Foundations Coordinator

Foundations Coordinator

Development Department

Remote/Hybrid - located near Cambridge, MA

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes

Our organization

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent nonprofit that puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. We envision a peaceful, healthy, and just world where science serves people and the planet by guiding policy decisions, reducing risks, and improving lives.

For over five decades, we have been working as scientists, engineers, economists, advocates, and everyday people to create and advocate for innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet's most pressing problems-from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting misinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war. Values informing our work include:

• Science in the service of people and the planet.

• Justice and Equity for people of all races and incomes-now, and for future generations.
• Courage to take principled, science-based stands in the public arena.
• Integrity to always examine evidence critically, openly, and honestly.
• Democracy to promote a voice for all in government decisions.
• Action inspiring and mobilizing people to build a healthier, safer, and more just world.

UCS's Foundations Team

The Foundations Coordinator (FC) partners with the Associate Director of Foundations to ensure that functions central to identifying, securing, and maintaining foundation support across the team are carried out in an effective and timely manner. The Coordinator manages the team's prospecting initiative, maintaining the prospect spreadsheet, conducting research to identify new foundation prospects and monitoring team moves from cultivation to solicitation; prepares background research for foundation visits; supports quality and accuracy of deliverables by proofreading narratives and developing high-quality supporting materials for proposal and report submissions; supports grant management processes; maintains tracking systems for team deadlines and performance metrics; oversees subscriptions, memberships, and other team resources; serves as a resource on database best practices and troubleshoots database-related issues, developing informative materials and trainings as needed; and undertakes projects to help increase efficiency and effectiveness of team operations.

The FC is part of the support team for the Development Department which works together to refine and improve department processes and troubleshoot inefficiencies. Each member of this team is trained to become a Raiser's Edge Power User and works collaboratively with the Development Data Operations team and to maintain data hygiene, conduct special projects, optimize existing systems, and aid in the development of new functionality as needed.

The Position

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position are included in but not limited to the information listed below.

• Manage prospecting plan. Conduct preliminary and follow up research, establish deadlines, monitor flow of prospect movements, maintain collaborative spreadsheet, and ensure RE integration when appropriate.
  
  
• Partner with MG (Major Gifts) researcher to identify research synergies and best capitalize on potential prospects for UCS; sharing tools, refining internal systems, and developing best practices.
• Consult with Associate Director on prioritization and troubleshooting process bottlenecks. Help team craft projection plan to meet prospecting revenue target.
• Provide concise and timely background research to prepare Chief Development Officer, President, program directors, and other board and staff for foundation contact and to inform foundation ask and cultivation strategies.
• Manage Foundation Directory Online, Inside Philanthropy, and other subscriptions and as appropriate identify other research tools and resources to maximize prospective research opportunities. Draw on donor-focused databases to provide profiles of foundation trustees and donors and find connectors to new prospects.
• Provide overall coordination of the administrative systems of the foundations team. Manage, track, edit, update, and distribute all foundations procedural reports to appropriate staff in a timely manner. Partnering with the database administrative team, foundations team, and Chief Development Officer, assist in the evolution and refinement of systems to support the team.
• Proofread and assist with the preparation of foundation proposals and reports. Prepare and ensure accuracy of supporting documents and financial information. Format and compile documents to ensure polished presentation. As needed, serve as back up to the Development Associate - Major Gifts in preparing documents for proposals to major donors.
• In coordination with foundation officers, draft foundation correspondence, and in coordination with Associate Director of Development Analytics, ensure timely response to grant agreements, contracts, and payments. This includes drafting personalized thank you letters and acknowledgements and liaising with the Finance team to manage the team's Annual Report mailing.
• Support Associate Director of Development Analytics with various grant administration and monitoring processes as needed.
• Serve as rapporteur for monthly Foundation/Program meetings as well as Funder Briefing and Strategy Meetings. Serve as co-rapporteur (with the Major Gifts Associate) for quarterly Major Gifts/Foundation meetings and annual workplan reviews.
• Maintain the quality of foundation records in Raiser's Edge. Monitor data to ensure consistency and accuracy. Serve as the Foundations Team's Power User for Raiser's Edge; develop knowledge of query and export functions to execute queries and exports to clarify data points. Manage and streamline Raiser's Edge processes as needed.
• Establish and monitor electronic record-keeping protocols in Teams and SharePoint. Maintain and safeguard confidential data.
• Coordinate agendas, scheduling, and logistics for foundation team meetings and workshops, MG-FD meetings, meetings with program directors, and foundation site visits. Assist the Director of Foundation Relations in developing content for agendas for team, MG-FD, and prospect meetings.
• Develop and maintain familiarity with UCS program areas of work.
• Perform other related functions as directed, including support of year-end gift processing and acknowledgement and Annual Report mailings for the department.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalentpreferred.Position requires three to five years of comparable and relevant experience. At UCS, comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

Position requires strong project management, organizational, communication, writing, and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to coordinate effectively across many areas of the organization. Proofreading experience and knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, search engines, and data management are required. Candidate must have excellent attention to detail and be able to manage multiple tasks in a deadline driven environment. The ability to work independently as well as part of a team is important.

May spend extended periods at a computer. Up to 5 days of overnight travel may be required.

UCS is an equal-opportunity employer actively seeking to diversify its staff. We're dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy. We're also committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely diverse backgrounds can thrive. We believe the inclusion of culturally diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and environmental outcomes for all, including historically disenfranchised communities.

Details:

This is a full-time remote position based out of UCS's Cambridge, MA office. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary range is $65,081 to $73,210. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment. *CA Resident Only, we offer a 12% salary differential*

Information about the organization is available at .

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

More about the team:

Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment which is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.

To Apply: We know there are great candidates who won't check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven't considered. If that's you, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Please upload a cover letter and resume. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls, please.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

Covid Mandate for New Hires:

For in office roles, UCS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees are considered fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC. All new hires who will be reporting to an office location must provide notice of their vaccination status and vaccination documentation, on or before their first day of work. For all others, UCS strongly encourages full vaccinations among its employees, up to and including booster shots, even if working remotely.

Deadline: Until filled.