Company Profile:
Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) envisions a world where poverty caused by rural isolation no longer exists.
Rural isolation is a root cause of poverty, and we believe that connection is the foundation for opportunity. Incorporated in 2001, B2P builds cost-effective, scalable infrastructure that connects communities that face extreme isolation. The organization has supported or constructed trail bridges in 21 countries that serve more than 1.7 million people providing them with vital access to schools, clinics and hospitals, markets, jobs, and government services.
Job purpose
B2P is a purpose-driven organization, focused on rapidly scaling our solution globally. To support our ambitious growth strategy, we are on the hunt for a high-performing Foundations Manager, who will be responsible for working with the B2P Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy Team to steward existing foundation partners, identify, cultivate, and secure new funding opportunities, and provide development operations support to our efforts in national strategic partnerships and global advocacy.
The ideal candidate is an effective storyteller who can capture the challenge of rural isolation, the impact of connection, and the beauty of rural communities in communications, presentations, and grant proposals. They have the personal management skills to work on several diverse projects at once, all with varied deadlines, and are committed to continually building a deep knowledge of the organization’s programs, objectives, and audiences, as well as the priorities and preferences of our target donors, to inform the development of customized engagement strategies. This position reports to the Vice President of Business Development.
Duties and responsibilities
I. Foundation Relations
Work with the VP of Business Development to inform and support Bridges to Prosperity’s foundation fundraising strategy, with a focus on submission of top quality, winning grant proposals, due diligence materials, and reports.
- Conduct research to identify, cultivate, and solicit foundation funding opportunities in alignment with B2P’s programs and objectives.
- Steward existing and new foundation funding partnerships in alignment with a customized strategy.
- Manage the proposal submission and reporting process for all grant opportunities assigned to ensure the timely application of all required materials.
- Craft high-quality grant proposal narratives, applications, supporting documentation, and reports in alignment with B2P programs and Corporate partnership objectives.
- Work with B2P’s finance team to prepare complete and accurate financial data for foundation funders including corporate foundation funders.
II. Corporate Foundation Proposal and Report Drafting
Work with the Corporate Partnerships team to craft grant proposals, due diligence materials, and reports for corporate foundation opportunities in alignment with relationship principal strategies for funder cultivation.
III. Content Writing
Work with the B2P Development Team to deliver engaging copy for content needs across the Development Team and, more broadly, the organization.
- Collaborate across departments to create innovative content ideas.
- Contribute blog posts, press releases, newsletters, web, and printed material copy built on data-driven insights and appropriately targeted to the intended audience.
- Edit copy produced by other members of the team.
IV. Development Operations
Work in partnership with the Development Operations Manager and Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy team to ensure timely and accurate pipeline and revenue records, in addition to strategic partnership relationship records in Salesforce.
- Maintain opportunity pipeline records for all partners and opportunities assigned.
- Regularly monitor payment information to ensure timely collection of gifts.
- Ensure partners are added to appropriate communications in alignment with the cultivation strategy.
- Support cultivation and stewardship of partnerships with key stakeholders, including government partners, quasi-government agencies, vocational centers, and other implementing organizations through research, data management, and correspondence drafting and tracking.
Qualifications
- Minimum five years of experience in grant or content writing (nonprofit experience a plus), with a demonstrated ability to write successful proposals.
- Minimum two years of experience in fundraising, consultative sales, or other relationship management.
- Outstanding research skills.
- Clear, precise, and compelling writing skills with excellent grammar and punctuation
- Ability to manage rejection and move past common proposal objections.
- Strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
- Exceptional ability to adapt to changing priorities with equanimity.
- Proven ability to thrive in a less structured work environment
- High proficiency in all Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Working conditions
Bridges to Prosperity is a high-energy and team-oriented environment. The Foundations Manager must self-manage, setting an example for other team members in how to prioritize, execute, and support other team members in their objectives.
The position may require availability on some evenings and weekends when tight deadlines call for it.
While we encourage applications from all over the world, preference will be given to candidates who have prior experience working in Africa, are currently residing in Africa, or have relevant experience in any of our program countries, which include Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, or Kenya.
Physical requirements
The employee will be required to regularly work at a computer. We function under hybrid and in some instances fully remote working conditions. For candidates based in a program country, there will be an opportunity to work in a B2P office.
We have seen firsthand the benefits of a diverse team, and the strength that comes with diversity in experience, background, and perspective. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who would bring a unique or underrepresented perspective to our organization.