Development Senior Manager, Foundations

Position Overview  

The Senior Manager (Foundations) is responsible for the development and management of a portfolio of current and prospective institutional and foundation funders. The Senior Manager will act as a point of contact for funders in their portfolio, liaising and informing them of RMI’s organizational and programmatic impact. The Senior Manager will spend equal time stewarding relationships with existing funders and identify and cultivate new funders for RMI.  The Senior Manager will be a key contributor to the development team and will be essential to the achievement of the organization’s fundraising goals.  

Portfolio Management 

• Manage and grow revenue from a portfolio of several dozen current and prospective institutional and foundation funders 

• Within a portfolio, lead all aspects of funder relationships, including coordinating conversations, submitting proposals and reports, and responding to inquiries 

• Create touchpoints with funders through, for example, meetings with RMI staff, proactive outreach and scheduling, preparation of meeting briefings with strategic goals and background, designing meeting content, and leading on follow up after meetings` 

• Provide regular updates to Development team leadership team on funder conversations, pipelines, and relationship status 

• Ensure funders are appropriately acknowledged and featured in   RMI reports and other key communications. 

Strategic Engagement 

• With programmatic staff, lead the creation of the fundraising strategy and the case for support 

• Through research and active conversations, understand funders' priorities and partnerships to effectively represent the organization's work 

• Advance relationships resulting in significant philanthropic contributions through strategic engagement including in person and virtual meetings, email correspondence  

• Identify, qualify, solicit, and steward new foundation prospects capable of making 6-8 figure grants 

• Provide high quality experience for funders and potential funders through education and engagement on RMI’s program portfolio 

• Travel to meet with funders where they are, including at US and global conferences   

Proposal Development and Reporting 

• Lead the process of developing compelling grant proposals, Letters of Inquiry, concept notes, and associated budgets to meet funder deadlines and expectations 

• Collaborate with program, accounting, and communications teams to ensure timely submissions of proposals and grant applications 

• Oversee the creation of and timely submission of regular stewardship reports to funders, including financial reports 

• Respond to donor requests as they emerge to resolve edits to proposals and budgets 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Work closely with program teams to gain a comprehensive understanding of the organization's work and its alignment with funders’ priorities 

• Prepare briefings, strategic plans, and communications materials for funder meetings, drawing from the expertise of program teams 

• Advise and support the development of fundraising pipelines for 1-2 RMI programs. Provide guidance and feedback on fundraising materials and ensure program representatives have the information needed to engage with funders. Inform the development team on any major program updates on a regular basis 

Database Management and Reporting 

• Utilize Salesforce to document moves management, fundraising pipelines, and provide accurate relationship status 

• Utilize Monday.com to highlight upcoming reporting or proposal deadlines 

Team Contribution 

• Actively participate in Development Team meetings, initiatives, and culture 

• Support the implementation of short- and long-term development objectives 

• Contribute to overall Development Team strategy and organizational mission 

Required Qualifications 

• 10 + years' experience in non-profit fundraising

• 5+ years' experience fundraising from foundations  

• Track record of successful solicitation of multiple 6-8 figure grants both independently and in partnership with programs or organizational leadership 

• Experience managing complex proposal processes involving multiple stakeholders from across an organization   

• Experience writing winning grant applications or proposals. 

• Experience working successfully with top level Executives in a fast-paced environment.  

• Experience working in environment, climate or energy field strongly desired. 

• International experience desired but not required.  

Additional Preferred Qualification

• Knowledge of and passion for RMI's mission of transforming the global energy system to secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. 

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of non-profit organizations.  

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.  

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with RMI staff, Board members, community groups and other associated agencies.  

• Able to navigate and understand a complicated funding environment with the flexibility to change course quickly with a positive attitude. 

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado.  

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies. 

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Compensation    

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary for this role is in between $115,00.00 to $125,000.00. You would also have an additional 10% bonus target!

Benefits     

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:     

Medical, dental, vision insurance    
403b retirement options (5% match immediately)    
Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability    
Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)    
Generous paid time off   
Parental leave    
Commuter and wellness benefits    
Casual work environment     
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion       

At RMI, our mission is to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future for all. For this to happen, every single person needs to be a stakeholder in the energy transition. Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve is critical to our success. We need the widest range of perspectives to understand the systems we are trying to change. That doesn’t just mean bringing a diverse team to the table; it also means working proactively to give all job seekers and employees equitable experiences. Visit our DEI page for more information on our DEI initiatives and commitments. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

About RMI  

RMI is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization of experts across disciplines working to accelerate the clean energy transition and improve lives. Since our founding in 1982 by Amory Lovins, RMI’s chairman emeritus, we continue to grow and have a global reach and reputation.

For 40 years, RMI has utilized our unique techno-economic expertise and whole-systems thinking to publish groundbreaking research and analysis. We bring together collaborations of rare reach, range, and expertise—creating unconventional partnerships and mobilizing action to drive change on the massive scale needed to combat the climate crisis. 

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.