Associate, Development & External Relations

About Innovate Public Schools

Innovate Public Schools is a power-building organization that was launched in 2012. At Innovate, our vision is a high quality school experience that cherishes and affirms every student, particularly Black and Brown students, and prepares them for a lifetime of opportunity and choice. Our mission is to build the capacity of parents and families to organize, advocate, and demand high quality schools for their children.                    

Our program model centers long-term power-building through community organizing for parents & education stakeholders. To support this work, we deploy our Research & Policy (RAP) team to collect & publish data that supports the informed demands of engaged parents. Our Communications team helps to disseminate RAP findings and supports parent leaders in implementing effective outreach strategies that bring more parents into our established organizing communities. Our Partnerships & Training team then scales this work nationally, providing training for schools & community leaders to build capacity within their organizations to support authentic grassroots parent organizing.  We deeply engage with parents and education stakeholders to support them in cultivating sustainable power-building practices that ensure that their voices are heard in the education advocacy space. 

About the Position

The External Relations Associate will report to the VP, Advancement + Growth. Major areas of responsibility include: 

Grant writing, research, communication 

• Draft well-written grant proposals, reports, emails, letters of inquiry, etc. – ensuring we hit deadlines in a timely manner
• Research and identify new funding + earned revenue prospects – ensuring we are a strong fit for each opportunity
• Identify contacts in our networks that can connect Innovate with funding + earned revenue opps 
• Draft outreach to prospective and current funders
• Participate in planning for prospect/donor meetings and strategy in general      
• Engage during prospect/donor meetings as needed; take notes and capture next steps
• Support on the follow up after meetings; manage timing of next steps 
• Collaborate across org to compile grant report information and ensure overall quality   

Communications & Events 

• Support our external Comms team on the execution of any/all communications efforts - including newsletters, social media, donor appeals, etc.
• In coordination with the Communications team, support the design and implementation of email fundraising campaigns. 
• Ensure that all fundraising marketing materials (one-pagers, pitch decks) are accurate through regular edits and updates 
• Support the design and development of new fundraising campaigns/strategies 
• Oversee Donor Events 

Infrastructure Support 

• Support VP of Advancement + CEO on Board Recruitment and upward management
• • Board Pledges + Board Giving
• Ensure all fundraising data is properly maintained by entering high quality and up-to-date data for all funders/prospects in Salesforce 

Compensation 

Compensation depends on experience and is highly competitive. Innovate offers very generous benefits including health and dental insurance, paid time off (PTO), 33 days paid time off per year (including office closures in July, November, and December), 1 day per year paid volunteering time off, and 3% employer contribution to 401k.  

Work Environment/ Work Demands 

The work environment characteristics and the physical demands described here represent those an employee encounters while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee mu