Corporate Community Engagement Manager

College Possible - Austin, TX

About College Possible

As one of the largest and most successful college access and success programs in the country, since 2000 College Possible has helped more than 80,000 students from under-represented communities get into and through college through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. Its pioneering model matches students with a near-peer coach and an evidence-based curriculum designed to help students overcome the most common barriers to getting into college and completing their degree - all at no cost to students or their families. Nationwide, College Possible students are three times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree within six years than their peers from similar backgrounds.

College Possible is a proud AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service. Our AmeriCorps members commit to a year of service as a College Possible coach in communities throughout the country. Many coaches represent the identities of the students they serve, and each brings a commitment to social justice and closing the college equity divide.

Our near-peer coaching model has earned national recognition: the inaugural Evergreen National Education Award recognized our leadership in increasing access to and success in college for students from low-income backgrounds. It also earns top-of-field results: a Harvard study found that the program more than doubles a student's chance of enrolling in a four-year college, and our students are four times more likely to become college graduates than their low-income peers. College Possible has an annual operating budget of $33 million, more than 200 full-time employees and more than 300 AmeriCorps and VISTA service members. During the 2021-2022 school year, we reached an estimated 24,000 students nationwide. During the 2021-2022 school year, we reached an estimated 24,000 students nationwide.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

College Possible is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeks to build a diverse workforce to create impact in partnership with the communities we serve. We welcome a diverse pool of qualified applicants. For each of its positions, College Possible is mindful about what best serves our students, and seeks to hire staff with relevant experience, skills and aptitude, and a commitment to the power of education. To learn more, read our Diversity and Inclusion Plan.

Headquartered in Saint Paul, MN, College Possible operates: regional sites in Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA; College Forward in Austin, TX; and Catalyze partnerships in California, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee. Learn more at CollegePossible.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer

College Possible is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals and conduct all possible activities in fully accessible settings.

Your Role as a Corporate Community Engagement Manager

The position is responsible for the creation and management of a well-coordinated, strategic plan to cultivate and solicit support from corporations and individuals for the College Forward mission and vision. The Corporate & Community Engagement Manager (CCE Manager) will work to establish long-term partnerships, strengthen existing relationships, and initiate new contacts within the corporate and individual donor sector. The CCE Manager will also work closely with the Development Director, External Relations Team, and Executive Director to achieve annual revenue goals.

Additionally, the CCE Manager will play a crucial role in the implementation of the strategic fundraising plan including prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Some of the key responsibilities include managing and tracking donor solicitations, organizing fundraising and donor stewardship events, and managing the donor stewardship program. The position will serve as backup to the Development Director and coordinate development operations for the Austin site development program, including generation of reports, database management, conducting analysis of donor giving, and assisting with grant writing and submissions.

• Relationship Management & Stewardship: Create and manage a portfolio of annual donors with the goal of deepening engagement, renewing annual gifts, and increasing affinity and giving. Lead, direct, and support a comprehensive corporate engagement program to enhance relationships with corporate partners. Collaborate with other teams to develop ways to engage corporate partners in a comprehensive way.
• Prospecting & Cultivation: Lead prospecting and donor research for individuals. Strategize and implement cultivation techniques to inspire prospective supporters to become donors. A strong focus on moving-up lower-level donors. Research opportunities and network within the community to find new opportunities for funding and engagement in the corporate community. Coordinate with Advisory Board and Investment Council to ensure their corporate and community connections are maximized. Identify corporate prospects and conduct research to determine interest and giving potential.
• Solicitation: Develop, manage and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for corporate giving. Coordinate with the Director of Development on the execution of corporate grant requests, including providing detailed proposal information and assisting with the grant writing and submission process.
• Annual Campaigns: Lead on all direct mail and phone-a-thon fundraising campaigns. Develop the annual campaign strategy: renewal and prospect mailings, spring appeal, and end-of-year campaign. Ensure the execution of the gift appeal process including managing lists, mailings, and coordinating with mail house and volunteers.

• Volunteer Programs: Serve as liaison with corporate groups to identify and execute volunteer activities and efforts to increase community engagement.

• Events: Conduct presentations and present at external organizational awareness and engagement events, including presentations to corporate volunteer groups. Solicit event sponsorships as needed. Generate, manage and support small-scale fundraising events by working with the Development Director and Executive Director to leverage relationships with current individual donors including board members to significantly grow the number of individuals supporting the organization. Assist and support the effective execution of special events to build relationships for the organization.

• Strategic Planning & Analysis: Help build the annual strategic plan for fundraising and both lead and support strategy implementation. Provide analysis and reports on progress toward goals with the use of fundraising management tools.

• Development Operations: Collaborate with the external relations team to manage the donor stewardship process including gift processing, data entry, generation of thank you letters, phone calls, and database updates. Supervise gift appeal process, database administration, and requesting in-kind donations and gift acknowledgments in a timely manner.

• Reporting: Prepare regular reports on corporate programs. Maintain accuracy of donor tracking systems and database for corporate constituents, while maintaining confidentiality of donor information. Steward assigned prospects and document activities in Raiser's Edge database.

• And other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

Education/Certifications/Licenses:

• 
  Bachelor's degree required.
• Non-profit or Fund Development certification helpful.

Related Work Experience:

• Three to five years of experience in fundraising experience.
• Relationship management experience, demonstrating the ability to work one-on-one with new and existing donors through site visits, donor stewardship calls and in person meetings.
• Prefer previous experience developing and organizing fundraising events.

• Experience in creating processes and tools for effective donor prospecting, research and solicitation that leads to new donor acquisition and increased gifts, strong focus on moving donors up the pipeline.

• History of using data analysis and reporting to inform decisions as they relate to donor communications, improve annual fund and donor stewardship program.

• Previous experience implementing and managing a year-round high-touch donor stewardship program.

Computer/Software Skills:

• Strong computer skills, including demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and donor database software.
• Raiser's Edge experience strongly preferred.

Other Skills, Abilities and Requirements:

• A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing multiple projects and deadlines concurrently.
• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in the area of corporate fundraising techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of corporations.
• Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective corporate donors and interact with institutional representatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• High energy, enthusiastic, strong commitment to public service and social justice.
• Relationship builder with the flexibility and sensitivity to balance the perspectives of others.
• Strategic thinker and problem-solver, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.
• Self-starter with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, volunteers, donors, program participants and other supporters.
• Desire to work in a growing nonprofit organization, ability to adapt, creativity and commitment to excellence highly valued.
• Attention to detail, including proofreading and project follow-through.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds when needed
• Office environment with limited travel
• Ability to stand and/or sit for a minimum of 7 hours a day
  

What We Offer

In addition to joining a committed, diverse, values-based organization, we offer:

• An opportunity for you to have a tremendous impact both internally and in the broader country
• a competitive salary commensurate with experience
• excellent benefits including complete health, dental, life, short-term and long-term insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Encouraged sustainability through a generous paid time off program
• Personalized professional development and growth opportunities

To Join Our Growing College Possible Team
Please apply at: www.CollegePossible.org/careers Include a resume and cover letter.