Director of Institutional Giving

New York City Outward Bound Schools•New York, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

NYC Outward Bound Schools is a nonprofit organization that partners with over 100 public schools across NYC to engage students in equitable, immersive, and joyful learning. Their unique approach focuses on adventurous learning, including daring exploration, real-world engagement, and meaningful challenge. They coach teachers and school leaders to implement Crew, their signature advisory structure, and Instruction for Deeper Learning. They also deliver adventure programming outdoors to help students develop leadership skills. The organization aims to transform public schools and ensure all students can achieve at high levels. The Director of Institutional Giving will report to the VP of Advancement and will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to expand the organization's institutional funding base. This role involves managing the institutional giving portfolio, identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding foundation and corporate partners. The ideal candidate will have strong writing and relationship-building skills, a deep understanding of NYCOBS's programs, and the ability to translate this into compelling funding narratives. The Director will work towards an institutional fundraising goal of $1 million in FY2027 and grow it to $2 million annually within three years, while also expanding public funding opportunities and increasing organizational visibility.

Requirements

Demonstrated dedication to our core values of community, courage, equity, integrity, and learning.
Exceptional communication and influencing skills — a persuasive, credible, and polished communicator, both written and verbal.
Creative, independent, and strategic thinker.
Self-starter with a proven ability to manage and complete multiple tasks against firm deadlines.
Strong attention to detail.
Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in private-sector fundraising, preferably for an educational or youth-development institution.
Proven track record prospecting, cultivating, closing, and stewarding 5-figure+ institutional gifts.
Strong familiarity with the philanthropic community in NYC, with an emphasis on corporate and foundation partners.
Demonstrated success developing and executing effective fundraising strategies.
Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, and familiarity with fundraising tools such as Salesforce, DonorSearch and Candid.
Successful completion of a NYC Department of Education background check.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of foundations, corporations, and public funders, as relevant, in the 5- to 7-figure range.
Co-create the institutional funding strategy with the VP of Advancement and other leadership team members to meet annual and multi-year revenue goals.
Build and maintain a robust funder pipeline supporting operational and capital needs — identifying and cultivating new funders, pursuing aligned opportunities, and monitoring the funding landscape.
Research and identify prospective foundation, corporate, and public funders; uncover relevant connections and pathways for engagement; and conduct both warm and cold outreach to cultivate new funding relationships.
Cultivate and steward current funders through meetings, site visits, program experiences, regular updates, and other meaningful opportunities for connection.
Develop a deep understanding of NYCOBS’s programs, impact, and funding priorities, and translate that knowledge into clear, persuasive, and funder-specific narratives.
Write compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, concept papers, and other solicitation materials that effectively communicate NYCOBS’s work, impact, and case for support.
Continually refine the organization’s institutional funding pitch to reflect evolving priorities, evidence of impact, and key organizational messages.
Develop and implement corporate funding and engagement opportunities (sponsorships, grants, employee engagement/volunteering, and other forms of partnership) to bolster corporate support and engagement.
Collaborate with program, finance, evaluation, and organizational leaders to gather accurate information and develop strong funding requests and reports for new and existing programs.
Own and actively manage the institutional funding calendar, ensuring that proposal deadlines, grant reports, stewardship activities, funder communications, and other commitments are completed on time—either directly by the Director or through clear coordination with organizational leadership and other contributors.
Maintain accurate and effective systems for prospect research, funder qualification, relationship management, submissions, grant requirements, and reporting.
Establish clear internal collaboration processes and timelines that keep proposals, reporting, stewardship, and funder communications on track.