Turnaround for Children
Foundation Relations Officer
New York, NY
September 2010
Turnaround for Children, Inc. (“Turnaround”) is a not-for-profit organization based in New York City that partners with schools serving high-poverty communities to help them bring about breakthrough transformation to close the achievement gap.
Because of the demonstrated effectiveness of its model, Turnaround has garnered the support of national foundations and public entities and is now poised to expand its philanthropic fundraising to advance its aggressive business plan for replication of the Turnaround model in public schools nationally.
Reporting to the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Turnaround seeks a meticulous, proactive and experienced grant writer to serve as its Foundation Relations Officer. The Officer will manage all aspects of foundation fundraising, including research, proposal concept development, drafting and submission. Successful candidates will have 3+ years of institutional fundraising experience in addition to 5+ years of professional writing or management experience. S/he will possess superior writing and organizational skills, and a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
About Turnaround for Children
The Turnaround model emerged directly from work conducted by Dr. Cantor following the September 11th terrorist attacks. In collaboration with the New York City Board of Education, this initiative, called the Partnership for the Recovery of New York City Schools, joined with many public agencies and private organizations to assess the impact of 9/11 on the city's public school children and create a system through which they (and their families) could receive the necessary help. She and her colleagues recognized that many of the mental health problems identified among the children were in fact longstanding and that an enduring service model was called for.
Since 2002, Turnaround for Children has worked in over 55 of New York City's highest poverty, most dangerous and lowest performing schools to develop an effective strategy for their transformation into positive and successful learning environments. For a cost of only $500 per student, Turnaround engages schools in a comprehensive, multiyear intervention carried out by teams of experienced educators and social workers. The result is the basis for success in high poverty schools:
New Systems: Permanent teams that focus on student behavior, academics and school climate
Expanded Services: New social, emotional and behavioral supports for students provided by a Turnaround-trained social worker and effective linkages to mental health resources
New Skills and Knowledge: Targeted training for teachers and administrators in the highly specific skills needed for success in a high-poverty school – yet commonly lacking in standard teacher training
The result of Turnaround's work is a profound shift in school culture. The multidisciplinary teams provide a powerful opportunity for collaborative learning, the development of relational trust, and the establishment of a wider leadership structure. Successfully addressing student needs engenders collective confidence and higher morale, and staff begin to develop a new vision of what is possible in the school as well as shared responsibility for making school a positive force in the life of all students. Highest-need students are given individualized support and all students are provided with greater opportunities to achieve and thrive.
The Opportunity
Due to its impact transforming New York City schools in communities of poverty, leaders in the field of education reform, philanthropists, and state education departments have reached out to Turnaround to pursue partnerships in the Intervention program. To meet this growing demand, Turnaround underwent a strategic planning process in the Fall of 2009 to determine and focus its vision for expansion. The outcome of that process is an aggressive and ambitious plan to increase Turnaround's operating budget by more than 50% in the next two years and bring Turnaround to select schools in the Northeast. Turnaround programs in Washington, DC and Orange, New Jersey will launch in 2010-2011.
In the last several years, the generous support of corporate and private foundations has provided Turnaround with both general and restricted funds to ensure a margin of excellence for all its programs, launch new program initiatives, and leverage sizeable grants from public sources. Turnaround currently raises approximately 65% of its operating budget from foundations and has developed a qualified prospect list of potential funders that have the potential to significantly grow this revenue stream in FY2011. Turnaround has received significant contributions from leading institutions, including Robin Hood, Carnegie Corporation, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Starr Foundation. Additional funders are listed on the Turnaround website.
The Foundation Relations Officer will manage a portfolio of 25-50 current and new corporate and foundation donors, overseeing all details of the grant writing process and serving as the primary liaison to the funder. S/he must be a confident writer and able to work across the organization, partnering closely with the Executive team and program staff as necessary, but will be ultimately responsible for developing articulate, compelling proposal narratives that are demonstrative of Turnaround's high rates of success and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Implement the institutional fundraising strategy developed with the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships and the CEO through preparing, maintaining and updating action lists, and by managing the follow-up process on all items
Write and edit proposals, presentations, letters and other fundraising material in a clear, concise, compelling and strategic manner consistent with Turnaround ‘s ambitious goals
Carry out research to develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of existing and potential funders and shape appropriate strategies for obtaining funding from each funder
Manage the preparation and submission of reports to funders
Track all aspects of grants to assure compliance with grant requirements and timely renewals
Work collaboratively with Turnaround colleagues for input, knowledge and skills with the goal of achieving the best possible fundraising results
Qualifications
All successful candidates will demonstrate an appreciation of the Turnaround commitment to serving schools in high-poverty communities, in addition to most, if not all, of the following qualifications:
Fundraising and Development
3+ years of increasing foundation relations accomplishments and responsibilities, in addition to at least 5 years experience in a profession with emphasis on writing or management
Writing skills of superior quality (tone, content and editorial skills) and ability to communicate the impact of Turnaround's mission through the use of compelling narratives, data and statistics
Proven ability to manage a portfolio of 25-50 local and national, private and public funders, including all related activities from proposal preparation and submission to reporting and stewardship
Demonstrated skills in identifying, cultivating and managing relationships with institutional donor prospects through in-depth research, and leveraging volunteer and executive leadership networks
Experience working with the largest national and international foundations
Management and Planning
Demonstrated understanding of best-practice grants management practice
Outstanding attention to detail, as it applies to proposal content, deadlines, reporting and compliance
In summary, Turnaround is seeking a Foundation Relations Officer that is inspired by its mission, familiar with public-private partnerships and the foundation sector, and is enthusiastic about building upon Turnaround's initial network of supporters during this transformative, singular moment in the history of US education reform.
