Vice President, Advancement and Communications

Summary

Description

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

First Peoples Fund is a national non-profit organization founded in 1995. Its mission is to honor and support the Collective Spirit® of First Peoples artists and culture bearers. Collective Spirit® is that which manifests a self-awareness and sense of responsibility to sustain the cultural fabric of a community. Collective Spirit® moves each of us to stand up and make a difference, to pass on ancestral knowledge and simply extend a hand of generosity. First Peoples Fund recognizes the power of art and culture to bring about positive change in Native communities, beginning with individual artists and their families. 

Through grants and awards, FPF provides Native artists, culture bearers, and cultural practitioners with monetary support, networks, financial services, mentorship and training to flourish as entrepreneurs and community leaders. FPF works to support the development of a robust Indigenous Arts Ecology, recognizing the need for an interconnected arts ecosystem that supports the full potential and creative practice of Native artists and culture bearers. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

View the Position Prospectus here.

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Vice President of Advancement & Communications (VPAC) serves as a key leadership team member. The VPAC  works closely with the President & CEO to provide leadership and management of the overall strategic direction, fundraising, grants development, communications, and marketing for First Peoples Fund, while driving external relationships and helping to facilitate cross-team processes and collaborations at the Vice Presidents' level.  

The VPAC leads the Development, Communications, and Evaluation team (currently an Associate Director of Development, Associate Director of Communications, Associate Director of Evaluation & Research, Associate) to achieve annual, strategic, and long-term goals that interweave and contribute to FPF’s strength and sustainability. The VPAC brings together and builds the development and communications functions of the organization to create and articulate cohesive narratives about the impact and importance of the work of First Peoples Fund.

Working directly with the President & CEO, the VPAC has primary responsibility for establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to meet FPF’s annual budget needs and long-term growth reserves (Legacy Fund) through the solicitation of major gifts, individual donors, federal and state grants, special events, and corporate and foundation support. This includes maintaining, sustaining, and developing a portfolio of institutional and major donors. With the majority of FPF’s funding currently derived from foundations, the VPAC will expand and diversify FPF's funding sources through various strategies and avenues of solicitation. This will require systematically and effectively strengthening the organization's fundraising capacity and fund development strategies.

We seek a hands-on candidate with extensive Development experience who embraces the mission of First Peoples Fund, understands and is committed to our work with artists and culture bearers, and who can successfully lead a diverse team of talented professionals in a remote working environment.

Pay: This is a full-time, exempt/salary position. The pay range is $100000 to $165000. Pay may vary depending on your location, skills, and experience.

Location/Travel Requirements: This position is a remote position within the contiguous United States. Occasional travel to FPF’s home office in Rapid City, South Dakota will be required, in addition to travel associated with this role. 

Please note that this position is open to candidates in the following time zones: Mountain Time, Central Time, Eastern Time, and Pacific Time only.

Pre-screen: Upon offer, employees will be required to complete and pass a background check. 

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of First Peoples Fund’s vision, mission, values, guiding principles, theory of change (the Indigenous Arts Ecology),  foundational documents, research reports, programs, and organizational culture.
• Actively lead the Development team to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes foundation, individual donor, government, tribal, and corporate support.
• Actively work with the Communications team to develop and implement a comprehensive marketing, communications, and press strategy that articulates and amplifies the voices, knowledge, power, and contributions of Native artists and culture bearers, as well as positions FPF as a national leader.
• Actively lead the Evaluation team in partnership with the Vice President of Programs to develop and implement a plan for evaluation measures and ongoing analysis across Programs, particularly outcome-level information to support Development activities.
• Participate in annual and strategic planning. 
• Work closely with the President & CEO to identify strategic relationships that are important to First Peoples Fund and serve as a primary builder of those relationships.
• As a member of the Vice President leadership team, actively participate in making strategic decisions affecting First Peoples Fund.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of direct reports and provide general oversight to the entire Advancement & Communications team, including contractors. Work closely with FPF Vice President colleagues to ensure clear and constructive communication and workflows between departments.
• Support the professional development of the Advancement & Communications team so they can participate in training and growth opportunities that support organizational goals and their own professional development.

