Organizational Overview  

Families First’s mission is to partner with parents to amplify their power so they can positively impact the lives of children and communities through our groundbreaking programs. Our model includes parenting education and support, family engagement, and alumni opportunities.

For more than 35 years, Families First has been a leader in providing parenting education across the Greater Boston area. The organization was founded in 1988 with the goal of helping parents navigate the diverse challenges of raising children by providing research-based parenting education services. In 2022 we expanded to Hampden County in Western Massachusetts.

Today, Families First provides a comprehensive model for early childhood parenting education, family engagement, and parent leadership through the Power of Parenting™ program and the Ripple Program™.

Position Overview 

As part of Families First’s Development Team, the Senior Institutional Giving Manager will lead the organization’s highly successful Institutional Giving Program, including foundation and corporate giving, with the potential for significant growth. 

The Senior Institutional Giving Manager is charged with creating, writing, and delivering grant proposals and managing relationships with foundation and corporate officers. They manage a portfolio of local and national prospects; work proactively to identify, solicit, cultivate, and steward those prospects; and work individually and as a team member to help maximize Families First’s foundation and corporate fundraising.

This is a full-time, 40-hour/week, exempt position that requires availability to occasionally attend evening events and meetings. This position is hybrid, requiring in-person work at our office in Watertown two days/week and our office in Holyoke approximately two days/month as needed for meetings. The exact schedule between offices will be determined in consultation with the Director of Development and Communications. Opportunities for professional development are available, and there is potential for growth as our organization builds over the next few years. This position reports to the Director of Development and Communications.

Essential Job Functions 

Foundation Relations (40%): This position oversees Families First’s foundations program, which requires the following key responsibilities: 

• Interface with program team to stay current with activities and get data for grant proposals and reports
• Maintain a portfolio of foundations, including writing proposal and report narratives; coordinating with other departments for required reports and attachments; managing relationships with foundation staff; coordinating, preparing for, and leading site visits and other stewardship meetings; and maintaining accurate records in database and tracking spreadsheet
• Maintain pipeline of foundations, including researching new grant opportunities and attending networking meetings where foundation representatives are present
• Maintain knowledge of latest research and trends on mission-related topics and incorporate into writing in a compelling manner

Corporate Giving (40%): This position oversees our corporate giving program, which includes the following key responsibilities:

• Maintain a portfolio of corporations, including writing proposal and report narratives, managing relationships with corporate point people, creating opportunities for engagement, and tracking stewardship activities
• Work with program team to devise strategies and design menu of options to engage corporate groups in volunteering activities; manage development strategy around these events
• Build and maintain pipeline of corporate prospects, including building relationships with other corporations for event sponsorships and other funding
• Attend corporate events and networking meetings, and/or partner with Executive Director or other staff members as appropriate to effectively deploy them in high-potential corporate cultivation activities
• Create, monitor, and update corporate revenue projections

 Other Responsibilities (20%):  

• Help develop and implement annual institutional fundraising plan under the direction of the Director of Development & Communications
• Support integration of DEIB initiatives within the department as we move toward a community-centric fundraising model
• Attend relevant Families First staff and team meetings 
• Work with leadership team on growth planning, and research new ways to increase institutional funding from local and national funders

Ideal Qualifications  

• 5+ years of grant writing and/or development experience
  
• A Bachelor’s degree may be substituted for two years of experience
• Previous experience with donor/funder communications and/or relationship-management work for a nonprofit organization is required
• Previous experience with fundraising databases is preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to think creatively and implement new, innovative systems to achieve goals
• Ability to work well independently (self-motivated) and in a collaborative team environment
• Comfortable with MS Office suite, e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook
  
• Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus
  

Requirements 

• Must be available to occasionally work evening events and meetings
• Hybrid work, requiring in-person work at our office in Watertown, MA, two days/week and Holyoke, MA, approximately two days/month as needed

Salary Range

The starting salary range is $72,000 - $76,000, with the opportunity for growth over time. Families First offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, health and dental insurance, access to a Flexible Spending Account, and 403(b).

Families First has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We aim to attract qualified candidates who hold these same values and help us further recognize and celebrate the diversity among us.