ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting directly to the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), the Director of Strategic Alliances, New Business drives new business development strategy for First Book - a fast-growing, mission-driven nonprofit social enterprise at the intersection of education equity, corporate partnership, and social impact. This is a senior, externally facing role responsible for sourcing and cultivating new corporate relationships, driving revenue generation, and developing programmatic strategies that support organizational growth.

The ideal candidate is a proven revenue generator with a minimum track record of $2 million in secured partnerships or fundraising, and brings an entrepreneurial spirit, bold creative thinking, and a highly collaborative work style to a fast-paced, matrixed environment. Core responsibilities span new business strategy, relationship development, pitch formation and delivery, cause marketing, proposal writing, and cross-functional program management.

Successful candidates will demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, sound business judgment, experience navigating complex organizations, and a genuine passion for corporate social responsibility and education equity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development & Revenue

• Contribute to the department's annual new business development revenue goal, with individual portfolio targets established in partnership with the Chief Revenue Officer.
• Design and lead new business strategies to secure corporate and unrestricted funds in direct support of First Book's mission.
• Lead efforts to prioritize funding opportunities and prospect lists in collaboration with the Strategic Alliances Team and the Executive Team.
• Work with other department leaders to develop monitoring and results frameworks for key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring consistency across projects in alignment with overall portfolio goals.

Corporate Partnerships & Strategy

• Develop an overarching strategy to secure new corporate relationships in collaboration with First Book's Senior Leadership.
• Conceptualize, develop, and present funding concepts and pitches to leading multinational corporations.
• Identify, cultivate, and develop leads with prospective corporate funders and partners.
• Design and launch cause marketing campaigns and corporate partnerships that directly benefit local communities in need.

Proposal Development & Funding

• Develop formal proposals to secure corporate and philanthropic funding.
• Identify and submit formal proposals and applications in response to philanthropic RFPs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the Chief Revenue Officer on new business strategy, pipeline prioritization, and annual financial targets to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate across marketing communications, engagement, e-commerce, and operations to create and implement value-added, integrated programs that advance organizational goals.

Financial Accountability & Special Initiatives

• Meet annual financial goals as determined by the Executive Team.
• Lead and execute special projects that advance the department at the direction of the Chief Revenue Officer.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sales, business development, corporate philanthropy, cause marketing, or corporate fundraising/sponsorship within a client services or mission-driven environment; nonprofit corporate partnership/sponsorship experience preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding annual revenue goals in a fundraising, business development, or corporate partnership capacity.
• Proven success in securing financial commitments from Fortune 500 companies and/or major philanthropic foundations, with established and actively maintained relationships at those institutions.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% during peak periods, subject to organizational and public health guidelines.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, business, nonprofit management, or related field required.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Creative, strategic, and entrepreneurial approach to identifying and developing new funding opportunities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals, presentations, and pitches for diverse stakeholder audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with senior-level internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong command of CRM platforms; Salesforce proficiency preferred, Raiser's Edge or equivalent considered. Familiarity with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) expected.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a complex, concurrent workload with strong organizational skills and consistent adherence to deadlines.
• Strategic problem-solver with the ability to prioritize, drive implementation, and deliver results in a deadline-driven environment.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented team member able to manage shifting priorities and maintain performance in a dynamic environment.
• High degree of professional discretion and sound judgment in managing confidential information.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary: $120,000 annually.

All full-time employees are eligible for the following:

• Medical and dental insurance coverage
• Life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays annually
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
• Employer-provided parking stipend (Washington, DC)

TO APPLY

• Submit a resume and a cover letter detailing your interest in this position.
• Only applications submitted through First Book's approved platform will be considered.
• Applications submitted through external or unapproved sites will not be reviewed.
  • First Book does not accept unsolicited recruiter submissions and does not pay fees for resumes submitted outside of a formal written agreement.

WORK PRESENCE & EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

• This is a hybrid position requiring regular in-office presence at First Book's Washington, DC office on designated days to support internal collaboration and partnership activities.
• Reasonable accommodation will be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Relocation assistance is not provided.

CONNECT WITH FIRST BOOK

https://www.facebook.com/FirstBook

https://twitter.com/firstbook

https://www.youtube.com/user/firstbook

https://www.instagram.com/firstbookorg/