Partner, External RelationsPosition: Partner, External Relations
Reports to: CEO
Start date: February 2027
Location: Washington, DC
Application Deadline: 11/13/2026
Key ResponsibilitiesEducation Forward DC is celebrating our 10-year anniversary in 2026. Since 2016 we have raised over $140M for the DC education ecosystem and our work remains critical. The Partner, External Relations, will be a key leader charting our path forward. You will translate our impact and vision into clear narratives that inspire philanthropic investment.
Partnering closely with the CEO, you will be a key contributor to organization-wide strategy and executive decision-making, with regular engagement with board-level relationships and priorities.
As Partner, you will be Ed Forward DC's senior development executive, leading a team of three: External Relations Principal, External Relations Manager, and Communications Principal.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership- Design and lead a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy that builds toward Ed Forward DC's long-term revenue goals - with particular focus on the donor relationships and pipeline needed to sustain growth in years 3-5, not just the current year's target, and raise an average of $12M annually
- Build and refine the systems and infrastructure needed to support that strategy over time (donor tracking, reporting, portfolio management), in partnership with the external relations team
- Develop the organizational case for support and narrative framework that will anchor future campaign or capital efforts
- Advise the CEO and senior leadership on how to deploy their time and relationships most effectively in service of long-term fundraising goals
Donor Cultivation & Engagement- Personally identify, cultivate, and steward a portfolio of principal- and major-gift-level donors, with the understanding that many of these relationships are being built for long-term relationships and commitments
- Lead solicitation and proposal development for the organization's most significant philanthropic partnerships
- Represent Ed Forward DC externally - including, on occasion, standing in for the CEO - with foundations, corporate partners, and philanthropists, building the organization's national profile
Team & Organizational Leadership- Lead and develop the team, ensuring strong day-to-day execution of donor engagement, communications, and reporting
- Maintain oversight and ultimate accountability for Governance and Communications functions, with substantial support and leadership from direct reports
- Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organization-wide strategy and decision-making
Skills, Qualifications, and Experience- Comprehensive fundraising experience: demonstrated success building and executing a multi-year fundraising strategy, including the discipline of cultivating principal-level donors toward gifts that mature over a 3+ year horizon
- Demonstrated personal fundraising track record: proven ability to build relationships with, solicit, and close gifts from donors, and boards, including a consistent track record closing gifts of $250K+
- Experience directly managing, developing, and growing a small, high-performing team to achieve ambitious fundraising goals
- At least ten years of progressive leadership experience in development, including experience operating at the senior executive level
- Experience partnering with a CEO or executive director to deploy their time and relationships strategically
- Ability and readiness to represent the organization at a senior level, including standing in for the CEO on occasion: comfortable independently building relationships and credibility with national foundations, corporate leaders, and philanthropists
- Ability to design and adapt a multi-year fundraising strategy in a changing revenue environment, managing multiple priorities and driving work to completion without a fully settled roadmap
- We work intentionally to disrupt patterns of racial inequity; a strong candidate will demonstrate an unwavering commitment to educational equity and improving education
- Experience with education and fundraising in DC is valued
- Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree in a relevant field valued
The Tangible GoodThe salary for this position is $215,378.
This is a hybrid role; all team members are in person in our office each Tuesday and Wednesday.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including:
- a 401(k) program with a 4% match that is fully vested day one
- 100% of Employee Only and 50% of Dependent premiums towards a reference Gold plan. Employees may apply this contribution amount to any available Gold plan offered by DC Healthlink
- Dental and Vision benefits from Guardian covered 100% for employees, and 50% covered for dependents
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Transit/Commuter Accounts
- 100% premium paid for employees' short- and long-term disability insurance
- 100% premium paid for $50,000 life insurance policy for employees
- 20 days of annual PTO for the first year of service. PTO increases by one additional day per year
- 7 days of flexible personal and sick leave each year
- $1,000 annual budget for self-directed professional development
- Options for Supplemental Life/ADD, Prepaid Legal, Critical Illness, and Accident Insurance
- Relocation stipends are available
