Senior Strategic Advisor, DAF & Philanthropic Capital

Job Description

Senior Strategic Advisor, DAF & Philanthropic Capital

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

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Help turn philanthropic capital into economic mobility

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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.

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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.

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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.

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About Founders First CDC

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The opportunity: expand on proven DAF success

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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.

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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.

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Who should pursue this engagement

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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.

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Core mandate: generate qualified donor conversations

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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.

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·       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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What counts as a qualified appointment

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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.

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Experience and relationships required

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Engagement structure

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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.

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Milestones and success measures

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

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First 30 days

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

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By day 60

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

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By day 120

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

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By month six

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

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Performance dashboard

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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.

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How we will work together

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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.

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How to express interest

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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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Send to:

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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.