About the JobABOUT 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.
