Manager, Research and Fundraising

TSNE•Boston, MA

2d•$35 - $35•Remote

About The Position

Open Circle (opencirclecenter.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safe, supportive, and successful schools and communities. where students develop durable and essential life skills such as communication, empathy, and problem-solving. Through interactive discussions and structured practices, Open Circle empowers educators to teach students the skills to build positive relationships, navigate challenges, and contribute to caring and respectful learning environments. Open Circle provides training and K-8 curricula focusing on two goals: Teaching children critical life skills related to self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, interpersonal relationships, and positive decision-making and problem- solving Fostering safe, caring, and engaging classrooms and learning communities Open Circle is a leading program offering evidence-based professional development and curricula for schools. Since its inception in 1987, Open Circle has reached nearly a million children trained over 60,000 educators. Open Circle is currently used in schools across communities in the United States. Open Circle is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org). The Manager, Research and Fundraising position advances Open Circle’s data collection and research initiatives while identifying and securing funding opportunities both through grants and private funding sources. This role bridges program and training outcomes along with resource development, ensuring our programming for schools remains well-supported through grants, partnerships, and philanthropic investment. The Manager, Research and Fundraising provides strategic guidance and light-touch oversight to help Open Circle identify, explore, and develop new opportunities for programs, partnerships, and resources. This includes program data collection, analysis, and research, while also identifying and supporting fundraising efforts to sustain and expand Open Circle’s impact.

Requirements

Background in research, innovation, fundraising, or program development.
Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of experience
Experience with nonprofits
Strong analytical and creative thinking skills.
Excellent written and communication skills.
Ability to distill insights clearly and concisely.
Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision.
Passion for Open Circle’s mission and values.
Understanding of education, educational policy, and social-emotional building programs
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex ideas for diverse audiences.
Highly organized, self-directed, proactive, and adept at managing multiple priorities.
Collaborative, relationship-driven, and comfortable working across teams and independently.

Nice To Haves

Experience with grants, sponsorships, or donor engagement (preferred).
Proven success in grant writing, fundraising, or development.

Responsibilities

Identify emerging trends, tools, and best practices relevant to Open Circle’s mission.
Conduct, coordinate, and support program-aligned research projects aligned with organizational priorities using current tools.
Collaborate with staff and partners to develop innovative programs and proposals.
Support idea development and feasibility assessment for new initiatives.
Contribute to fundraising strategy and identify potential supporters.
Identify and pursue funding opportunities from federal agencies, foundations, and individual donors.
Lead grant writing with the Executive Director, proposal development, and submission processes.
Research and recommend funding opportunities (grants, sponsorships, partnerships).
Maintain a grants calendar, ensuring timely reporting and compliance with funder requirements.
Cultivate relationships with philanthropic partners and research collaborators.
Assist in light proposal drafting, concept notes, or donor communications.
Prepare concise research briefs or fundraising updates for leadership review.
Serve as a liaison between staff, schools, and external stakeholders.
Coordinate with Admin and Marketing managers and trainers to collect data and narratives regarding Open Circle's impact on school communities.
Support cross-functional initiatives to expand the impact and visibility of the organization.
Track and communicate funding trends relevant to the nonprofit and education sectors.
Provide recommendations for pilot projects or experiments.
Other duties as assigned.