Massachusetts Coalition & Partnership Lead
About Us
UpTogether works to disrupt the status quo approach to ending poverty because it's not working. We recognize that poverty is created by systems, rooted in racism and perpetuated by false views of people considered "poor."
We seek to change systems and underlying beliefs so that all people in the United States are seen and invested in for their strengths and are able to build power, reinforce their autonomy, and drive their own economic and social mobility.
Our systems change strategy is two-pronged: We work with our members, partners, funders, governments, community organizations and other supporters to:
- Invest in families and individuals experiencing financial hardship by providing them with direct cash they can use however they choose, no strings attached.
- Amplify stories and data that tell their true lived experiences so that, together, we show the impact of investing in people, provide evidence that it works, and influence state and local policies and practices that support and accelerate social and economic mobility.
The strategy is grounded in our strength-based approach of community, capital and choice, which honors people’s initiatives, abilities and self-determination.
| How We Do It | Why We Do It |
Community: | We learn from financially under-resourced communities and co-create opportunities for people to build and strengthen their social networks. | People benefit from the power of community and naturally and routinely exchange social capital and help one another. |
Capital | We invest in individuals and families through unrestricted cash. | People must have access to sufficient capital to invest in their own lives. |
Choice | We trust that people are capable of making decisions for themselves and their families. | People are experts in their own lives and must have full choice and control over their time and resources. |
At UpTogether, we work towards these values:
- Community: We’re better together than we are alone, and we know that with the support of our neighbors, family and friends, all of us will have a better shot at achieving our goals and dreams.
- Impact: We focus our time and energy on collective work that will have the largest impact for people experiencing financial hardship.
- Collaboration: We center the lived experiences of our members, partner with them to change systems and work with them to co-create opportunities for people to reach their financial goals.
- Racial Equity: We are committed to being an anti-racist organization, and we promote anti-racist policies that eliminate the racial wealth divide.
- Leadership: We intentionally create space for everyone to lead, regardless of their title.
- Choice: We respect everyone’s autonomy and know each person is capable of making their own decisions.
The Position
UpTogether seeks a Massachusetts Coalition & Partnership Lead to provide strategic coordination, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, resource development, and policy alignment for the CASH MA Coalition, as well as to own UpTogether’s broader Massachusetts-based direct cash efforts and fundraising. Working closely with 30+ coalition members and UpTogether, this role will serve as the primary convener, strategist, and coordinator for coalition activities, helping advance shared priorities that increase economic mobility, expand direct cash initiatives, address structural barriers such as the benefits cliff, and elevate community voice across Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Coalition & Partnership Lead will also serve as a connector between local, statewide, and national Direct Cash efforts, tasked with growing our Massachusetts development portfolio. They will lead partnerships and fundraising for Massachusetts (and the Northeast as other opportunities arise), identifying and cultivating new funding opportunities to help drive revenue, while also stewarding existing funders and partners.
This role is ideal for a highly collaborative leader with experience in coalition building, policy & systems change advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising.
Scope of Work
Coalition Strategy & Coordination
- Facilitate the development and advancement of coalition priorities, strategies, and annual workplans. Track progress towards goals.
- Support alignment among coalition members around shared goals and systems change opportunities, and coordinate information-sharing across coalition partners.
- Plan, coordinate, and facilitate coalition-wide meetings, working groups, learning sessions, and strategic convenings. Develop meeting agendas, materials, summaries, and follow-up action plans.
- Support coalition governance structures, decision-making processes, and partner accountability.
- Identify opportunities to advance direct cash initiatives and economic mobility efforts across Massachusetts.
Direct Cash Initiatives & Demonstration Projects
- Lead the fundraising, development, implementation, and growth of direct cash initiatives across Massachusetts (and the Northeast as opportunities arise).
- Help identify opportunities to launch, expand, and sustain direct cash demonstration projects. Continuously cultivate and develop a pipeline for future fundraising.
- Serve as the primary liaison between implementation partners, funders, evaluators, and UpTogether staff supporting program delivery.
- Coordinate stakeholder engagement, fundraising, communications, and learning activities related to existing direct cash initiatives.
- Support dissemination of findings, reports, and recommendations that strengthen the case for direct cash and economic mobility investments.
- Maintain Salesforce records, proposal and revenue tracking, fundraising documentation, and project management flows.
- Undertake and support administrative activities related to role, timely and diligently tending to admin tasks along with other External Affairs team members.
