Resource Development & Partnerships Lead

Be A Part of Something Amazing

TasselTurn Education (TTE) is an edtech nonprofit improving transition outcomes for foster care-involved and housing-insecure youth through educational attainment. Given the high mobility rates of this demographic of youth, TTE leverages technology to: boost high school graduation rates, connect youth to post-secondary programs, and reward youth for achieving competency-based goals. Less like homework and more like academic advising in your pocket, using our app, youth can request and get matched with an education coach within minutes! Our ultimate goal is to break down the barriers to postsecondary pathways for foster-involved and housing-insecure youth so that they can chart a path towards economic mobility and financial security through college attainment.

Position Overview

The Resource Development & Partnerships Lead will strengthen TasselTurn’s financial sustainability by driving fundraising systems, cultivating funders, and advancing earned revenue opportunities. This role blends philanthropic development with sponsorship and partnership cultivation — including building revenue streams through events like TasselTurn’s Virtual College Fair and expanding collaborations with corporations, colleges, and community organizations.

We are seeking a relationship-builder who combines fundraising savvy with business development instincts. The Lead will work closely with the Founder & CEO to diversify TasselTurn’s revenue, grow our visibility, and scale our impact.

This is a part-time role (20–25 hours/week) starting Fall 2025, with an hourly range of $30–$45/hour. We plan for this role to transition to a full-time salaried position beginning February 2026, with benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• 50% Revenue Development
  • Sponsorship strategy & sales (Virtual College Fair, corporate partnerships, event sponsors).
  • Earned income partnerships with universities/colleges.
  • Donor pipeline management: prospecting, proposals, closing smaller gifts.
  • Support CEO on closing larger institutional funders, preparing decks, and follow-up.
• 30% Resource Development
  • Grant pipeline: research, LOIs, proposals, reports.
  • Donor communications and stewardship materials.
  • System-building (templates, CRM, reporting).
• 20% Partnerships
  • Cultivation of youth-serving organizations (foster care, juvenile justice, housing).
  • Referral pathways for student sign-ups.
  • Initial partner outreach and follow-up; CEO as closer for high-value relationships.

Your First 90 Days

• First 30 Days – Foundation
  • Audit current fundraising and sponsorship pipeline.
  • Map 10–15 sponsorship targets for Virtual College Fair.
  • Identify 10–15 new funder prospects.
  • Draft sponsorship packages + grant/proposal templates.
• By 60 Days – Early Execution
  • Submit 2–3 grant/LOI applications.
  • Launch outreach to at least 5 sponsorship prospects.
  • Support CEO in 2–3 funder/partner meetings with prep + follow-up.
  • Conduct 3–5 exploratory conversations with youth-serving/justice orgs.
• By 90 Days – Visible Impact
  • Secure at least 1–2 confirmed Virtual College Fair sponsors.
  • Submit 4–6 total grant/LOI applications.
  • Move 3–5 new prospects into active cultivation (funders, sponsors, or partners).
  • Deliver a comprehensive revenue/partnership pipeline report with clear next steps.

Qualifications

• Required
  • 5–8+ years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, partnerships, or related roles.
  • Demonstrated success in securing grants, sponsorships, or philanthropic support (track record of revenue contributions).
  • Strong relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders: donors, corporate sponsors, universities, and community partners.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling proposals, sponsorship packages, and donor communications.
  • Experience managing fundraising pipelines/CRMs and tracking deadlines, outcomes, and stewardship.
  • Comfort with sponsorship development or sales-style outreach (pitching, follow-up, closing smaller to mid-level deals).
  • Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, lean startup environment.
  • Commitment to equity and improving outcomes for foster care-involved and housing-insecure youth.
• Preferred
  • Experience working with corporate partners, higher education institutions, or sponsorship sales.
  • Familiarity with Chicago’s philanthropic and/or youth-serving ecosystem.
  • Knowledge of digital marketing and event promotion (helpful for sponsorship campaigns like the Virtual College Fair).
  • Entrepreneurial or startup experience; comfortable building systems from scratch.
  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field (communications, nonprofit management, business, marketing, or similar) or equivalent work experience.

Position Details

This is a part-time hybrid, non-exempt position starting at approximately 20 - 25 hours per week. The hourly rate is $30–$45, depending on experience. Team members work remotely Monday through Thursday, with required in-office hours every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at TasselTurn’s River North office. Our goal is to transition this role to a full-time salaried position beginning February 2026, with benefits.

Other Relevant Information

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we kindly ask that applicants do not contact TasselTurn team members directly via LinkedIn. All inquiries should be submitted through the application process outlined here.

This is a non-exempt position with the opportunity to earn additional bonuses tied to performance.

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