Overview

ABOUT VERTUELAB
VertueLab is a nonprofit fighting the climate crisis by providing funding and holistic entrepreneurial support to cleantech startups. Through a decade of work, we have proven that our model can accelerate climate solutions that are key to reversing the climate crisis. We were the first in the nation to utilize patient, risk-tolerant, concessionary, and flexible capital to invest in early stage cleantech startups.

WHY WE NEED YOU
The Manager of Institutional Giving is a new role in the organization that will have lead responsibility for the organization’s portfolio of grant funders to include foundations (45% of this position’s effort), government entities (37%) and corporate foundations (18%). The Manager of Institutional Giving is an exciting opportunity that blends donor relationship management with prospect research, cultivation and grant writing. In partnership with the Director of Strategic Partnerships and leadership team, this key role will deeply engage with VertueLab’s institutional donors and prospects and help conceive, design, and lead effective annual and multi-year strategies to increase revenue. The ideal candidate has experience managing a grants program, is a proven project manager, has a high attention to detail, skilled in time management and can work productively with a team and individually. This is a full-time position that reports to the Director of Strategic Partnerships.

The Manager of Institutional Giving identifies prospects and secures funding from local, regional, and national funding sources—including foundations, government, and corporations to advance VertueLab’s impact funds, program initiatives and operations. They execute the strategy and manage the systems and operations to support a robust annual work plan of prospecting, proposal development, submission, acknowledgment, stewardship and reporting.

This position reports to the Director of Strategic Partnerships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising:

  • With VertueLab program staff, identify programs and projects aligned with VertueLab’s goals and strategies which may fit with funders priorities and develop external case for supports and boiler plate language about each program.
  • Research prospective institutional funders to determine whether their funding priorities and processes qualify them as priority prospective funders based on alignment with VertueLab mission, values, programs, and goals.
  • Support senior management team and other VertueLab program/development colleagues in strategically establishing and maintaining relationships with institutional funders.
  • Manage grant proposal teams (including staff and any external partners) in executing the full range of activities required to prepare, write, and submit grant proposals and complete progress and final reports that are responsive to funder guidelines.
  • Lead responsibility for the creation and maintenance of organizational grants calendar, ensuring that deadlines are met for submission of proposals and reports.
  • Keep program staff aware of upcoming deadlines and work in collaboration with them to write/edit reports on existing grants.
  • With support from the Marketing and Development Coordinator, ensure high data integrity in Salesforce for all institutional funders and related contacts and records.

Strategy and Forecasting:

  • Assist Director of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing Manager in developing and executing an annual institutional fundraising and stewardship plan.
  • With support from the Marketing and Development Coordinator, implement strategies to steward current funders and build relationships with new institutional funding partners.
  • With support from the Finance and Operations Manager track progress of institutional revenue quarterly and annually; leverage historical data to forecast and project institutional revenue annually and over time.
  • In partnership with Director of Strategic Partnerships, set annual fundraising budget and revenue goals and report on progress to staff and board.
  • Stay abreast of current trends in climate technology funding and incorporate compelling ideas into grant narratives.
  • Monitor trends, policies, and legislation that impact or create funding opportunities.

Other Functions:

  • Assist, as needed, in producing and editing materials, such as donor briefings, presentations, collateral, solicitation letters, articles, newsletters, and reports.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the organization’s history, programs, current initiatives, financial goals and strategic priorities.
    Other duties as assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
With a combination of professional and/or lived experiences, the successful candidate for the Institutional Giving and Partnerships role will have:

  • Alignment with VertueLab’s mission to unleash innovation and entrepreneurship that will solve environmental challenges and catalyze shared economic prosperity.
  • 3-5 years fundraising experience; proven track record in grant writing and grants management.
  • Demonstrated success advancing relationships (both internal and external) and growing revenue, ideally from foundations, government entities, and corporate partners.
  • Outstanding communication skills; ability to inspire funders and partners through verbal and written communication; skilled at communicating complex ideas tailoring information to different audiences.
  • Ability to identify new opportunities and strategies.
  • Data management and CRM software experience (Salesforce preferred)
  • Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as evidenced in past professional and/or personal experiences
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects at once
  • Tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty
  • Adaptability required to thrive in a small team and in a dynamic environment
  • Exceptional time management and organizational skills
  • Ability to initiate and work independently on projects.
  • Demonstrated proactive approach to problem-solving
  • Ability to commit to a full-time schedule that is conducive to working with a team that works regular business hours in the Pacific time zone. Washington State residence is preferred and Pacific Northwest residence is required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS   

  • Knowledge of Cleantech, energy, and/or transportation sector
  • Experience working with federal, state, and private institutional philanthropic funders

We welcome diverse backgrounds and experiences, so even if you believe you don’t check every box, we still want to hear from you!

