Position Title:                  Advancement Officer

Location:                          Remote

Application Deadline:  January 31, 2024

Job Summary:

Reporting to and in partnership with the Director of Advancement, the Advancement Officer will lead the department’s grant and report writing and management. The Advancement Officer will also support the Director of Advancement on all donor management, donor-related projects, and developing grants management tools and processes that will be deployed across the organization.

WHO WE ARE

NDN Collective is the most ambitious, systemic effort to empower Indigenous communities in the history of philanthropy. We are creating a paradigm change in how society invests in Indigenous Peoples by dramatically scaling up investment and shifting decision-making power to Indigenous Peoples. We are doing four key things to create a new ecosystem that supports Indigenous self-determination: 

1. We are dramatically increasing philanthropic investment into Indigenous-led organizations, with the goal of giving out $50M per year in grants by 2025. 

2. We are creating an Indigenous-led Community Development Financial Institution to move $100M of for-profit investment into projects led by and serving Indigenous communities. 3. We are building capacity in Indigenous communities to be able to absorb this new influx of capital. 

4. We are advocating for Indigenous rights and policy changes that will enable our peoples and communities to thrive.

What Sets Us Apart

• We represent the people we serve—we are Indigenous-led and support Indigenous people and organizations 
• We think in systems and recognize the interconnectedness of all living things 
• We are changemakers that have and model a mindset of abundance 
• We believe in the power of Indigenous self-determination to create a just, equitable world for all people and Mother Earth 
• We integrate culture and ceremony into our work 
• We acknowledge and pay respects to our elders and past while taking ownership and control of our future

THE POSITION

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Engages donors, philanthropic institutions and wealth managers to help secure the resources necessary to fund NDN Collective programming. 
• Writes high-quality grant proposals, applications, reports, and supporting documents in partnership with, and under the direction of the Director of Advancement. 
• Creates powerful program narratives that can be adapted to varying audiences in partnership with other NDN departments and entities. 
• Manages donor relationships in partnership and under the direct supervision of the Director of Advancement, which includes handling donor applications and reporting processes to ensure timely submission of all required materials.  
• Stewards grants through their entire funding cycle from prospective research to application processes, awards, reporting, and close out. 
• Works closely with the Leadership and Advancement teams to contribute to fundraising strategies and ensure annual goals are met.

WHO YOU ARE

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience 
• 3-4 years of relevant experience 
• 2-3 years grant proposal writing experience, with success securing foundational, state, and federal grants
• Successful donor relationship experience with the ability to create new and maintain long-standing relationships with funding partners 
• Prior grants management experience with a non-profit, tribal agency, government agency, or other entity 
• Demonstrated commitment to serving the public in a mission-drive organization 
• A solid understanding of budgets as they relate to proposals and grants, and a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in budgets for grant proposals 
• Demonstrated ability to assess qualitative and quantitative outcome data

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent written/verbal communication skills; strong presentation skills 
• Strategic thinking: able to conceptualize, lead and execute complex projects, and effectively convey their impact to various audiences 
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines and objectives 
• Strength in collaboration as part of a team to move projects forward in a fast-paced environment 
• Outstanding research and analytical skills 
• Outstanding partnership development skills 
• Success in persuasive writing and experience developing complex communications projects
• Demonstrated success in grant writing and a track record of successful fundraising 
• Experience directing, motivating, developing, and supervising staff and/or contractors

Personal Characteristics

• ACTIVATOR: You are a self-reliant person and are strong at making things happen by turning thoughts into action. You have a proven track record of successfully building or sustaining a nonprofit fundraising operation.
• LEARNER: You have strong learning agility and are able to rapidly understand and analyze new situations. You learn from your successes and failures and improve processes to drive fundraising.
• COMMUNICATOR: You are an exceptionally strong communicator who can create high-quality materials and deliver compelling messages and presentations. You have experience using this strength in securing funds for nonprofits.
• ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT: You are ambitious and creative and enjoy the process of building something from the ground up. You are excited by the opportunity to come in and have a heavy hand in shaping our development operations. 
• SOCIALLY & EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT: You are able to work efficiently and respectfully with others. You understand how individuals, groups, and societies work and you build rapport through being trustworthy and empathetic. 
• DETAIL ORIENTED: You strive for perfection and are able to move from the high level of a project to its smallest details.
• FLEXIBLE: You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are flexible when it is necessary. You are willing to travel when needed.

This position is salaried, commensurate with experience, at a GS 12 level with a salary ranging from $75,000 to $85,000.Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as 401(k) retirement plan, a wellness program, personal leave, and professional development.

HOW TO APPLY

As attention to detail is critical for success in this role, only applicants who follow these specific guidelines will be considered. Send an email to jobs@ndncollective.org with the subject line “Advancement Officer – [YOUR NAME].” In the email, please include:

As a single PDF attachment, include:

• Your resume
• 1-page cover letter explaining your interest in the organization and position
• Short answers to the following questions:
  • How does your experience working in Indigenous communities inform your current work and your interest in this position?
  • What is your philosophy about fundraising?
  • What would you be most nervous about going into this role if you were offered and accepted the position?
  • NDN Collective conducts background checks, is there anything you want to share with us about your background?
  • What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
• In the body of the email, please copy and paste the content of your short answers and include your name, phone number, and email address. 

Note: Please apply to one position only.

NDN Collective is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination. It is NDN Collective’s policy to comply with all federal, state, tribal and local laws and regulations regarding equal opportunity. In keeping with that policy, NDN Collective is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free of unlawful discrimination and harassment and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of any of our employees or others present at our facilities by anyone, including any NDN Collective supervisor, co-worker, vendor or client.