Sr. Manager, Foundation & Government Relations

WHO WE ARE

United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is home to the change makers and justice seekers. We're individuals from various walks of life making collective steps towards a better future for our community. Our focus is on bringing about real and sustainable change by unleashing the collective power of people to open minds, unite diverse communities, and convert compassion into action for a more just, inclusive, and thriving L.A. County. Together, we make tangible impact on some of our toughest community issues including poverty, homelessness, education equity, and economic mobility. For us, being 'united' isn't just in reference to our organization but to our hope for the future of Los Angeles. Regardless of race, gender, orientation, or self-identification - we do our part as one by making room for all.

WHAT WE DO

Our Strategic Partnerships department advances United Way's mission by creating a philanthropic coalition of the willing: donors, connectors, and advocates who share our values of racial equity and our vision for a thriving Los Angeles. Our success is measured by the strength of the relationships we build that drive resources to the work that advances our mission. At our core, we are vocal activists who believe that the support we gather today directly impacts how far we can go tomorrow in our pursuit of a better Los Angeles.

WHY WE NEED YOU

We are inviting strategic and community-oriented development leaders with a passion for fostering philanthropic relationships and crafting compelling cases for support that advance missions to apply for our Sr. Manager, Foundation & Government Relations role.

You will have the opportunity to support the annual growth of revenue by securing funding from foundation and government entities to drive UWGLA’s vision of building shared prosperity in LA for all.

You will have the unique opportunity to develop significant partnerships with LA’s leading funders and facilitate philanthropic giving in bold solutions to LA’s most pressing challenges.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE

Foundation & Government Fundraising

o Renew $7M annually in gifts from long-term foundation partners

o Solicit $50K+ gifts of new foundation and government funding that align with UWGLA funding priorities

o Research, qualify, and solicit new funding opportunities by responding to Requests for Proposals, developing letters of support, and engaging in relevant networking groups

o Partner with program leads in program and pitch development to create competitive asks with higher likelihood for selection by funders.

o Renew $2.9M in government funding and secure $1M annually in new local, state, and/or federal funding

o As needed, participate in special fund development efforts such as UWGLA’s Disaster Relief Fund launched based on community need.

Foundation & Government Relations

o Sustain and strengthen relationships with long-term philanthropic foundation partners, primarily Program Officers, Directors, and other grant making staff, through meaningful engagement including 1:1 meetings, events, and volunteer leadership opportunities to connect them to their impact

o Manage all post-award grants management and stewardship, working with departments across the organization to complete all grant obligations, including program and events development, public recognition for funders, and the timely acknowledgement of and reporting on grants

o Maintain accurate donor data in CRM to capture the breadth and depth of relationships with foundation and government partners

o Maintain a deep and comprehensive understanding of United Way’s priorities, our partners’ interest, and where they intersect to create win-win outcomes that drive deeper relationships internally and externally

New Partner Development

o Grow the existing pipeline of foundation and government support by identifying and qualifying new or lapsed foundation prospects

o Identify and cultivate a pipeline of local, state, and federal relationships around aligned impact areas in partnership with Public Affairs team

o Support the execution of the new partner development strategies to increase foundation and government giving from identified key sectors

o Analyze regional giving trends to identify new potential funding from the local markets and develop a case for support

Proposal Development & Reporting

o Oversee the grant submission process to ensure compelling, high-quality proposals and reports are submitted in a timely manner

o Partner with Major Gifts Team to cultivate and solicit family foundations by coordinating letters of inquiry, proposals, and other solicitation materials.

o Participate in cross-departmental planning and coordination sessions with fundraising leads to support unified strategy to fund development for UWGLA.

o Analyze grant and revenue data to identify opportunities for enhanced grant process. Lead efforts to design and implement enhanced internal grantseeking operations, policies, and procedures and support efficient fiscal management of grant revenue.

o Partner with the Proposal Specialist to maintain comprehensive tracking of grants and reporting

Team Management & Development

o Mentor and coach direct reports to grow skillsets, support individual professional development goals, and inspire team members to both lead and follow.

o Provide direct but respectful constructive feedback in real-time and during formal review periods to elevate team performance, maintain accountability, and reach goals.

WHAT 1 YEAR OF SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Renew $9M in foundation grants funding and renew $2.9M government grant for programmatic priorities

Direct solicit and secure at least $600K in new government funding for the local economic development initiatives, including United Way’s community hubs

Identify opportunities and manage application process to secure $1M in new foundation funding

SKILLS YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED (Must Haves)

Education & Experience

o Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, nonprofit management, social work, business administration, communications, or related writing-intensive discipline required; Master’s degree preferred

o Minimum 6 years of related experience required in fundraising, grant development, philanthropy or related experience

o Minimum 3 years of experience supervising and developing direct reports

o Proven ability to secure six-figure level grants and gifts required

o Prior experience in government grant writing and reporting required

Personal Qualities

o You enjoy a hybrid environment that includes both in-person and remote work styles and are able to work from our DTLA office on Tuesdays and Thursdays

o You are able to provide documentation of your status as fully vaccinated with primary series of COVID-19 vaccine upon being hired.

o You understand the value of racial equity as an organizational operating principle and are committed to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE A FIT (Nice-to-Haves)

You can light a spark in the dimmest of rooms with your energy and enthusiasm for the work you do.

You know how to talk the talk by communicating clearly, concisely, and persuasively to funders and corporate partners alike.

Your written communications are concise and clear when it comes to ensuring messaging is compelling, accurate and tailored to the audience.

You are a strategic planner who can successfully transform thoughts to action and goals to success with a well-crafted play-by-play strategy.

You understand the all aspects of data analysis - the graphs, charts, facts and figures - well enough to explain the story they tell to others.

You are a social butterfly who can build and navigate relationships confidently with individuals and groups at all levels including community leaders, elected officials, corporations, foundations, and institutions.

You have good judgment and trust yourself to make the right call when decisions are tough.

You keep your priorities straight but also know when it's time to re-prioritize your work assignments based on business needs.

You are proactive, self-motivated, and action-oriented when it comes to managing your workload.

You work well with others - stakeholders and colleagues alike would agree that you are the quintessential “Team Player."

Logic and reasoning come naturally to you, making you an efficient problem solver of challenges big and small.

You stay calm under pressure and can meet tight deadlines when necessary.

You know your way around the Microsoft Windows operating systems and all its essential programs including Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint – Microsoft CRM and prospecting tools such as Inside Philanthropy Grantfinder are a plus.

You know how to manage a team in a way that holds everyone accountable while also creating opportunities to provide guidance, feedback and mentorship.

You're comfortable with giving and receiving feedback in a manner that's respectful yet constructive whether in performance reviews or one-off conversations.

You can communicate the complexities of impact work in an authentic and engaging manner that solidifies commitment from prospective donors

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Hiring Salary Range: $90,000-$95,000 dependent on internal equity and a variety of job-related factors including, but not limited to, experience, training, education, and market demands.

The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 403(b) plan, pension, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, paid holidays, and paid time off.