Description

The Funder Relations Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of $6M+ in foundation revenue, cultivating and stewarding funder relationships, and leading grant writing and proposal development to advance CJA’s fundraising strategy and goals. Reporting to the Resource Mobilization Director, the Funder Relations Manager serves as a key member of the Resource Mobilization team, supervising the Development Data and Research Coordinator, and collaborating cross-functionally with program and finance teams and external partners to ensure grant compliance, timely reporting, and compelling impact narratives.

Requirements

Foundation Relationship Management & Stewardship (35%)

Serve as the primary relationship contact for an assigned portfolio of $6M+ in foundation revenue, developing and executing individualized engagement and stewardship plans, and keeping funders informed of organizational impact through timely updates and reports
Review and qualify new foundation prospects aligned with organizational priorities, from research from the Development Data and Research Coordinator 
Consistently log, track, and manage all funder interactions and communications in the CRM following established standards
Lead content development and logistics for funder engagement activities, including quarterly newsletters, virtual funder briefings, and funder conferences, in partnership with the Resource Mobilization Director
Make day-to-day decisions on CJA's foundation portfolio and escalate major strategy shifts, high-value funder decisions, and annual planning to the Resource Mobilization Director as needed

Grant Writing & Proposal Development (35%)

Lead the development and submission of grant deliverables, including but not limited to letters of inquiry, grant proposals, interim reports, and final reports for foundations via email and grantee portals, ensuring all deliverables are accurate, timely, and reflect organizational strategy and impact
Apply foundation research and RFP analysis provided by the Development Data and Research Coordinator to tailor all proposals and deliverables effectively
Collaborate with program and finance staff to gather accurate budgets, program data, and impact metrics needed for proposals and reports
Manage grant compliance by tracking award conditions, reporting obligations, and renewal timelines in coordination with the Development Data and Research Coordinator

Internal Collaboration & Supervision (20%)

Supervise the Development Data and Research Coordinator, providing clear direction on prospect research priorities, CRM standards, and grants calendar management
Partner with the Resource Mobilization Director to set annual foundation revenue goals and develop strategies to meet them
Collaborate with communications and program teams to develop funder-facing content and impact narratives
Participate in team meetings, budgeting, workplanning processes, and special initiatives as needed

Build Healthy & Sustainable Organizational Work Culture and Other Responsibilities (10%)

Along with all other staff, this position contributes to CJA’s culture of innovation, teamwork, and continuous learning. They work diligently to collaborate and support each other within and across teams and excel in an environment where every member takes care of their own basic administrative needs, and participates in regular all-staff learning and development spaces 
These tasks represent baseline responsibilities for this position. As CJA grows, there will be possibilities (and sometimes the need to) move into new accountabilities and areas of work.
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervises the Development Data and Research Coordinator  

Expected hours of work
Standard days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m in your time zone. Daily schedule is flexible within the proximity of this time frame, and will be decided in consultation with your supervisor

Travel
Moderate domestic travel (2-4 times per quarter) for meetings or conferences would be required for this position

Physical duties of this role: Ability to work at a computer and participate in video conferencing, speaking and typing for extended periods of time 
Occasional physical duties: Responsible for logistics during travel which includes lifting items (not in excess of 25 lbs.), coordinating meals/catering, and driving

(CJA is willing and able to make reasonable accommodations for candidates who may not be able to fulfill these tasks) 

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

3–5 years of experience in foundation relations, grant writing, or institutional fundraising
Demonstrated success managing a foundation portfolio and securing philanthropic grants
Experience supervising or managing junior staff, providing clear direction, professional development support, and accountability
Strong grant writing skills across letters of inquiry, proposals, interim and final reports
Experience managing grant compliance, including award conditions, reporting obligations, and renewal timelines
Proficiency in CRM systems for tracking funder relationships, communications, and pipeline management
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
Experience collaborating across program, finance, and communications teams to develop funder-facing content
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Dedication to social justice and supporting CJA’s mission. Commitment to building a culture of mutual accountability, liberation, and respect
An orientation towards learning and development. Willingness to learn from mistakes, receive feedback, and give feedback to others 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Experience managing a foundation portfolio of $6M or more
Familiarity with foundation giving trends, RFP processes, and funder networks
Experience with funder engagement activities including newsletters, briefings, and conferences
Knowledge of coalition spaces and advocacy-aligned philanthropy
Experience with grantee portal submissions across multiple foundation platforms
Understanding of and commitment to racial, economic, and ecological justice; democratic governance; and systems change
Experience supervising staff in a union environment
Previous experience working in a remote environment, including experience with async-first communication