Senior Strategic Advisor, DAF & Philanthropic Capital

Senior Strategic Advisor, DAF & Philanthropic Capital

Six-Month Fractional Consulting Engagement | Remote | NYC, Washington, DC or Chicago preferred

Help turn philanthropic capital into economic mobility

Across the United States, established small businesses create jobs and anchor communities—yet too many growth-minded owners lack the guidance, networks and appropriate capital needed to scale. Founders First Community Development Corporation (FFCDC) exists to change that. We equip underinvested entrepreneurs with practical capacity-building, funding readiness and connections that help their businesses grow toward the mid-market.

We have already raised approximately $5 million through donor-advised funds (DAFs). Now we are seeking a senior, well-connected fundraising professional to expand that success—introducing donors to measurable economic mobility opportunities in the regions and among the types of business owners they care most about.

This is a relationship-development and major-gifts execution assignment. The successful advisor will generate dozens of qualified donor appointments and help turn strong philanthropic alignment into timely commitments—not simply deliver a fundraising plan.

About Founders First CDC

Founded in 2015 in San Diego by serial entrepreneur Kim Folsom, FFCDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and national economic mobility platform, originally launched as LIFT Development Enterprises. It has grown into one of the largest nonprofit accelerators serving underinvested, service-based small businesses in the United States. FFCDC focuses on established businesses—not startups—including those led by veterans, women and low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs, with revenues from $100,000 to $3 million or more and ambitions to scale toward the mid-market.

Through the end of 2024, FFCDC served 3,686 companies across 20 states, supported the creation of 2,119 full-time jobs (59% at premium wages of $50,000+ with benefits), and helped member companies secure $106 million in external capital. In 2024 alone, FFCDC served more than 1,650 companies across 18 states through 74 program cohorts.

Its programs include Passport to Funding, Passport Premium, FastPath and Zebra Leadership, complemented by targeted grant programs such as the Kitty Fund and Stephen L. Tadlock Fund. The organization reports $1.85 million in grants and prizes distributed to date and substantial revenue growth among program participants. FFCDC operates alongside affiliated Founders First Capital Partners, which provides alternative financing to a similar small-business market; the nonprofit’s role centers on education, readiness, capacity building and grant-supported economic mobility.

The opportunity: expand on proven DAF success

The advisor will help advance a $2 million DAF growth initiative within FFCDC’s broader fundraising effort, with an engagement-level objective of sourcing and advancing $1 million or more in philanthropic commitments. This work will build on existing DAF donor enthusiasm while developing new relationships through ImpactAssets, Fidelity Charitable and comparable donor/advisor ecosystems. Platform access alone is not the strategy: personal introductions, donor-centered cultivation and trusted networks are essential.

The campaign will connect to the Economic Mobility Council—convened by Founders First—and to regional Capital Activation Experience (CAE) gatherings. Women Who Fund America (WWFA) provides a storytelling and relationship-building platform to engage aligned capital allocators.

Who should pursue this engagement

We especially welcome an established independent fundraising professional or senior boutique-firm principal who is already leading active fundraising initiatives and has room to add this complementary assignment. The right advisor brings a current, relevant network and can begin generating meaningful introductions immediately; this is not intended as a full-time position or a ground-up prospecting assignment.

Core mandate: generate qualified donor conversations

The advisor’s most important contribution is consistent access to philanthropists who are excited to see direct, measurable outcomes—particularly in the geographic regions and among the veteran-, women-, and other underinvested business-owner communities they prioritize.

· Originate, secure and help complete 30–40 qualified donor/advisor appointments during the six-month engagement, with a strong emphasis on $50,000+ DAF potential and $100,000+ leadership opportunities.

· Activate existing DAF relationships, identify renewal and upgrade opportunities, and secure warm introductions to new donor families, advisors and funders.

· Connect donor motivations to specific FFCDC programs, regional economic mobility priorities and measurable outcomes; prepare tailored donor briefs and clear asks.

