Summary
Description
The Climate + Clean Energy Equity Fund (Equity Fund, Fund) is a philanthropic fund dedicated to supporting a multi-state infrastructure of community-based organizations building power to advance an equitable clean energy future. With a proven approach to driving impact and a highly effective set of stakeholders and investors, the Equity Fund is facing a number of exciting opportunities. With the field that the Equity Fund supports growing quickly and public investments in clean energy transition accelerating, the Fund spun from its fiscal sponsorship and established a new, independent institution in 2024 to meet the needs of the growing and dynamic ecosystem of grassroots organizations and expand their collective impact. After a national and competitive search, the Equity Fund has also invited Andrea Cristina Mercado to start her new role as CEO in January 2025. Poised for significant growth, the Equity Fund has also evolved and is growing its executive leadership structure and operating model to lead effective strategy, systems, and culture for the team. To that end, the Equity Fund invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President of Development, who will provide important, executive leadership to both its 501(c)(3), and the Climate Equity Action Fund, 501(c)(4), and the field of climate philanthropy.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The Climate + Clean Energy Equity Fund (the Equity Fund) is supporting a multi-state infrastructure of community-based organizations building power needed to advance an equitable clean energy future. The Equity Fund is strategically building power by:
- Investing in the leadership and organizing of diverse communities (Black, Latinx, AAPI, Indigenous people, and communities bearing the brunt of climate change);
- Engaging voters in these communities through nonpartisan civic engagement campaigns; and
- Winning climate and clean energy policy solutions that reflect the priorities of communities and advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.
Founded in 2016, the Equity Fund partners with organizations in 13 states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), and will expand its reach to additional states in the coming years.
Grassroots groups advocating for and organizing communities of color, Indigenous, working class and rural communities – often people hit hardest by climate change – are accomplishing critical work to build the collective power of communities. These communities are often the strongest supporters of climate policy and are a key political force to advance community demands and win durable policy change. The Equity Fund serves as a conduit for foundations and donors to partner with and support these grassroots organizations across the country. Because of Equity Fund’s expertise and deep relationships with community-led groups working at the intersection of climate change and economic, racial, and environmental justice, the Equity Fund can identify and nurture local grantee partners that have large-scale bases of members and track records of winning policy victories in their cities and states. The team then works to synthesize and share lessons learned from their grantee partners so that foundations and donors can better understand how grassroots groups can more effectively build power to advance climate solutions and then develop and coordinate funding strategies that will have the greatest results.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Vice President of Development will serve as a critical member of the Executive Team and advance the Equity Fund’s mission by leading the Equity Fund and Action Fund’s fundraising priorities. Reporting to the CEO, and in partnership with the CEO, the Vice President of Development will drive the strategy, planning, and execution of the Equity Fund’s comprehensive development program. They will support a growing annual budget of $50 million+ as the organization looks to meet ambitious grantmaking goals in 2026 and 2027 in particular. As an experienced leader who knows how to build relationships with funders and collaboration across teams to drive progress, the Vice President of Development will support the advancement of strategies for climate equity that is centered around building the power of diverse communities to advance equitable climate policies. The successful candidate will grow the Equity Fund’s fundraising capacity, serve as a frontline fundraiser, promote an understanding of the Fund’s sharpening theory of change, and successfully manage the Development team toward fundraising goals. The Vice President of Development will be responsible for providing leadership and driving success in the following key areas:
Organizational & Strategic Leadership
- Work closely with the CEO and other Executive Team members to develop a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy focused on diversification and in alignment with the Equity Fund and Action Fund’s mission and vision to grow the Fund’s annual budgets of $50 million.
- Define and operationalize a high-impact development model that promotes strong cross-organizational participation to cultivate a strategic culture of development across the organization.
- Partner with the CEO on the strategic direction and agendas for Board and stakeholder meetings, including the creation of memos, reports, and presentations.
- Support a positive organizational culture of collaboration, dedication to equity, values, creativity, and respect for a wide range of voices and perspectives.
- Partner closely with the organization’s Board of Directors comprised of several leaders in the philanthropic sector to expand the Fund’s fundraising footprint and capacity.
Donor Engagement & Operations
- In partnership with the CEO, solicit, cultivate, and steward relationships with donors and prospects to manage and grow a significant portfolio of six, seven, and eight-figure multi-year gifts.
- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects and leads through an effective prospect research and identification strategy and stewardship plan.
- Elevate the Fund’s story by developing compelling collateral that captures programmatic wins, anchors the organization’s specific role in climate movement, educates, and inspires current donors and audiences new to the Fund’s work.
