Director, East Side Funders Group
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, 55199
Description
ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION The East Side Funders Group (ESFG) is a collaboration of 30+ partner organizations who bring resources and investments to learn, identify, influence and align around opportunities to increase economic vitality for residents on the East Side of Saint Paul, particularly the Dayton’s Bluff and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods.
POSITION OVERVIEW This role is central to advancing our mission—ESFG aligns funders to uplift existing community assets and correct for racialized, historic underinvestment on the East Side.
The Director serves as lead staff and facilitator for the funder collaborative, ensuring alignment, engagement, and progress towards the strategic priorities. Fostering strong relationships with local stakeholders, partners, and community members to advance equitable and sustainable wealth building on the East Side, The Director will manage consulting partners, special projects, overseeing support for projects serving small businesses and nonprofits. The Director will be a leader who can balance high-level strategic oversight with practical, on-the-ground support. The Director will help ensure financial and programmatic sustainability as the organization and its work continue to grow, keeping the vibrancy, resilience, and equity of the East Side at the heart.
PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Relationships & Community Connection
Serve as a visible connector in the community on the East Side to cultivate and sustaining relationships with local stakeholders, partners and community members.
Keep “ears to the ground” on the East Side to learn what’s happening, share insights, and bring opportunities back to the collaborative members.
Expand and strengthen the collaborative’s membership through intentional recruitment, engagement, and learning alongside the community.
The Director will staff and facilitate learning, member, and community meetings.
Infrastructure & Operations
The Director will staff and facilitate the ESFG Steering Committee meetings (leadership and decision-making body).
Hire, track and coordinate contractors and consultants, and oversee special projects.
Oversee and maintain CRM systems.
Maintain the organization’s relationship with our fiscal sponsor (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation).
Provide regular updates to the steering committee and full collaborative on the progress and impact of all special projects, including recommendations for continuation, modification, or conclusion.
Financial & Grant Management
Lead development of the annual budget, monitor income and expenditures, and deliver regular financial reports to the steering committee.
Ensure financial accountability, transparency, and compliance in all activities.
Design, implement, and maintain a grants process and policy (formal or informal) to ensure clarity, fairness, and alignment with organizational goals.
Oversee tracking and reporting of grant deliverables, budgets, and compliance obligations.
Present financials and impacts in accessible ways to leadership, members, and stakeholders.
Fundraising
Cultivate and steward relationships with funders, donors, and partners to sustain and grow the work of the collaborative.
Identify and pursue new fundraising opportunities.
Prepare compelling proposals, reports, and updates to funders and donors.
Support the steering committee and members in collaborative fundraising activities.
Special Projects
Advance initiatives in real estate, strategic communications, and policy priorities as outlined in the strategic plan.
Approach projects with a “leading with YES” mindset—seeing opportunity and possibility
Requirements
Demonstrated experience connecting with people, building trust, and facilitating meaningful relationships.
Strong written, verbal, and facilitation skills.
Self-directed with strong initiative.
Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising, grant writing, and development.
Management and operations experience, including oversight of consultants, staff, or contractors.
Financial management skills, including nonprofit budgeting and reporting.
Familiarity with grantmaking processes.
Familiarity with the philanthropic community in Minnesota.
Ability to prioritize work across multiple projects and deadlines.
Experience with place-based community initiatives with a commitment to economic justice.
Knowledge of the East Side community with particular focus on the Dayton’s Bluff and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods
PREFFEERED EXPERIENCE
Demonstrated experience in policy research, analysis, development, or advocacy, preferably related to community development, small business support, or nonprofit sectors.
Past experience in developing and implementing communications strategies and best practices for effectively engaging diverse audiences.
Prior work in economic development and/or community wealth building.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS The compensation for this position is $125,000.00, and includes participation in the organization's benefits plan.
Classification Exempt; Full-time.
Location To Be Determined
We consistently work to make our community a stronger, more equitable place. In order to fulfill our mission, we understand that employing a diverse team of knowledgeable, passionate individuals who reflect our community is vital. To that end, the Foundation’s staff consistently works to ensure that our recruiting activities and hiring plan align with our commitment to equitable hiring practices.
