cross-functional partnerships with the Dir of National Grant Development, Dir of Competitive Grants, and Dir of Philanthropic Grants to lead the development, implementation, and iteration of procedures consistent with adopted policies 

83.5% of Advancement team members indicate on organization health survey instruments that they “recommend my manager to other IDEA employees”

• Lead and build an effective team that others aspire to join  
• Design and implement ongoing professional development trainings for team 
• Directly manage, coach, and train team to cultivate, steward, and secure funding from a portfolio of new, current, lapsed, and renewed institutional donors.
• Engage in three-part Staff Development Cycle, to include goal setting, 2x2’s, and APR conversations with direct reports. Ensure SDC is completed for all reports in line of management, providing coaching to direct reports as needed.
• Engage in weekly check-ins to track progress toward goals, engage in coaching and development of team.
• Provide timely feedback and in-field coaching and support as team members develop in their roles and learn more about IDEA.

What You Bring – Competencies

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of the Texas and national philanthropic community preferred.  
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills.  
• Persuasiveness and perseverance in attaining goals. 
• Ability to communicate IDEA’s vision with an external audience 
• Comfort with collaboration and coordination of relationships with decision makers and influencers of organizations 
• Ability to work independently and to exercise good judgment in stressful circumstances.  
• Flexibility and a willingness to take on new tasks as the responsibilities of the position evolve. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred 

• Minimum 7 years of experience in a development, advocacy, fundraising, grant writing, grant management, or similar role   
• Minimum 5+ years coaching, developing, and leading a team to achieve a track record of success
• Proven track record of personally writing and winning significant 6-, and 7- figure private and/or public grant applications/proposals.  
• Experience utilizing data and analyzing results to tell a story  
• Successful experience in relationship development; building personal trust, loyalty, and making successful grant proposal presentations 
• Familiarity with on-line search engines or other web-based knowledge tools and experience with prospecting techniques 
• Demonstrated capacity to take initiative and manage multiple projects with limited supervision 
• Experience working with Salesforce, Foundation Center, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, (or their equivalents) preferred. 
• Teaching and/or school-based experience highly preferred 
• Experience working in a fast paced, results oriented, highly entrepreneurial environment 

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $108,100 and $128,600, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

 Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA 

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values