Strategic Alliances Director, New Business

First Book•Washington, DC

1d•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. This is a senior, externally facing role responsible for sourcing and cultivating new corporate relationships, driving revenue generation, and developing programmatic strategies that support organizational growth. The ideal candidate is a proven revenue generator with a minimum track record of $2 million in secured partnerships or fundraising, and brings an entrepreneurial spirit, bold creative thinking, and a highly collaborative work style to a fast-paced, matrixed environment. Core responsibilities span new business strategy, relationship development, pitch formation and delivery, cause marketing, proposal writing, and cross-functional program management. Successful candidates will demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, sound business judgment, experience navigating complex organizations, and a genuine passion for corporate social responsibility and education equity.

Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sales, business development, corporate philanthropy, cause marketing, or corporate fundraising/sponsorship within a client services or mission-driven environment; nonprofit corporate partnership/sponsorship experience preferred.
Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding annual revenue goals in a fundraising, business development, or corporate partnership capacity.
Proven success in securing financial commitments from Fortune 500 companies and/or major philanthropic foundations, with established and actively maintained relationships at those institutions.
Willingness to travel up to 40% during peak periods, subject to organizational and public health guidelines.
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, nonprofit management, or related field required.
Creative, strategic, and entrepreneurial approach to identifying and developing new funding opportunities.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals, presentations, and pitches for diverse stakeholder audiences.
Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with senior-level internal and external stakeholders.
Strong command of CRM platforms; Salesforce proficiency preferred, Raiser's Edge or equivalent considered.
Familiarity with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) expected.
Demonstrated ability to manage a complex, concurrent workload with strong organizational skills and consistent adherence to deadlines.
Strategic problem-solver with the ability to prioritize, drive implementation, and deliver results in a deadline-driven environment.
Collaborative, solutions-oriented team member able to manage shifting priorities and maintain performance in a dynamic environment.
High degree of professional discretion and sound judgment in managing confidential information.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the department's annual new business development revenue goal, with individual portfolio targets established in partnership with the Chief Revenue Officer.
Design and lead new business strategies to secure corporate and unrestricted funds in direct support of First Book's mission.
Lead efforts to prioritize funding opportunities and prospect lists in collaboration with the Strategic Alliances Team and the Executive Team.
Work with other department leaders to develop monitoring and results frameworks for key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring consistency across projects in alignment with overall portfolio goals.
Develop an overarching strategy to secure new corporate relationships in collaboration with First Book's Senior Leadership.
Conceptualize, develop, and present funding concepts and pitches to leading multinational corporations.
Identify, cultivate, and develop leads with prospective corporate funders and partners.
Design and launch cause marketing campaigns and corporate partnerships that directly benefit local communities in need.
Develop formal proposals to secure corporate and philanthropic funding.
Identify and submit formal proposals and applications in response to philanthropic RFPs.
Partner with the Chief Revenue Officer on new business strategy, pipeline prioritization, and annual financial targets to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
Collaborate across marketing communications, engagement, e-commerce, and operations to create and implement value-added, integrated programs that advance organizational goals.
Meet annual financial goals as determined by the Executive Team.
Lead and execute special projects that advance the department at the direction of the Chief Revenue Officer.