Development

• Establish and implement the infrastructure needed to raise funding to meet FPF’s annual budget needs and increase the long-term growth reserves.
• Support and partner with the President & CEO and board members on major fundraising initiatives and events.
• Lead major donor stewardship activities with a focus on maintaining and increasing giving, new donor development, and the cultivation of major gifts. Maintain a major donor portfolio, targeting 10-20 new major donors annually based on giving history, giving potential, and new prospect research.  
• Provide oversight to the planning and management of FPF’s individual giving program. This includes assessing donor data, establishing annual revenue goals, developing an acquisitions strategy, and creating and implementing an annual appeals calendar, stewardship, and moves management plans. 
• Oversee the maintenance and management of the CRM donor database – Salesforce. Record interactions and relationships with donors and funders as they occur.
• Provide broad oversight to FPF’s grant administration process to ensure that all teams are actively and appropriately participating in prospecting, proposal writing, new award launches, grants management, regular meetings, reporting, and recordkeeping. The Associate Director of Development manages the day-to-day development operations around grants administration.
• In consultation with the Development team, Finance, and the VP of Programs, lead the strategy for identifying foundation, government, tribal, and foundation prospects. Work with these teams to ensure that internal systems and processes are in place for effective grant administration.
• Attend weekly grant meetings to stay informed of all grant activity, requirements, and deadlines. 
• Ensure that the First People Fund’s President & CEO is informed of the status of existing grant awards and activities and is briefed prior to any meetings.
• Oversee compliance with all grant reporting, as required by funding partners.
• Oversee, manage and/or plan advancement events and when feasible planned giving opportunities
• Oversee the development and distribution of FPF’s annual report. 

Administration

• Work with Finance and the A&C Associate Directors to develop and monitor the annual Advancement & Communications budget.
• Meet regularly and one-on-one with direct reports to stay apprised of A&C activities and to communicate priorities.
• Lead and/or participate in Advancement & Communications team meetings, Development, Programs, Finance, and All-Staff meetings. 
• Responsible for regular reporting requirements as requested or required by the organization.
• Assist with organizing meetings, workshops, conferences, and special events to advance organizational goals. Assign team members to assist, as appropriate. 
• Adhere to all FPF Policies
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in literature, communications, finance, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• 7 to 10 years of progressive Development experience in a nonprofit organization or comparable combination of education and experience in grant writing, individual donor development, and/or fund development, preferably for nonprofit and/or Native organizations.
• Background and progressively responsible work experience in marketing, communications and/or public relations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, and PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• An understanding and awareness of the Native arts and culture field is preferred, as well as a broad knowledge of tribal communities and cultures across North America.
• Excellent supervisory and managerial skills, including at least 4 years of previous experience successfully managing staff.
• Proven track record of fundraising and achieving short and long-term goals. Tangible experience of having cultivated and grown donor relationships over time. Ability and willingness to personally solicit gifts.
• Strong familiarity with the philanthropic landscape.
• Knowledge and familiarity with research techniques and resources for prospecting.
• Working knowledge of Development best practices, trends in Development, fundraising tools, and technology.
• Ability to analyze and use data and metrics to shape goals, strategies, and tactics.
• Highly organized, self-starter with project management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work in a busy, fast-paced changing environment. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines while managing competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially the ability to compose clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive writings.
• Integrity and fiscal accountability.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong editing, research, and analytical skills.
• Ability to make effective presentations and . positively represent the organization.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with respect to funder and donor matters.
• Comfortable with ambiguity, able to respond to rapidly changing priorities;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines consistently.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team.
• Ability to model professional behavior in alignment with First Peoples Funds values: generosity, wisdom, respect, integrity, strength, fortitude, and humility.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (namely Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and Google Suite. Familiarity with Salesforce or other CRM management platforms. 
• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends. 
• Must be able to travel to meet with funders/donors and to attend conferences, convenings, FPF events, and programming.
• No extraordinary physical requirements beyond the ability to travel. The job involves normal physical requirements for an office position.

BENEFITS:

First Peoples Fund is an eligible employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Visit https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ for more information if this applies to you.

First Peoples Fund is proud to offer the following benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision are provided to full-time employees effective the 1st of the month after hire. These benefits are provided at no cost to the employee. Family coverage is available for cost.
• Sick Leave: 48 hours – available at the date of hire and can be used as earned
• 11 Paid Holidays with 1 Personal Culturally Significant Day
• Summer Fridays: half days on Fridays Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Voluntary Benefits: Aflac benefits through payroll deductions

  • Short-Term Disability Insurance

  • Cancer Coverage

  • Hospital Coverage

  • Accident Coverage

  • Whole or Term Life Insurance

  • Critical Illness Coverage

After 180 day Introductory Period

• Annual Leave: 70 hours for the first year of employment
• 401(k) with company match

First Peoples Fund does not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

First Peoples Fund participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. First Peoples Fund will only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

First Peoples Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, status as a covered veteran, or other military status.

First Peoples Fund is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, First Peoples Fund will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Megan Brink, Director of Human Resources, at megan@firstpeoplesfund.org or call the main office at (605)348-0324.

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