- Lead strategic partnerships and funder organizing to raise the Fund’s visibility, networks, and relationships.
- Reassess the Fund’s donor database and CRM system to efficiently track donor information moves management, and reporting.
- Ensure cross-organizational participation in development is cohesive and holds strategic priorities at the core.
- Foster a collaborative and results-oriented culture supported by systems and processes that help drive agile executive decision-making and reinforce accountability for those directly carrying out Equity Fund and Action Fund strategies.
- Assess progress on strategic objectives and communicate that progress to the Executive Team, the Board, and staff.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Directly supervise and grow a development team that is currently three employees.
- Support, coach, and professionally develop the team to maintain a trusting, inclusive, equitable, high-performing team culture.
- Provide mentorship and constructive and timely feedback to foster a collaborative environment that develops strengths, improves weaknesses, and directs toward results.
- Recruit, interview, hire, and train staff, including managing discipline and termination of employees in accordance with organization’s policy.
- Establish a regular meeting cadence for the development team to support alignment and efficiency in the work.
Shared Organizational Responsibilities
- Champion the Equity Fund and Action Fund’s theory of change and mission of empowering the communities most disproportionately impacted by climate change.
- Develop relationships with and support colleagues across all teams, recognizing that each individual brings a unique background and perspective to the work.
- Model and nurture a growth mindset and continuous learning posture when facing new situations by collaborating to find fresh solutions, taking on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, and externalizing lessons learned from failures and mistakes.
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Strategic Vision and Core Knowledge
- Broad knowledge of the climate philanthropy field and an understanding of the historical context, institutions, and systems that combine to compound the effects of climate change on people of color and other disenfranchised groups in the United States.
- Ability to apply both a macro and state-level view on relevant trends in climate change organizing, politics, policy, and communications, with a strong curiosity and interest in tracking the needs and developing areas of the field.
- A proven thought leader with an understanding of and ability to articulate the value proposition for the emergent role that movement aligned funders play in supporting state based organizing and campaign infrastructure as well as leadership, community power, and capacity building.
- Demonstrated passion for and investment in advancing justice and equity. Highly developed critical consciousness and a combination of professional and lived experience aligned with the Equity Fund’s mission and values.
Development Leadership
- 10+ years of demonstrated progressive leadership experience in development strategy and major gift fundraising within the social justice movement sector.
- A demonstrated track record in prospecting, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding significant institutional funders toward six, seven, and eight-figure multi-year gifts.
- Experience building relationships and working in partnership with diverse audiences and stakeholders, including funders, elected officials, community leaders, grassroots organizations, and coalition partners.
- Experience translating organizational strategy into analytical and data-driven development strategy.
- Superb communication and external relations skills and demonstrated success in building an organization’s profile and reputation in regional, state, national, and professional communities.
Management and Team Leadership
- 10+ years of deep supervisory and management experience in leadership of large, complex, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience mentoring, developing, and providing leadership to high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams to achieve development goals.
- Cultivation of a relational work environment that builds trust, collaboration, communication, and seeks to foster a culture of equity, transparency, accountability, and integrity.
- Commitment to creating a strong and healthy workplace that centers diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and reflects internally the values the Equity Fund advocates for externally.
Systems and Processes
- Experience designing and building development systems and processes to support effective fundraising and a willingness to rethink or improve upon established systems and processes.
- Ability to assess and identify pain points in a growing organization and devise strategies to ensure that processes and systems are being developed in a strategic manner to guide growth.
- An inclusive, collaborative, and agile management style and the ability to bring joy, good humor, and purpose to the work environment.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Compensation: The base pay range for this role starts at $200k. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. Pay ranges are adjusted based on cost of labor in each respective geographical market.
Benefits: Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families. Employees can enroll in a 401K retirement plan that includes a generous employer match. Employees also earn 160 hours of paid vacation time, 10 days of sick leave, 10 holidays, and personal leave annually.
TO APPLY
More information about The Climate + Clean Energy Equity Fund may be found at: www.theequityfund.org.
This search is being conducted with assistance from Katherine Jacobs and Sharon Gerstman of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.
Hiring Statement: Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund is a newly independent 501(c)(3) public charity, committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people and to creating a work environment that is dynamic and rewarding. Our work environment is safe and open to all employees, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.
COVID-19 Policy: To center the safety and well-being of its employees, the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund requires that any employee who is required to conduct in-person activities for their job must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within four weeks of their start date. This position may require candidates to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Accommodations may be sought and approved in accordance with the law by contacting human resources at HR@theequityfund.org.
