Senior Philanthropy Consultant (Contract)

Location:

New York City (Hybrid: In-Person & Remote)

Check you match the skill requirements for this role, as well as associated experience, then apply with your CV below.

Organization:

The Center for Fair Futures

Reports To:

Executive Director

Engagement Type:

12-Month Consulting Contract (with potential to transition to a permanent leadership role)

Estimated Compensation:

Competitive monthly retainer and/or hourly rate commensurate with experience 

About The Center for Fair Futures 

The Center for Fair Futures is transforming how youth-serving professionals engage with young people impacted by foster care and the juvenile justice system.

Through workforce development, coaching, systems change, and community building, we strengthen the adults and organizations that support young people, while elevating youth voice and advancing equitable opportunities. Our work is grounded in healing, relationships, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Today, the Center supports implementation of the Fair Futures model across New York City while expanding its impact through the Coaching & Training Institute (CTI), youth leadership initiatives, housing justice work, and broader systems transformation efforts.

As we enter our next phase of organizational growth, we are seeking a strategic philanthropy partner to help build the next generation of our fundraising infrastructure and position the organization for long-term financial sustainability.

Position Overview 

The Senior Philanthropy Consultant will serve as the Center's strategic fundraising partner, working closely with the Executive Director, leadership team, and Board of Directors to strengthen and expand the organization's philanthropic strategy.

This engagement is designed for an experienced development professional who enjoys building fundraising systems, cultivating institutional partnerships, and helping organizations scale. Rather than managing day-to-day fundraising operations alone, the consultant will help develop the infrastructure, strategies, and relationships that position the Center for long-term growth.

Initial priorities include expanding foundation funding, strengthening board engagement in philanthropy, developing the Center's individual giving strategy, and creating sustainable development systems and processes.

While this engagement is structured as a consulting contract, there is potential for the role to evolve into a permanent leadership position as the organization continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities 

Institutional Giving Strategy & Grant Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive institutional fundraising strategy aligned with the Center's strategic and financial sustainability goals.
• Identify, research, and cultivate new foundation and corporate funding opportunities.
• Build and maintain a grants calendar to ensure timely proposal submissions and reporting.
• Lead or coordinate the development of compelling grant proposals, concept papers, letters of inquiry, and grant reports.
• Partner with program and leadership staff to translate program outcomes, evaluation data, and strategic priorities into strong funding narratives.
• Maintain relationships with existing institutional funders while identifying opportunities to deepen engagement.

Board Engagement & Philanthropic Partnership

• Partner with the Executive Director to strengthen the Board's role in fundraising and external engagement.
• Prepare briefing materials, prospect profiles, meeting summaries, and stewardship plans for board members and leadership.
• Help coordinate board fundraising activities, introductions, and relationship management.
• Develop tools and resources that increase board confidence and effectiveness in fundraising.
• Support board recruitment efforts by identifying prospective members with philanthropic capacity and strategic networks.
• Assist in developing dashboards and reports that track fundraising progress and board engagement.

Individual Giving Strategy

• Develop the Center's individual giving strategy and long-term donor pipeline.
• Design annual giving campaigns and donor stewardship plans.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen recurring giving, year-end campaigns, and donor communications.
• Recommend strategies for expanding philanthropic support from individual donors while complementing institutional fundraising efforts.
• Work collaboratively with communications staff to align fundraising messaging with organizational storytelling and impact communications.

Infrastructure & Sustainability

• Assess and strengthen the Center's overall fundraising infrastructure, systems, and processes.
• Develop standardized proposal language, stewardship materials, and fundraising resources that can be leveraged across the organization.
• Establish systems for prospect management, donor tracking, forecasting, and reporting.
• Recommend best practices for development operations, donor stewardship, and relationship management.
• Contribute to the Center's long-term Financial Sustainability Plan by identifying opportunities to diversify revenue and strengthen philanthropic investment.

Organizational Partnership

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director on fundraising priorities, donor engagement, and philanthropic trends.
• Collaborate with leadership to align fundraising opportunities with organizational priorities, including workforce development, youth leadership, systems change, housing justice, and innovation.
• Participate in leadership planning discussions as appropriate and provide recommendations on emerging funding opportunities and philanthropic strategy.
• Support additional development and strategic initiatives as needed.

Success in this Position is Measured by: 

Expanded Institutional Funding

Development of a diversified pipeline of foundation and corporate prospects, increased grant submissions, and strengthened relationships with existing institutional funders.

Strong Fundraising Infrastructure

Implementation of sustainable development systems, including grant tracking, donor stewardship processes, fundraising dashboards, and standardized proposal resources.

Increased Board Engagement

Board members are better equipped to serve as ambassadors, connectors, and philanthropic partners through clear communication, preparation, and fundraising support.

Growth of Individual Giving

Establishment of a thoughtful individual giving strategy that creates a foundation for future donor growth and long-term philanthropic investment.

Organizational Sustainability

The Center is positioned with stronger fundraising systems, diversified revenue opportunities, and a clear roadmap for the future evolution of its philanthropy function.

Preferred Qualifications 

• 8+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising or philanthropic consulting experience.
• Demonstrated success securing foundation and institutional funding.
• Experience building or strengthening fundraising functions within growing nonprofit organizations.
• Strong grant writing and proposal development experience.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership and nonprofit boards.
• Ability to think strategically while also executing independently.
• Excellent relationship management, communication, and project management skills.
• Experience developing fundraising systems, dashboards, and donor stewardship processes.
• Familiarity with CRM and donor management platforms.
• Knowledge of philanthropy within youth development, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, workforce development, or related fields is strongly preferred.
• Commitment to equity, youth voice, and systems change.

Engagement Deliverables (First 12 months)

By the conclusion of the engagement, the consultant will have helped the Center establish:

• A comprehensive institutional fundraising strategy.
• An active grants pipeline and annual grants calendar.
• A diversified portfolio of prospective foundation partners.
• Strong proposal development and reporting systems.
• A board engagement strategy that supports fundraising and relationship building.
• A foundational individual giving strategy.
• Sustainable donor stewardship and fundraising processes.
• Recommendations for the future structure of the Center's philanthropy function, including whether the role should transition into a permanent leadership position.

How to Apply 

We appreciate your interest in partnering with The Center for Fair Futures.

Please submit:

• Resume or CV
• Brief letter of interest describing your approach to philanthropic strategy and organizational capacity building
• Two examples of successful institutional fundraising work or comparable experience (if available)
• Three professional references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Why Join the Center?

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a growing organization at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

Rather than stepping into an established fundraising department, you'll help design and build one—working alongside a collaborative leadership team and engaged Board to strengthen the Center's philanthropic strategy and long-term sustainability. xhyhwjd Your work will directly support innovative efforts that improve outcomes for young people impacted by foster care and the juvenile justice system while helping position the organization for its next decade of growth.