ABOUT VERTUELAB
VertueLab’s mission is to unleash innovation and entrepreneurship to solve environmental challenges and catalyze shared economic prosperity. Through a decade of work, we have proven that our model can accelerate the climate solutions that are key to reversing the climate crisis.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are mission-critical to VertueLab because…

  • The root causes of climate change and racism were cultivated in extractive economies and inequitable practices.
  • Communities of Color are often the first and worst impacted by climate change.
  • People closest to the problem often have innovative solutions, but don’t have the capital or connections to fund and launch their innovation.

The mission of VertueLab sits at the intersection of these opportunities to move from DEI awareness to effective DEI action in ways that benefit people representing all dimensions of diversity. Learn more about our DEI journey at our website.

OUR VALUES
BOLD, WISE LEADERSHIP

We take informed action, inspiring others, using our expertise as a trusted navigator with respect and humility, and driving to results.

COLLABORATION

We take a systems view of the world to leverage our network for powerful collaborations beyond what we can achieve alone. We recognize the urgency of the climate crisis and that relationships require time to build.

DEI IS MISSION-CRITICAL

We recognize the root causes of climate change and racism were cultivated in extractive economies and inequitable practices. Climate change impacts and opportunities to be part of the solution are not evenly distributed. Our mission puts us in a position to change that.

LAB = EXPERIMENTATION

We are always learning.  We embrace uncertainty as a given.  We are strategic and flexible. We have the knowledge to recognize opportunities, the tools to help ensure they are seized, and the patience and adaptability to see them through to the end.

CARING DEEPLY

We care about the work, each other, and our community. We laugh together and have each other’s back. We work hard, and value one another’s well-being.

OUR WORK ENVIRONMENT
For the foreseeable future, VertueLab will be in a virtual work environment. For employees located in cities where multiple VertueLab team members reside, we intend to transition to a hybrid work environment, but only as in-person work becomes safe and practical given the applicable state and local guidelines. In light of our current remote work conditions, VertueLab offers each employee a $250 reimbursement per year for equipment or furnishings for their home office.

TRAVEL
Limited travel is expected in the near term due to COVID. This role is intended to connect with the Pacific Northwest region, meaning that when it is safe and practical to do so, there will be travel required to engage meaningfully in the communities with which we’re partnering. Therefore, we expect the person in this role would be out in the community anywhere from 50-60% of the time, with overnight travel representing a smaller percentage of time.

TO APPLY
Your online application to the Institutional Giving Manager position includes a few basic, voluntary demographic questions included as part of our commitment to ensuring that we have a diverse pool of applicants for this position, plus two fields for uploading supporting materials including a cover letter and resume. Feel free to preview a pdf of the application prior to submission here.

We ask that in your cover letter you address the following:

  • How your experience and skills make you a great candidate for this position and would set you up for success in this role?
  • What most excites you about this opportunity, in terms of the job scope, our organization’s mission, or anything else?
  • What would you contribute to our team’s culture and diversity of lived experiences and perspectives?

In your resume, please identify three references. We will notify you prior to our contacting any reference.

HIRING PROCESS
We require the following in order to consider your application:

  • Resume and Cover Letter with responses to our accompanying application questions.

If you progress through additional stages in the hiring process, you can expect to:

  • Complete a brief hiring exercise
  • Participate in semi-final and final interviews with a panel via Zoom
  • Provide three professional references

We will begin reviewing applications on April 18 and will continue until the position is filled.

$70,000-$80,000 salary accompanied by a competitive benefits package including: vacation/volunteer/sick leave, medical/dental insurance, and 401k matching.

APPLY NOW
We encourage applicants from all racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and functional limitations to apply, especially those from historically marginalized communities.

VertueLab is committed to building a culturally diverse organization and strongly encourages applications from people of color and members of other underrepresented groups. VertueLab is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other class protected by law.

Questions? Please feel free to contact VertueLab’s Finance and Operations Manager, Felicia Kang at felicia.kang@vertuelab.org