Application Deadline Friday, February 20th, 12:00 p.m. CST
#J-18808-Ljbffr
ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION The East Side Funders Group (ESFG) is a collaboration of 30+ partner organizations who bring resources and investments to learn, identify, influence and align around opportunities to increase economic vitality for residents on the East Side of Saint Paul, particularly the Dayton’s Bluff and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods.
POSITION OVERVIEW This role is central to advancing our mission—ESFG aligns funders to uplift existing community assets and correct for racialized, historic underinvestment on the East Side.
The Director serves as lead staff and facilitator for the funder collaborative, ensuring alignment, engagement, and progress towards the strategic priorities. Fostering strong relationships with local stakeholders, partners, and community members to advance equitable and sustainable wealth building on the East Side, The Director will manage consulting partners, special projects, overseeing support for projects serving small businesses and nonprofits. The Director will be a leader who can balance high-level strategic oversight with practical, on-the-ground support. The Director will help ensure financial and programmatic sustainability as the organization and its work continue to grow, keeping the vibrancy, resilience, and equity of the East Side at the heart.
PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Relationships & Community Connection
Serve as a visible connector in the community on the East Side to cultivate and sustaining relationships with local stakeholders, partners and community members.
Keep “ears to the ground” on the East Side to learn what’s happening, share insights, and bring opportunities back to the collaborative members.
Expand and strengthen the collaborative’s membership through intentional recruitment, engagement, and learning alongside the community.
The Director will staff and facilitate learning, member, and community meetings.
Infrastructure & Operations
The Director will staff and facilitate the ESFG Steering Committee meetings (leadership and decision-making body).
Hire, track and coordinate contractors and consultants, and oversee special projects.
Oversee and maintain CRM systems.
Maintain the organization’s relationship with our fiscal sponsor (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation).
Provide regular updates to the steering committee and full collaborative on the progress and impact of all special projects, including recommendations for continuation, modification, or conclusion.
Financial & Grant Management
Lead development of the annual budget, monitor income and expenditures, and deliver regular financial reports to the steering committee.
Ensure financial accountability, transparency, and compliance in all activities.
Design, implement, and maintain a grants process and policy (formal or informal) to ensure clarity, fairness, and alignment with organizational goals.
Oversee tracking and reporting of grant deliverables, budgets, and compliance obligations.
Present financials and impacts in accessible ways to leadership, members, and stakeholders.
Fundraising
Cultivate and steward relationships with funders, donors, and partners to sustain and grow the work of the collaborative.
Identify and pursue new fundraising opportunities.
Prepare compelling proposals, reports, and updates to funders and donors.
Support the steering committee and members in collaborative fundraising activities.
Special Projects
Advance initiatives in real estate, strategic communications, and policy priorities as outlined in the strategic plan.
Approach projects with a “leading with YES” mindset—seeing opportunity and possibility
Requirements
Demonstrated experience connecting with people, building trust, and facilitating meaningful relationships.
Strong written, verbal, and facilitation skills.
Self-directed with strong initiative.
Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising, grant writing, and development.
Management and operations experience, including oversight of consultants, staff, or contractors.
Financial management skills, including nonprofit budgeting and reporting.
Familiarity with grantmaking processes.
Familiarity with the philanthropic community in Minnesota.
Ability to prioritize work across multiple projects and deadlines.
Experience with place-based community initiatives with a commitment to economic justice.
Knowledge of the East Side community with particular focus on the Dayton’s Bluff and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods
PREFFEERED EXPERIENCE
Demonstrated experience in policy research, analysis, development, or advocacy, preferably related to community development, small business support, or nonprofit sectors.
Past experience in developing and implementing communications strategies and best practices for effectively engaging diverse audiences.
Prior work in economic development and/or community wealth building.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS The compensation for this position is $125,000.00, and includes participation in the organization's benefits plan.
Classification Exempt; Full-time.
Location To Be Determined
We consistently work to make our community a stronger, more equitable place. In order to fulfill our mission, we understand that employing a diverse team of knowledgeable, passionate individuals who reflect our community is vital. To that end, the Foundation’s staff consistently works to ensure that our recruiting activities and hiring plan align with our commitment to equitable hiring practices.
Application Deadline Friday, February 20th, 12:00 p.m. CST
#J-18808-Ljbffr