Foundation Development Officer - Northern California & Central Valley

Description About GRID Alternatives GRID Alternatives is a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color. GRID is an entrepreneurial, high-growth non-profit organization that provides direct solar installation and project development; clean mobility options; workforce training and service-learning opportunities; and low-income solar policy advocacy. Our Vision: a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone. Our Mission: to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. What it's like to work at GRID… At GRID, we care about each other and know that each employee has a whole self that includes life outside of work. Our culture supports learning, growth and well-being of all of our team members. Summary of the role: GRID Alternatives is looking for a Foundation Development Officer - Northern California & Central Valley to join our national Headquarters Philanthropy team and lead our efforts to increase major, impact-driven funding partnerships from local Northern and Central Valley California area foundations and manage a current portfolio of partners who have committed to GRID. Our organization is well-positioned to dramatically increase support from this sector, thanks to rapidly growing interest from the funder community around the intersection of climate change and economic and racial justice, and our status as a growing national nonprofit organization with a proven track record of building community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. This is a great opportunity for a superb proposal writer, partnerships thought leader and relationship manager looking for a leadership opportunity. What you will be doing (essential responsibilities):

• Work directly with the Regional Foundation Manager, Director of Regional Philanthropy, Northern California Executive Director, and Central Valley California Executive Directors to spearhead efforts to raise major 5- to 7-figure funding partnerships from locally based philanthropic foundations, including developing and implementing fundraising and thought leadership strategies
• Manage a portfolio of funders making annual and multi-year grants, including reporting on existing grants, submitting new funding applications, coordinating engagement opportunities, and cultivating long-term relationships
• Provide key thought leadership and drive collaboration with Northern California and Central Valley leadership on foundation fundraising strategy, case for support development, and identifying opportunities to grow program and organizational capacity through major partnerships
• Serve as a key member of GRID Alternatives’ national fundraising team, including developing long-term fund development strategies and related thought leadership efforts around the importance of equitable renewable energy, workforce development and clean transportation programs
• Promote a Culture of Philanthropy across the organization
• Participate in GRID NorCal/CV affiliate activities to build and strengthen relationships with staff and deepen knowledge about the affiliate’s work and communities

Requirements

Your areas of knowledge and expertise...

• Passionate advocate for renewable energy, affordable housing, workforce development, and/or environmental justice work
• Ability to develop a prospecting strategy to secure new funders
• 4-5 or more years of professional nonprofit fundraising or grantmaking experience, including a demonstrated track record of managing major 5- to 7-figure foundation partnerships
• Demonstrated exceptional persuasive writing skills, including both grant writing, oral presentations and email communication
• Excellent organizational skills, follow-through, and attention to detail and deadlines
• Excellent collaboration skills, including the ability to coordinate and communicate effectively and efficiently with a variety of internal team members
• Solid computer productivity skills, including Microsoft Office and Google Apps
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Comfortable working as part of a team in a hard-working, informal, high-growth organization

Preferred Qualifications

• Specific experience with renewable energy, affordable housing, workforce development, and/or environment/environmental justice work
• Existing relationships with local and national foundations that focus on climate change, environmental justice and/or economic opportunity, specifically in the L