Senior Associate, Partnerships & Philanthropy

Social Finance•Boston, MA

2h•$98,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser (SF Advisors, LLC). We work with the public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized over $500 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing.   We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion.   Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach.  Please note that application review will begin on January 26 and continue on an ongoing basis. The Senior Associate, Partnerships & Philanthropy plays a critical role on Social Finance's dynamic fundraising team, which mobilizes philanthropic and investment capital to advance our mission. This position combines analytical rigor, operational excellence, grant management, and data-driven reporting to support the team's strategic objectives. This role is ideal for a proactive professional who is passionate about fundraising and impact investing, thrives in fast-paced environments, and demonstrates strong judgment when navigating complex challenges. The successful candidate will leverage technology—including AI tools—to drive efficiency and generate insights, approaching their work with a solutions-oriented mindset. Working closely with Associate Directors in Partnerships & Philanthropy, the Senior Associate provides essential support, coordination, and analysis that enables senior leadership to focus on strategy development, relationship management, and major fundraising initiatives. The percentage breakdowns below reflect expected effort distribution; actual time spent may shift in response to changing priorities and workload fluctuations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
3–6 years of relevant experience in fundraising, advancement, consulting, finance, marketing or nonprofit operations; grants management experience preferred
Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail; Experience with grant or proposal writing is a plus
Strong quantitative skills and familiarity with business, finance and fundraising principles
Exceptional presentation and PowerPoint skills, with an eye for clean, professional visual design and formatting
Experience with CRM systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, etc.)
Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong time management skills
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and with external stakeholders
Ability to maintain discretion and handle sensitive information about ultra-high net-worth individuals and funders with professionalism and confidentiality
Entrepreneurial mindset, proactive approach to problem-solving, and commitment to delivering high-quality work in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

Support Associate Director in managing foundation and philanthropic grant processes, including tracking deadlines, coordinating internal inputs, and assembling and submitting proposals and reports
Access and manage online grant portals, including maintaining passwords and account information
Support proposal development, fundraising decks, and written materials in partnership with Associate Directors and senior leaders
Review, extract, and transfer proposal and reporting questions or requirements into organized Word documents
Upload all required materials—such as budgets, 990s, supporting documents, and proposal/reporting content—into the appropriate portals
Troubleshoot submission issues as they arise, including communicating with foundation grants management staff or program officers to resolve portal-related challenges
Engage cross-functionally with internal teams (programmatic, Finance, Legal & Compliance, etc.) to gather inputs for grant applications and reports
Maintain grant calendars, deliverables trackers, and documentation to ensure timely and accurate submissions
Assist with gift processing, acknowledgments, and stewardship coordination
Serve as a reliable execution partner to ensure grant and donor requirements are met efficiently and professionally
Maintain accurate, timely, and well-organized fundraising and prospect data in CRM and related systems, in close coordination with Associate Directors
Conduct high-quality research on individuals, foundations, and family offices to support cultivation and solicitation strategies
Support the preparation of fundraising reports, dashboards, and pipeline summaries for internal leadership
Prepare briefing materials, prospect summaries, and background memos for donor meetings and senior leadership
Assist with ad hoc analysis and data pulls to support fundraising strategy, planning, and decision-making
Partner with Associate Directors to improve data hygiene, documentation, and reporting workflows over time
Manage an active calendar of donor and prospect events, including small gatherings, briefings, roundtables, and cultivation events
Lead logistical planning for fundraising events, including scheduling, venue selection, vendor coordination, guest communications, and event materials
Coordinate internal event planning processes, including timeline management and task tracking, run of show, briefings etc.
Actively leverage technology and AI tools to streamline research, reporting, writing, and administrative workflows
Identify opportunities to automate, templatize, or improve processes to reduce manual work and increase efficiency
Serve as a thought partner to Associate Directors on how technology can improve fundraising operations and insight

Benefits

Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; access to Blue Cross Blue Shield Wellness Program “AHealthyMe Rewards” and more
Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies
Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements
Hybrid work model (in office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad-hoc basis as needed)
Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition
Annual budget for external professional development opportunities
Mentorship and onboarding programs
Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, MA; San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX; Washington, D.C. and New York, NY.
Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)
Paid parental leave
A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals