Associate Director of Development and Partnerships

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Acumen is changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders, and ideas. Our client invests patient capital in businesses whose products and services help people living in poverty to transform their lives. To date, Acumen has positively impacted nearly 400 million lives by investing $146M in 151 innovative, early-stage companies in Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States. But investment isn't just about capital, it's been investing in relationships for years, connecting with emerging leaders in their own countries and engaging them in extended collective dialogue, moral inquiry, and skill building.

The Development and Partnerships team is integral to Acumen's success and impact. It is a small and mighty team where everyone rolls up their sleeves together to bring in the revenue needed to support Acumen's work tackling the biggest problems of poverty. The team engages a diverse donor audience, creating funding partnerships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and government institutions. The Development and Partnerships team sits at the nexus of philanthropy and capitalism. The successful candidate will walk in both worlds with equal agility.

For more information on Acumen and its impact click here.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy and Engagement, the Associate Director of Development and Partnerships will be a key driver of its fundraising strategy and activities on the East Coast. This role will be accountable for cultivating and closing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and wealth advisors, as well as supporting other senior Acumen leaders to do the same; for bringing new partners (donors) into its community through their own donor identification and engagement strategies; owning a multi-million-dollar fundraising target, building towards a personal fundraising goal of $2-3M per year though a portfolio of largely six-figure donors.

The candidate must be proactive, curious, analytical, and comfortable managing both up and across teams. This is an ideal opportunity for a proven development leader to make a lasting impact on poverty.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Fundraising:

• Identify, cultivate, and close funding relationships, while also enhancing Acumen's visibility, access, and influence
• Build a broad-based, multi-city network of potential new high-net-worth individual prospects and family foundations through appropriate channels, including events, individual outreach, and networking
• Maintain existing Partner base across a broad region; Acumen has a committed community of partners across the East Coast and this is a chance to strengthen and deepen this base
• Build strategic relationships with key advisors and connectors, and develop multi-year engagement plans
• Partner with Acumen's program leads to expand our pipeline and develop pitch proposals and products

Community Building

• Secure public speaking opportunities with select partner or prospect groups and networks
• Identify and speak at key conferences
• Organize and execute networking events as required; leveraging Acumen's existing partner community and helping develop content for sector-specific gatherings
• Assist in the execution of partner-only events, bringing together internal and external stakeholders from across the globe

Leadership and Team Building

• Work closely with the NY Development & Partnerships team to set strategic vision for the East Coast
• Collaborate with the global teams, up to and including Acumen's founder and CEO, to implement our strategy to reach annual fundraising targets and close high impact gifts
• Mentor junior fundraisers across the global business development team
• Drive partner communications locally and target materials to the appropriate audience
• Bring an external perspective to strategic conversations with leaders across Acumen to help determine approach

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

• 12-15 years of work experience in philanthropic fundraising and/or relationship management
• A strategic view: an ability to grasp the entirety of the Acumen ecosystem – its purpose, its history, the myriad of stakeholders, its emerging direction and the goals that support that direction
• Strong networks in NYC and across the East Coast are highly preferred; experience working in developing economies, or the impact investing sector are a plus
• A track record of building and maintaining strategic funding relationships
• Ability to bridge the gap between the nonprofit and for-profit worlds
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrated success in building collaborative relationships with both external and internal stakeholders
• Effective storyteller who consistently communicates (verbally and in writing) in a clear and compelling manner
• A willingness to take risks and ability to address complex issues creatively and effectively
• Effectively collaborates with and across teams, seeks, and provides constructive feedback
• Self reflective and aligned with Acumen values
• Permanent authorization to work in the US

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Acumen has equitable pay. This is not an aspiration for the future. This is our current reality. You'll learn more about our approach early in the interview process.

Acumen is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, or current employment status.

On-Ramps is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. We're partnering with the team at Acumen to build a diverse team that reflects the global community. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.