About The Organization
Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. They are a leader in working to solve the literacy crisis in our country by leveraging AmeriCorps members and community volunteers in under-resourced schools. Their diverse and expansive volunteer base provides one-on-one tutoring to students twice weekly. Their program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals they need to unlock their potential as successful, happy, and confident readers in school and in life. The people at Reading Partners are their greatest resource. They are all passionately rallied around the mission to help children become lifelong learners by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that works. Join Reading Partners' stellar team leading the charge to deepen the organization's impact and expand its national service!
The Reading Partners program is a proven, evidence-based national model leveraged to support students who have fallen behind in reading. A 2015 MDRC study concluded that Reading Partners has a positive and statistically significant impact on reading comprehension, sight-word reading, and reading fluency. The impact was equivalent to 1.5 to 2 months of additional growth in literacy in one year. At the heart of Reading Partners' new strategic plan is a focus on innovating to scale, building partnerships, and centering students through racial equity. Over the next three years, Reading Partners will expand their impact to reach tens of thousands of students annually through direct service and partnerships. Also, Reading Partners is the recent recipient of a $8 million grant from the Department of Education and an unsolicited $20 million gift from MacKenzie Scott. Watch this video to learn more about Reading Partners.
Organization Website
https//readingpartners.org/
About The Position
As a key member of Reading Partners' executive leadership team, the Chief External Officer (CXO) will report directly to the CEO and will play a critical role in the organization's fundraising strategy and execution. The CXO will be responsible for setting and implementing a strategy that will directly raise $7M of the organization's $40M (and growing) annual operating budget, in addition to supporting regions and partner teams in raising the additional $33M. The CXO will lead Reading Partners' marketing and communications team, ensuring the organization's mission is compellingly and persuasively communicated across channels. Finally the CXO will continue to build and develop the teams responsible for national development and marketing and communications, overseeing an overall team of 15.
As Reading Partners embarks upon its next phase of growth, with a focus on scale and impact, the CXO will serve as a true strategic partner to national and regional teams, providing vision, thought partnership, and best in class fundraising practices. This is an ideal opportunity for a proven leader to apply their strategic and managerial expertise towards Reading Partners' mission and growth.
Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To
National Fundraising Strategy and Execution (60%)
- Serve as the architect of Reading Partners' national fundraising strategy to secure $7M, cultivating and stewarding foundation, corporate, and individual donors
- In partnership with the CEO, identify, develop, and cultivate fundraising prospects, including individual donors, corporations, and foundations
- Serve as a thought partner to the CEO in developing and executing a national partnerships strategy
- Build strong relationships with the Board and work with the CEO and regional leadership to expand and strengthen the Board and its fundraising capacity
- Routinely represent the organization to fundraising partners, including foundations, corporations, and individual donors
Regional Fundraising Support (20%)
- Work with regional leadership and other departments across the national team to set annual fundraising goals and develop comprehensive strategies to meet these goals
- Drive fundraising best practices, including systems utilization, prospecting, stewardship, donor reporting, data review, and donor communications
- Coach regional EDs and fundraising leaders on fundraising strategies; participate, as needed, in key funding conversations, helping to close/renew gifts
Marketing and Communications Support (10%)
- Support the marketing and communications team, ensuring a communications strategy that builds Reading Partners' brand and public reputation
- Develop a strategy to ensure Reading Partners' marketing and communications team effectively supports the regions, working with the Senior Director, Marketing and Communications to develop effective systems and processes
Organizational Leadership (10%)
- Act as a thought partner to the CEO and work closely other members of the executive team to craft an overall organizational strategy and goals, with specific ownership of national fundraising objectives
- Serve as a liaison to the national Board of Directors and as the primary liaison to the Development committee
- Lead, manage, and develop a cross-functional team consisting of approximately 5 direct reports and 10+ total team members
- Partner with regional leadership and staff, and other departments across the national team, to foster a customer-centric collaborative work culture, centered in a commitment to racial justice
Candidate Requirements
In order to meet these priorities and fulfill these responsibilities, our ideal CXO candidate will be/will have
- A minimum of ten years of work experience, including at least five years of experience in senior external leadership/fundraising roles
- Proven track record of fundraising success, raising upwards of $10M annually in a nonprofit setting with additional experience in marketing and communications
- Proven success in soliciting and closing 6- and 7-figure gifts for some combination of single donors, corporations, and/or foundations
- Strong track record of hiring, managing, coaching, and working with leaders to achieve ambitious, measurable results, in both in-person and remote environments
- Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to serve as a compelling advocate for Reading Partners' work
- Demonstrated commitment to Reading Partner's mission, core values, and vision; deep commitment to race, equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI)
- The ability to drive innovation, change, and growth, and be a detail-oriented implementer who can mobilize teams to translate strategy into results
- A high degree of emotional intelligence, a positive can-do attitude, in addition to wisdom, curiosity, and empathy
- Experience working within a large, diverse, complex organization, with networked structures and multiple stakeholders
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
- COVID-19 vaccination is required unless a medical or religious accommodation is requested and approved. Please review our Vaccination Policy.
Location and Travel
This role can be based in one of the Reading Partners markets, which include Baltimore, MD, Denver, CO, Charleston, SC, Los Angeles, CA, New York City, NY, North Texas (Dallas and Fort Worth), San Francisco Bay Area, CA, Seattle, WA, Silicon Valley, CA, Twin Cities, MN, Tulsa, OK, and Washington, D.C. There is a preference for NYC or the Bay Area. This role requires approximately 25% travel.
Compensation And Benefits
Reading Partners' compensation and benefits programs are designed to attract, motivate, engage, and retain top talent to propel their mission forward. The organization aims to set salaries based on objective, external, high-quality market data. Salaries are adjusted for candidates in different geographic regions. Reading Partners does its very best to ensure they bring their best offer - therefore they do not engage in salary negotiations.
- This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position. The pay range for this position is $204,000 to $240,000 and is contingent on geographic location. After submitting an application, candidates who move forward in the hiring process are provided with the salary for their geographical location.
- Reading Partners offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, generous paid time off, commuter benefits, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and currently a 403(b) match option.
- Fifteen (15) vacation days with twelve (12) sick days.
- Professional development reimbursement funds up to $1,000 per year.
- Reading Partners also offers an exciting and dynamic culture, and commits to investing in and supporting its amazing people to grow their careers with them.
Diversity Statement
Reading Partners 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 Reading Partners to build a diverse team. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
Accommodation Statement On-Ramps is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process, including but not limited to those with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact info@on-ramps.com.