· Build a disciplined moves-management pipeline from introduction to discovery, proposal, commitment and receipt; document relationship ownership and next actions.

· Partner directly with the founder/board chair and FFCDC leadership on anchor-donor meetings, follow-up and closing strategies.

· Recruit and cultivate prospective Economic Mobility Council founding and regional participants; integrate appropriate donor meetings with CAE gatherings and WWFA convenings.

· Explore donor-education and referral opportunities through ImpactAssets, Fidelity and philanthropic-advisor communities without assuming platforms will directly market FFCDC.

What counts as a qualified appointment

A completed, substantive conversation with a named donor, donor decision-maker or trusted advisor who has (1) a credible ability to influence or recommend a meaningful DAF grant, (2) demonstrated interest in economic mobility, entrepreneurship, quality jobs or a relevant region/population, (3) a warm or permission-based introduction path, and (4) a documented next action and expected giving horizon. Introductory networking calls without these attributes will be tracked separately.

Experience and relationships required

· Demonstrated personal role in originating and closing $1 million or more in cumulative DAF-supported gifts, including individual gifts of $100,000 or more.

· Active relationships with DAF donors, family offices, RIAs, wealth managers, philanthropic advisors and/or community foundations; relevant ImpactAssets experience strongly valued.

· Ability to describe specific prior fundraising outcomes and credible access paths while respecting donor privacy and confidentiality.

· Experience with capital campaigns, major-gift proposals, cultivation, solicitation and timely moves management.

· Comfort translating impact measurement and place-based priorities into persuasive donor conversations.

· Capacity to integrate this project with an existing fundraising consulting portfolio, coordinate across leadership and travel selectively for high-value convenings.

Engagement structure

Six-month independent consulting engagement, approximately 20 hours per week. Target allocation: 30% strategy, donor positioning and coordination; 70% external business development, appointments, solicitation support and execution. Remote, with a preference for New York City, Washington, DC or Chicago. Proposed fixed consulting fee: $75,000 total ($12,500 per month), with reasonable pre-approved travel handled separately. No percentage-based fundraising compensation.

Milestones and success measures

This is an outcomes-oriented engagement. Goals below are planning targets, to be calibrated against the actual donor portfolio and campaign timing at kickoff.

First 30 days

Audit prior DAF giving; prioritize donors and advisors; launch appointment outreach; build a stage-based pipeline and region/donor-interest matching framework.

By day 60

Complete initial donor discovery meetings; secure introductions from past DAF supporters; advance tailored opportunities and early leadership asks.

By day 120

Target 20–25 completed qualified appointments; 10–15 leadership proposals/asks; $5M+ qualified pipeline; $750K–$1M in active solicitation or commitment stages.

By month six

Target 30–40 completed qualified appointments; meaningful donor/council activation; source and advance $1M+ in commitments toward the $2M DAF initiative.

Performance dashboard

Review biweekly: warm introductions requested/secured; appointments scheduled and completed; qualified donor opportunities by region, program interest, potential amount and stage; proposals and asks; commitments and dollars received; donor and advisor referral sources; Economic Mobility Council engagement; and next-step completion rates.

How we will work together

The advisor will lead relationship sourcing, qualification, meeting preparation, follow-up and pipeline accountability. The FFCDC founder/board chair will participate in priority leadership conversations and major asks. The internal team will support program evidence, scheduling, stewardship, proposal materials and gift administration. Any investment-related discussion involving the affiliated for-profit entity will be handled separately from FFCDC charitable solicitations and with appropriate compliance review.

How to express interest

Please submit a concise qualifications statement or letter that includes: examples of DAF gifts of $100,000+ you helped originate and close; relevant donor/advisor networks and how you would activate them; current consulting portfolio and capacity; and your proposed approach to generating qualified appointments within the first 60 days.

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FFCDC welcomes experienced independent consultants and senior principals of boutique philanthropic advisory firms. Selection will consider demonstrated access, execution capability, mission alignment and fit with this fractional engagement.