Institutional Giving Manager

About Your Role: The Institutional Giving Manager is responsible for leading institutional fundraising efforts. As part of a two-person team this role is responsible for identification, cultivation, solicitation, reporting and stewardship of grants from private/public foundations, other grant-making institutions (family foundations, corporate philanthropic partnerships and government sources) in support of Science Friday. The current annual operating budget for Science Friday is approximately $4.4 million of which 50% is contributed from grants and institutional giving. This position focuses on five-figure and six-figure grants. The Institutional Giving Manager serves as a key member of the Development staff and will work collaboratively across the organization and with all Science Friday staff to sustain and grow institutional giving at Science Friday.

The Institutional Giving Manager should ideally have some familiarity with or interest in science education, climate science, and/or public media philanthropy. Competitive candidates will demonstrate an ability to quickly learn and communicate knowledgeably about new fields of nonprofit work and philanthropy as we value agility in a dynamic philanthropic and media environment. Excellent internet research and communication skills (oral and written) are essential, as well as a passion for developing and maintaining professional relationships.

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Remote or hybrid. Science Friday’s headquarters are in New York City, but we offer considerable WFH flexibility for both local and remote employees. Applicants based in the greater NYC area are preferred, but remote applicants are welcome. Science Friday’s WFH policy requires that every full time employee, regardless of location, work from the New York City office or studio for a minimum of 24 days per year. Conferences, work-related events, off-site meetings will count towards that total. Unless otherwise indicated, travel to the office is at the expense of the employee.

Type: Full-time, exempt. This is a full-time role that includes benefits. Science Friday offers competitive compensation with medical, dental, and vision insurance, and generous time off benefits including vacation, sick time, and parental leave as well as 401K contributions, mental health support, FSA/HSA, and great science books for free.

About Science Friday: Founded by Ira Flatow in 1991, Science Friday built its reputation as a public radio talk show broadcast on Fridays, which focused on science news and connecting the public with science innovation through interviews with experts. From supermassive black holes to superbugs, Science Friday brings you entertaining and educational conversations about science, technology, and health. Hosted by veteran journalist and founder Ira Flatow and Emmy-nominated Flora Lichtman, Science Friday connects you with the latest discoveries, coolest innovations, and smartest minds in science and tech—served with curiosity, clarity, and fun.

Science Friday is a 100% publicly-funded nonprofit. As such, all SciFri staff are expected to contribute to fundraising efforts including supporting grant ideation, editing, writing, annual appeals, social media posts, donor events, and encouraging their networks to support independent, nonprofit news like Science Friday.

At Science Friday we emphasize communication and encourage collaboration. Active listening, idea sharing, teamwork, and fostering an inclusive and supportive environment will help us achieve our shared goals.

All employees of Science Friday are invited and encouraged to participate in at least one board meeting per year. This transparency between our board and staff allows our hybrid team to calibrate quarterly and supports staff in learning about the often opaque governance structure of nonprofits. The organization is committed to this effort and will reimburse staff for expenses related to that annual meeting. SciFri also encourages staff to serve on boards and/or volunteer in the community with our flexible PTO plan and hybrid remote model.

Key Responsibilities

Pipeline development: Leads the development and execution of a strategic institutional funding pipeline by researching, identifying, cultivating relationships with, and soliciting local, regional, and national funding sources for support of Science Friday’s projects, including but not limited to science journalism, informal learning, and public engagement. Partner with Science Friday program and Executive leaders, board members and program colleagues to align funding strategies with organizational priorities. This role involves crafting compelling cases for support and proactively engaging prospective and current funders through inquiries and related correspondence; and leading the planning and execution of funder meetings and delivering on presentations to prospective funders.

Proposal and report writing: Leads the development of proposals and reports in collaboration with colleagues and leadership to maximize opportunities for securing renewed grant funding. Works with relevant staff to gather data and information needed for compelling, results, and impact-oriented proposals for a range of audiences (program officers, individual funders, etc). Coordinates fundraising efforts with other Development staff to align institutional fundraising efforts. Maintains updated records of funding in our database and manages required paperwork. Oversees reporting requirements, ensuring timely submission and positioning reports to support funder relationships and renewal.

Stewardship: In partnership with the Executive Director and Senior Leadership to cultivate strong relationships with new and existing institutional funding partners in support of future funding opportunities and continuation of support. Helps execute, modify, and ensure donor recognition (on-air credits, press releases, and other media) for portfolio funders. Attends program meetings, conferences, and events, stays current with Science Friday programs and activities, and informs fundraising and other colleagues about grant activities and award opportunities. Participates in department, division, and organization-wide meetings and contributes to a positive, productive, equitable and inclusive culture in the department and beyond.

Requirements and Qualifications

• 4+ years experience in grant writing or institutional fundraising, including developing proposals and reports, working with funders, and keeping grant activities organized and on track.

• Curiosity about science, technology, and health, and enthusiasm for Science Friday’s mission of connecting people with science through independent journalism, storytelling, and learning.

• Strong writing and editing skills, with an ability to make a compelling case for support and communicate Science Friday’s work clearly and accurately to different audiences.

• Ability to compose, edit and proof a variety of donor correspondence, reports, proposals, letters, etc.

• Strong project management skills, including prioritizing competing needs, coordinating contributions from colleagues, and managing multiple proposals and reports at once

• Excellence at leading collaborative efforts that require the input, ideas, and contributions from diverse staff with varying responsibilities

• Outstanding presentation skills to persuasively convey the organization’s mission to diverse constituencies

• Cultural intelligence and emotional maturity to unite, influence, and build productive relationships across broad and disparate community or stakeholder groups

• Demonstrated ability to communicate with tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment across diverse internal and external stakeholders.

• Ability to effectively and persuasively communicate with and diplomatically respond to current and potential funders, staff, community contacts, etc.

• Comfort using documents, spreadsheets, and shared systems to maintain accurate grant records and track proposals, reporting requirements, and funder communications, with a willingness to learn new tools.

• A collaborative approach, including active listening, sharing ideas, and working respectfully with people whose backgrounds, perspectives, and responsibilities differ from your own.

• Willingness to participate in occasional travel to advance fundraising goals and represent Science Friday at professional conferences (maximum of 4 times annually)

• Strong research skills and the ability to learn about unfamiliar subjects, identify promising funding angles, and connect funders’ interests with Science Friday’s programs and priorities.

• Ability to access, interpret and synthesize news, data and information regarding funders, funding trends, and new funding opportunities

• Ability to work independently, ask questions, and recognize when additional information or support is needed.

• Experience collaborating with finance colleagues to prepare and review grant budgets and reports, as well as preparing budget narrative to accurately describe how funding will support the proposed work.

• Proficiency at preparing program budgets, tracking and evaluating spending against project budgets, modifying expenditure plans, and calculating the process for funder communication if needed

• Collaborate with Finance and executive leadership to prepare grant predictions and forecasts, as needed

Desired Knowledge/Experience

• Experience contributing to successful five- or six-figure grant proposals or renewals.

• Familiarity with foundations or other institutions supporting journalism, public media, science, informal learning, or public engagement.

• Knowledge of major trends in nonprofit philanthropy, as well as with public media, climate change, and science;

• Experience working in a small nonprofit or another setting where fundraising involves close collaboration across teams.

• Familiarity with the public media system and Science Friday’s journalism, educational resources, social media, or public engagement work.

Salary Range: $75,000-$103,000