Vice President, Partnerships & Philanthropy

Social Finance•Austin, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser (SF Advisers, LLC) that collaborates with public, private, and social sectors to foster partnerships and investments aimed at measurably improving lives. Since its inception in 2011, Social Finance has facilitated over $500 million in investments focused on enhancing outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing. The organization is founded on the principle that social and economic systems should support thriving communities and that collaborative efforts between government and markets are key to achieving significant and measurable change. Social Finance operates across four key areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. The Impact-first Investment team concentrates on developing and managing investments that deploy capital effectively for social outcomes. The Workforce and Education Investments team focuses on creating financial solutions for workforce challenges, including skill development and training access. The Advisory team collaborates with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven social impact programs. The Social Finance Institute is dedicated to advancing the field and driving systemic change through research, communities of practice, and educational initiatives. The Vice President, Partnerships & Philanthropy, reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, will serve as a senior external representative for Social Finance. This role is crucial for increasing the organization's visibility and expanding its philanthropic support in key growth regions such as California, Texas, and parts of the Midwest. The VP will be responsible for cultivating new relationships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, family foundations, and their advisors, aiming to secure support for Social Finance's funds and advisory services. The potential market for this work is substantial, with over $2 trillion in private philanthropic capital in the U.S., including significant assets in donor-advised funds and private foundations. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned fundraiser passionate about Social Finance's mission and the intersection of philanthropy and impact-first investing. The VP will join at a pivotal time, contributing to a five-year fundraising goal of $500 million as part of a larger ambition to mobilize $1 billion in capital. The role requires an individual with existing relationships and expertise in engaging ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and their advisors, with the ability to expand this network from a strong existing foundation. The ideal candidate will possess an entrepreneurial spirit, operate independently, and be adept at building a pipeline of prospective supporters beyond current capacities, while also serving as a vital internal connector within Social Finance's matrixed structure.

Requirements

Exceptional, results-driven fundraiser with 15+ years of experience.
Demonstrated track record of identifying, soliciting, and closing gifts, grants, and investments ranging from $1M to $10M+.
Background in advancement, financial services, or complex mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
Existing relationships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and family foundations, and the advisors who serve them.
Demonstrated history of building such networks.
Highly entrepreneurial and business development-oriented.
Track record of sourcing new relationships.
Ability to operate independently in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
Ability to remain a collaborative and integrated team player.
Proven relationship management skills.
Ability to develop and steward deep, multi-year relationships with credibility and sophistication.
Effectiveness in building trusted relationships internally across a matrixed organization to advance fundraising priorities.
Demonstrated ability to represent a complex, multi-priority organization to sophisticated philanthropic and investment audiences.
Ability to translate impact investing frameworks, fund structures, and programmatic strategies into compelling narratives.
Genuine energy for Social Finance's field-building mission and the opportunity to engage funders at the frontier of philanthropy and impact-first investing.
Intellectually curious and quick to develop fluency in complex subject matter.
Ability to engage credibly across the full range of Social Finance's work, from impact-first investing to workforce development.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to develop high-quality proposals, concept notes, and donor materials in close collaboration with the CPO and the program and communications teams.
Experience operating as a collaborative people manager who has contributed to staff development, performance feedback, and delegation within a high-performing team.
Track record of contributing effectively as a member of company leadership or cross-functional teams, bringing a collaborative, organization-wide perspective to strategic discussions.
Able to travel nationally on a regular basis, approximately 25 to 30 percent of time, including regular travel to the Boston office.
Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving a booster shot, to be in-person at a Social Finance office, client location or Social Finance-sponsored event.

Nice To Haves

Background in advancement, financial services, or complex mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior external fundraiser for Social Finance with accountability for raising $20M+ annually in grants and investments across all priorities.
Apply an expansive, entrepreneurial, and business development-oriented mindset to identify, cultivate, and solicit new funding opportunities.
Identify, qualify, and cultivate new ultra-high-net-worth individual, family office, and family foundation prospects.
Utilize long-cycle relationship management and entrepreneurial instincts to enhance Social Finance's profile and build a robust pipeline for specific funds and advisory services.
Develop and steward relationships within the advisor and intermediary ecosystem that influences UHNW giving, including wealth and philanthropic advisors, family office staff, and peer donor networks.
Represent Social Finance credibly and compellingly across all fundraising priorities, including impact investment and philanthropic funds, customized donor investment vehicles, research and field-building initiatives, unrestricted general operating support, and other emerging priorities.
Translate complex investment structures and programmatic work into resonant narratives for sophisticated philanthropic and investment audiences.
Partner closely with the CPO, CEO, and President & COO on new and developing relationships, optimizing their time and visibility through strategic engagement and cultivation.
Maintain a robust schedule of daily external meetings (in-person and online).
Engage in regular travel (approximately 25 to 30 percent of time) to connect with funders in key regional markets and represent Social Finance at high-value convenings.
Partner with Social Finance's Communications team, providing funder insights and market perspectives to shape messaging, materials, and thought leadership for UHNW individuals, family offices, and their advisors.
Contribute to the management and development of the Partnerships & Philanthropy team, supporting work delegation, providing feedback, and fostering professional growth.
Serve as a member of Social Finance's Leadership Team, contributing to firm-wide strategic priorities, organizational health, and staff/culture development.
Bring an external-facing, fundraising perspective to leadership discussions and model organizational values and standards.
Manage a portfolio of select institutional foundation and corporate funders aligned with the VP's core market or Social Finance's highest priorities.
Partner with business leads on engagement, strategy, and stewardship to secure multi-year, multi-priority commitments from institutional funders.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance
Flexible spending accounts
Access to Blue Cross Blue Shield Wellness Program “AHealthyMe Rewards”
Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies
Commuter benefits
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
Paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)
Paid parental leave