Resource Development & Sustainability
- Support development and implementation of long-term fundraising strategies for direct cash initiatives, coalition, and other projects as needed..
- Identify and cultivate relationships with philanthropic, public, and private funding partners.
- Assist with proposal development, grant opportunities, direct cash initiatives, coalition or other projects’ fundraising efforts.
- Support long-term sustainability planning for coalition operations and direct cash initiatives.
Policy & Systems Change Engagement
- Monitor policy developments and identify opportunities relevant to coalition priorities and direct cash initiatives.
- Coordinate coalition and partners participation in policy discussions, advocacy efforts, and public engagement opportunities.
- Support coalition members and partners in general in advancing systems change strategies that address barriers to economic mobility, including the benefits cliff.
- Build relationships with policymakers, government stakeholders, and advocacy partners; help connect local and statewide coalition efforts with national policy and direct cash conversations.
- Represent priorities in meetings, public forums, and stakeholder discussions as appropriate.
Community & Stakeholder Engagement, Communications
- Build and maintain strong relationships with coalition members, community organizations, philanthropic partners, researchers, and public sector stakeholders.
- Meaningfully engage individuals with lived experience in partners and coalition priorities and leadership opportunities.
- Work closely with our Membership and Impact team to coordinate member mobilization efforts and community engagement activities.
- Help develop messaging, presentations, reports, and external communications on behalf of UpTogether; support storytelling opportunities and partner engagement.
Deliverables
The individual in this role will be expected to provide:
- Facilitation of monthly coalition meetings, working groups, and strategic convenings.
- Coalition strategy, annual workplan, and implementation support.
- Quarterly progress reports and coalition updates.
- Stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and fundraising plans.
- Cultivation and support for direct cash initiatives and demonstration projects.
- Policy opportunity tracking, recommendations, and coordination.
- Meeting agendas, notes, action items, and follow-up communications.
- Coordination of coalition communications, presentations, and partner updates.
- Reporting and deliverables associated with coalition funding, direct cash initiatives, and strategic initiatives. Timely administrative task management and follow-through.
- Ownership of Massachusetts-based portfolio and driver of UpTogether’s broader Massachusetts direct cash efforts, fundraising, and partnership development.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in coalition building, public policy, community engagement, philanthropy, fundraising, economic mobility, direct cash initiatives, or related fields.
- A minimum of 3+ years of experience with/exposure to a wide range of fundraising and diversity of donors inclusive of philanthropic, corporate, private, high net worth individuals (HNWI), and/or government is preferred. Grant development a plus.
- Demonstrated experience leading or supporting multi-stakeholder coalitions, collaboratives, or networks.
- Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Familiarity with Massachusetts policy, nonprofit, and philanthropic landscapes strongly preferred.
- Proficiency with Salesforce (or a comparable CRM) and project management platforms such as Asana.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Comfort working on administrative-level tasks as well as high-level strategic planning.
- Proven ability to thrive in a remote work environment: consistently self-directed, able to reach out proactively, and responsive.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-changing environment, flexible in the pursuit of goals
- Demonstrated commitment to, or passion for, our mission; deep belief and trust in the innate capabilities of low-income families and communities; willingness to engage in conversations aimed at addressing erroneous stereotypes about low-income people and people of color.
- A deep belief in and operates according to UpTogether’s Core Values.
Location Requirement
The individual serving in this role must be based in the Greater Boston area and available for regular in-person meetings, coalition convenings, stakeholder engagement activities, funder meetings, and policy-related events throughout Massachusetts.
Funding:
This position is currently supported through grant funding that is secured through December 2027. Continuation of the role beyond that period will be dependent on the successful renewal of existing funding and/or the securing of additional philanthropic and public investments. UpTogether is committed to building long-term capacity for this work and will actively pursue opportunities to sustain the position beyond the current grant period.
Compensation
This is a full-time position with a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and generous PTO and paid company holidays. Annual Salary of $103,200, paid bi-weekly.
Inclusion Statement
We strive to create a community that embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion, and we support the efforts of others to build such communities. We encourage all qualified and interested persons to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Sponsorship
Please be aware that UpTogether is unable to offer employment to candidates that are not already legally authorized to work in the US at this time. Applicants that require sponsorship will unfortunately not be considered for employment with UpTogether.
To Apply
To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a resume and cover letter. We ask that you do not include a photo or image of yourself on your resume or cover letter. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.
