Building with Books

About Building with Books: BwB is a not-for-profit organization that engages primarily urban youth through after-school programs as well as in their classrooms. BwB integrates global education presentations into social studies classes and BwB’s after-school programs enable students to perform extraordinary community service projects in the U.S. while helping to build schools in developing countries around the world.



BwB has programs in schools in New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois and California. During the past year, BwB students in the U.S. have contributed over 85,000 hours of service, working with elders, the homeless and young children. 97% of the high school students in the U.S. that BwB has worked with over the last four years have gone on to college.



Since its founding in 1991 BwB has built schools in remote villages of developing countries on four continents. We have just completed construction of our 200th school. More than 100,000 children and parents have now attended the schools that BwB has built around the world!



Position Summary: BwB is seeking a development professional with excellent communication skills and demonstrated success in securing funding from foundations and government agencies to meet an aggressive three-year plan. The Director of Foundation & Government Relations will develop, implement and monitor all fundraising strategies and activities for the organization focusing on projects related to fundraising from foundations and government agencies.



Primary Purpose and Function:

· Create and manage growth in the area of foundation and government relations

· Conduct targeted research on and outreach to potential foundation and government agency support

· Draft letters of inquiry, proposals, general correspondence, acknowledgements and reports for foundation and government donors

· Formulate budgets to support programs and proposals

· Schedule or attend meetings with appropriate Development, Program and Administrative staff regarding development and proposal process

· Maintain calendar and tracking system of all grant related information



Key Responsibilities:

· Identify and prioritize private foundations and government agencies likely to support BwB’s mission

· Cultivate long-term relationships with foundations, government agencies, and other institutional officers who are responsible for making funding decisions to ensure continued funding

· Prepare and submit sophisticated proposals and financial plans for foundation and government grants

· Work closely with the regional Development Directors, COO and CEO to strategize concerning larger, multi-year institutional support

· Create and maintain positive relationships with program staff and work with them to achieve development goals, including relationship management and reporting

· Provide accurate, timely reports to foundations and government agencies

Education/Experience:

· 5-7 years of successful experience securing funding from private foundations and government agencies

· Demonstrated success in the research, identification, analysis, solicitation and stewardship of grants

· Excellent writing, editing, verbal, interpersonal and group communication skills

· Knowledge of private foundation and government sector, including ways to identify foundations and government agencies interested in supporting the work of BwB

· Experience in cultivating relationships with private foundations and government agencies

· Experience in creating budgets for grant requests

· Able to work with minimal direction and supervision; independent and self-sufficient

· Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team environment



Start Date: Immediate



Location: Chicago, IL or other BwB regional office (see web site for locations)



To Apply:

Fax or email a letter of interest and resume (to include salary history) to:

Donnel Graham

Email: donnel.graham@buildingwithbooks.org



Building with Books is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing its employees with a work environment that is both challenging and rewarding. For additional information, please visit our website at www.buildingwithbooks.org