Position Description
Forum for Youth Investment
Fund Development Coordinator, External Affairs Department
TITLE:
Fund Development Coordinator
SUPERVISOR:
Chief Operating Officer
PURPOSE:
To provide day-to-day management of the Forum’s fund development systems, functions and
relationships
Organization
The Forum for Youth Investment is a nonprofit, nonpartisan "action tank" dedicated to helping communities and the
nation make sure all young people are Ready by 21®: ready for college, work and life. Informed by rigorous research and
practical experience, the Forum forges innovative ideas, strategies and partnerships to strengthen solutions for young people
and those who care about them. A trusted resource for policy makers, advocates, researchers and program professionals, the
Forum provides youth and adult leaders with the information, connections and tools they need to create greater opportunities
and outcomes for young people.
The Forum manages a number of centers and partnerships, including the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality,
the Children’s Cabinet Network and SparkAction. The core work of the Forum is helping leaders, organizations, partnerships
and systems – at the local, state and national levels – assess, improve and align their practices and policies. The Forum
works in collaboration with national partners representing the education, government, nonprofit, business and community
philanthropy sectors.
The Forum is a thriving organization with an annual budget of approximately $7 million and more than 40 staff. It is funded by
a mix of foundations and corporations with a growing fee-for-service contract base. The Fund Development Coordinator will
play an important role in the Forum’s continued growth. For more information, please visit http://www.forumfyi.org/
Position Responsibilities

Work with the CEO and senior staff to develop and execute an annual development strategy for foundation grants
and contracts and corporate support.

Steward the Forum’s foundation and corporate relationships throughout their lifecycle by: identifying prospective
funders, making connections, crafting pitches, developing proposals, solidifying scopes of work, securing support,
evaluating and reporting progress, and pursuing future opportunities .

Ensure on-time, high-quality reports, proposals and regular business communications with the Forum’s foundation,
corporate and other primary clients and funders.

Produce regular reports, both narrative and summary charts, for senior management, Board of Directors, and the full
Forum staff.

Assist CEO, external affairs department and other senior staff members to develop and tailor materials that effectively
convey the Forum’s mission, products, and unique competencies.
The Cady-Lee House | 7064 Eastern Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20012 | Phone: 202.207.3333 | Fax: 202.207.3329 | www.forumfyi.org
Ready by 21 and the Ready by 21 Logo are registered trademarks of the Forum for Youth Investment.

Support the CEO as both the public face, and chief fundraising officer, of the organization by providing up-to-date
background information on key funders, key partners, and relevant trends and reports that should inform our
proposals.

Partner with senior staff to develop and submit specific funding proposals.

Coordinate with the VP for Business Strategy to create seamless information on the Forum’s revenue pipeline,
whether from foundation grants and contracts or our place-based client contracts.

Utilize the Forum’s customer relationship management (CRM) system to track fund development activities and
outcomes, coordinating with other CRM users as needed to create cross-cutting reports.
Performance/Character Requirements
The successful candidate will have an attentive, persistent, affable, and flexible personality. Resourcefulness, initiative, and a
sense of humor are critical. Strategic thinking, strong analytical abilities, and a commitment to follow-through are essential.
The right candidate will have a leadership style that can guide both the strategic development and logistical implementation of
the Forum’s wide range of funder relations.
Qualifications

Bachelors degree required; graduate degree in non-profit management, business, communications, or related field
preferred.

3-5 years of relevant experience in fields such as: non-profit fund development, communications, sales, marketing,
or grant-making.

Exceptional oral and written communication skills; a comfort with speaking to, and writing for, a wide variety of
audiences.

Proven track record of building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, funders, and/or organizational
partners.

Demonstrated ability to take “big-picture” concepts and plans and convert them into specific and executable courses
of action.

Ability to work independently and as a team player; and to manage a wide variety of tasks and projects
simultaneously.

Familiarity with the field(s) of youth development, education, or community change strongly preferred.

Deep commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the Forum’s mission, and the ability to share that commitment and
enthusiasm with others.
Working Environment
Flexibility is required to adapt to the dynamic work environment of a small but growing non-profit “think tank” that has national
clients and exposure. The climate is informal but mission-driven. Excellence is valued in every position.
Position & Compensation
Salaries at the Forum are competitive with comparable non-profit organizations in the region and will be based upon
experience and expertise. Salary range, duties and responsibilities of this position meet the requirements of Section 13 (a) (1)
of the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore qualifies it as an "exempt" position.
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