Strategic Partnerships Coordinator

Overview of Watson Institute

Watson Institute is a place where rising entrepreneurs and leaders can find their community, discover their calling, and accelerate their careers.

Watson Institute powers Fellowships for partners including Ford Philanthropy, Western Union Foundation, Truist Foundation, BMO, Walmart.org for Racial Equity, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and several private foundations. Since our inception in 2013, Watson Institute’s programs have positively impacted 6,000 rising leaders and entrepreneurs.

Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $185 million, created over 1,900 paid jobs, and impacted 10 million people around the world through initiatives they help lead. 90% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. This is on par with leading business schools, yet all of the Fellowships Watson Institute powers are free. 99% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute powered program up to 10 years later. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship and seven have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. 

Strategic Partnerships Coordinator - Mission Statement:

The primary mission of the Strategic Partnerships Coordinator is to nurture, strengthen, and grow Watson Institute’s current partnerships with corporate, private foundation, and individual partners.

Strategic Partnerships Coordinator – Role:

Growing Corporate & Foundation Partnerships - 55%  

Serve in a support capacity for creating excellent experiences for Watson Institute’s most important partners. Responsibilities include:

Partner Engagements:

• Engagement Planning: Work closely with the Strategic Partnerships Manager to develop detailed agendas for both external and internal activities for each partner engagement experience (including Braintrusts, Meet the Fellows Sessions, Fireside Chats, 1-1 Partner Meetings, among others on an ad hoc basis).
• Fellow Preparation: Help to prepare Fellows - the rising entrepreneurs and leaders we serve - in advance of each engagement opportunity, equipping them to show-up as effective ambassadors for Watson Institute, our partners, and to make the most of the interaction with partners.
• Post-Engagement Follow-Up: Collaborate with the Strategic Partnerships Manager to craft and send meaningful, compelling, and well-formatted thank you notes and gifts, accompanied by high-quality photos, to each partner after their engagement.

Partner Communication & Impact Updates:

• Write and develop compelling, persuasive, and well-designed/visual impact updates for current Level 3 partners. Level 3 partners are individuals who give between the range of $2,500 - $10,000 and/or who have volunteered a significant amount of their time as a Volunteer. These impact updates may include decks, emails, Alumni highlights, blog posts, Fellowship immersive reports, mid-Fellowship reports, and more.
• Support with the development of Fellow profiles for each Fellow in each stand-alone Fellowship Watson Institute powers (approximately 10 Fellowships/year which reach approximately 250 Fellows per year and growing).
• Corporate Advisory Board support:
• Meeting Coordination: Collaborate with the Associate VP of Strategic Partnerships and Strategic Partnerships Manager to develop agendas for quarterly meetings, ensuring each session is productive and focused on key priorities as it relates to our corporate partner strategy.
• Operations and Logistics: Manage operational and logistical aspects for the Corporate Advisory Board meetings, including scheduling and preparation of materials to ensure a seamless experience for all participants.

Current Partner Grant Applications & Final Reports:

• Project Manage and ‘Manage Up’ for current partner grant applications and lead the development of mid-program and final reports for Watson Institute’s current partners. Responsibilities include:
• Serve as the Project Manager for Current Grant Applications: Coordinate the preparation and submission of grant applications across the entire Strategic Partnerships Team, ensuring all required documents and information are accurately compiled and submitted on time.
• Report Preparation: Lead the development of comprehensive and detailed mid-program and final reports for partners, highlighting the impact and outcomes of funded projects.