Job Summary

The Philanthropic Investment (PI) Team plays an integral role in supporting the mission, vision, and impact of the Commit Partnership by cultivating, securing, and stewarding investors in the organization’s work. We work collaboratively across the organization and with external partners to secure an annual budget of at least $40M.

The Portfolio Manager, Institutional Investments will focus on securing a minimum of $8 million annually from local and national institutional funders, with a specific emphasis on one of the organization’s key programmatic areas: Early Childhood through Grade 12 (EC-12), Postsecondary Readiness, or Statewide Initiatives including Policy, Advocacy, and Policy Implementation. This role emphasizes lead generation, prospecting, and networking to cultivate relationships with new and existing investors.

The Portfolio Manager will work directly with programmatic teams to develop innovative strategies to connect with local and national funders, write compelling proposals, and serve as a key connector and content expert for their programmatic area. They will also ensure thoughtful co-created stewardship plans to foster deeper engagement and maximize contributions year over year.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Institutional Investments, this external-facing role plays a pivotal part in driving the sustainability and growth of their assigned programmatic area’s impact through collaboration, innovation, and relationship-building.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Fundraising and Investor Engagement

• Identify and generate leads for potential local funders through research, networking, and relationship-building efforts.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with institutional funders to secure at least $8 million annually in philanthropic investments.
• Develop and execute customized strategies to identify, solicit, and secure funding opportunities from local investors.
• Write compelling and tailored proposals that align investor priorities with organizational goals and programmatic needs.
• Act as a connector by leveraging personal and organizational networks to expand the organization’s reach and donor base.

Stewardship and Portfolio Management

• Design and implement comprehensive stewardship plans for all investors within the assigned portfolio to ensure consistent engagement and relationship-building.
• Ensure funders are informed of their investments' impact through high-quality reports, personalized updates, and strategic touchpoints.
• Proactively identify opportunities for funders to renew and increase their contributions year over year.

Organizational Systems and Processes

• Utilized Salesforce for accurate data entry, dashboard insights, and reporting to track and analyze fundraising activities and outcomes.
• Leverage Teamwork (project management software) to manage tasks, timelines, and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Maintain efficient systems and processes to ensure seamless communication and transparency in fundraising operations.

Cross-functional collaboration and Content Expertise

• Serve as a content expert for the assigned programmatic area (EC-12, Postsecondary, or Statewide Initiatives) to effectively communicate its goals and impact to funders.
• Partner with internal teams, including program, data, and communications teams, to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities and create funder-facing materials.
• Act as a liaison between funders and program leads to facilitate effective communication and alignment.
• Support cross-departmental efforts to meet organizational fundraising goals and objectives.

Strategy, Innovation, and Networking

• Contribute to the development and execution of innovative fundraising strategies tailored to local funders.
• Stay informed on trends in local philanthropy to inform creative approaches and best practices.
• Represent the organization at external events and networking opportunities to expand visibility and donor engagement.

Education and/or Experience Required (Minimum):

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in institutional fundraising, grant writing, or philanthropy, preferably within a mission-aligned organization.
• Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts from institutional funders.

Preferred:

• Experience with Salesforce Nonprofit Marketing Cloud with the knowledge, understanding, and ability to execute moves management
• Experience working in an education-focused nonprofit or organization
• Experience as a classroom teacher

Qualifications and Skills Required (Minimum):

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and stewardship materials.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage new and existing funders.
• Highly organized with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and accountability and to be a team player.
• Ability to develop and follow through on creative and effective solicitation strategies and to motivate and generate enthusiasm for them among team members.
• Ability to create and deliver highly professional, compelling presentations to investors and facilitate investor meetings.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and data management tools.
• Familiarity with project management software such as Teamwork.
• Strategic thinker with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Familiarity with philanthropic trends, particularly in education, social impact, or public policy sectors.

Philanthropic Investment Team Standards:
To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate should embody the following qualities:

• Relationship-Driven: Passionate about building and nurturing relationships both within the organization and externally with investors, partners, and other stakeholders. Understand that relationships are the foundation of our work.
• Data-Obsessed: Demonstrated ability to analyze and communicate outcomes and impact with a focus on measurable results. You thrive on using data to guide decisions and demonstrate progress.
• Customer Service Mindset: Committed to providing a high level of service to investors, partners, and internal stakeholders, with a focus on ensuring they feel supported, valued, and informed.
• Proactive, Entrepreneurial, & Innovative: A self-starter with the ability to take initiative, manage multiple projects, and identify new opportunities for engagement and growth. Embraces innovation, is not afraid to think outside the box, and has an entrepreneurial mindset focused on advancing the mission.
• Collaborative & Team-Oriented: Operate with a team-first mindset, bringing your individual strengths to the table while recognizing the importance of collective success.
• Meticulous About Processes & Systems: Detail-oriented, with a strong commitment to maintaining organized systems, accurate data, and efficient workflows.
• Commitment to Learning: Continually strives to learn and grow both in terms of professional skills and understanding of the educational landscape and Commit’s work, remaining open to new ideas and feedback.
• Impact-Focused Communicator: Obsessed with proactively communicating to stakeholders and able to distill complex information into compelling, data-driven narratives that communicate impact and engage stakeholders at all levels.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and write in Standard American English.
• Ability to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate need.
• Ability to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
• Ability to describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (additional KSAs that apply to the position):

• Mission-driven and passionate about advancing educational equity and systemic change.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Results-oriented with a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
• Ability to interact with people of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to listen perceptively and convey awareness.
• Ability to interact diplomatically with the public.
• Ability to work as part of a team and in a team environment.
• Ability to maintain level-headedness in the face of resistance.

Work Environment:

This is a Dallas-based position with a minimum requirement to be in person at the Commit Partnership offices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and remote on Tuesdays and Fridays, which requires a reliable internet connection.

Benefits:

• Basic life and AD&D insurance provided
• Professional Development
• Hybrid work environment
• 8 paid holidays
• Flexible PTO
• Volunteer hours
• Voting hours
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending account
• Paid maternity and paternity leave
• And More!

• Complete the application on the Commit career page.
• Attach a resume and cover letter summarizing why you are the best fit for the role.