Manager, Strategic Alliances (New Business)

First Book•Washington, DC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

First Book is a leading nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to removing barriers to quality education for children in need. Through innovative public–private partnerships and a national network of more than 600,000 educators, program leaders, and community organizations, First Book has distributed over 250 million books and educational resources to under-resourced communities. Our work spans e-commerce (First Book Marketplace), research and insights (First Book R&I), and tailored program development (First Book Accelerator), all designed to elevate the voices and needs of educators serving children in low-income communities. The Manager, Strategic Alliances (New Business) is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing new corporate partnerships and cause-based marketing campaigns that advance First Book’s mission of removing barriers to quality education for children in need. This role sits within the Strategic Alliances team and reports to the Senior Director, Strategic Alliances (New Business). The Manager leads corporate partner research, outreach, and relationship development, and plays a central role in structuring proposals, budgets, and brand marketing strategies that align partner objectives with First Book’s social impact goals. The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams across the organization to ensure new partnerships are executed effectively and deliver measurable value to both First Book and its corporate partners. The ideal candidate brings expertise in corporate social responsibility, cause-based marketing, or private-sector consulting, along with strong business writing, presentation, and critical-thinking skills, and a demonstrated interest in mission-driven fundraising.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent preferred.
A minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in corporate fundraising, business development, or a related field.
Demonstrated track record of leadership, innovation, and creativity in securing private-sector partnerships.
Strong business writing, presentation, and verbal communication skills, including experience developing and delivering pitches.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities independently.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with excellent attention to detail.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools; prior experience with Salesforce or an equivalent CRM system preferred.
Ability to travel up to 40% during peak partnership activation periods.

Nice To Haves

MBA or equivalent preferred.
Prior experience with Salesforce or an equivalent CRM system preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify, research, and prioritize prospective corporate partners aligned with First Book’s mission and strategic goals.
Lead outreach and cultivation strategies to secure new corporate and foundation funding.
Develop and pitch dynamic, data-informed funding proposals to prospective partners.
Design cause-based marketing campaigns and partnership structures that meet both partner objectives and organizational priorities.
Manage the proposal-to-activation lifecycle, including budgeting, timelines, and deliverables.
Lead and contribute to internal ideation sessions to generate new partnership concepts.
Liaise with cross-functional First Book teams, including programs, marketing, and finance, to align partnership commitments with organizational capacity.
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support long-term partnership success.
Track and report on new business pipeline activity, partnership performance, and revenue progress.
Perform additional duties as assigned, consistent with the scope of the role.