Career Opportunities at The Connecticut Forum:
- Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations
- Assistant Director, Individual Philanthropy
Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations
The Connecticut Forum seeks a dynamic, experienced, and accomplished professional to be considered for the full-time position of Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations.
Job Description
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, manages all corporate and foundation sponsorship and philanthropy, including corporate sponsorships and gifts, corporate foundation awards, and private foundation awards, to advance the organization’s mission and strategic goals, and support revenue of more than $1 million raised annually. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, Individual Philanthropy, and The Connecticut Forum Board of Directors, alongside other Forum colleagues, this position is responsible for all aspects of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of institutional funders. The Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, supports and advises the Executive Director and Board on critical aspects of engagement with corporations and foundations, with specific responsibility to craft and execute the organization’s annual development plan for institutional funders.
Key Responsibilities
- Cultivates and sustains relationships with prospective and current corporate sponsors in partnership with the Executive Director and the Forum’s Board.
- Solicits corporations for donations and sponsorships.
- Directs all activities to realize the corporate sponsorship goals of the development plan.
- Directs the delivery of corporate sponsorship benefits including pre-Forum dinners and receptions.
- Cultivates relationships with a variety of foundation funders, including corporate, community, private, and family foundations, in partnership with the Executive Director and the Forum’s Board.’
- Sustains relationships with key contacts at all levels of organizations.
- Drives the research, preparation, and timely and complete submission of foundation applications and reports, to meet grantor requirements.
- Manages or co-manages interns or part-time staff supporting the Development team.
- Supports donor recordkeeping and ensures that donor records are current and accurate.
- Plans and executes special projects to advance Strategic Plan initiatives and pursue new fundraising opportunities as they arise to solidify and diversify The Forum’s revenue streams.
- Maintains records of funder communications, solicitations, reporting, gift acknowledgement, event attendance and more in Salesforce/Patron Manager.
- Represents The Forum at Forum events and other events and activities across the region.
- Provides staff support to the Board’s Fund Development Work Group.
Qualifications
- 5+ years fundraising experience (or equivalent).
- Bachelor’s Degree or higher preferred.
- Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact and communicate with a diverse group of constituents.
- Passion for The Connecticut Forum mission.
- Strong interest in engaging the Greater Hartford community – businesses, schools, people, and organizations.
- Proven ability to build donor relationships and meet fundraising goals.
- Proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
- Knowledge of Salesforce, Patron Manager or another CRM a plus.
How To Apply
- Candidates should send a resume, as well as a cover letter describing how their qualifications and experience match the development needs and mission of The Connecticut Forum—to Mana Zarinejad at [email protected].
- The Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, position is full-time and based in Hartford, Connecticut, with the ability to work a hybrid arrangement.
- The Connecticut Forum offers a comprehensive benefits package. The salary is competitive and considers applicant’s qualifications, within the framework of the organization’s annual operating budget, and in the approximate range of $70,000-$80,000.
- The Connecticut Forum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. In addition to federal law requirements, The Connecticut Forum complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
Assistant Director, Individual Philanthropy
The Connecticut Forum seeks a dynamic, experienced, and accomplished professional to be considered for the full-time position of Assistant Director, Individual Philanthropy.
Job Description
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, Individual Philanthropy, manages all individual contributions, direct mail, legacy giving and other individual giving to advance the organization’s mission and strategic goals, and support revenue of more than $1 million raised annually. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, and The Connecticut Forum Board of Directors, alongside other Forum colleagues, this position is responsible for all aspects of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual donors. The Assistant Director, Individual Philanthropy, supports and advises the Executive Director and Board on critical aspects of donor engagement, with specific responsibility to craft and execute the organization’s annual development plan for individual donors, including major gifts, direct mail, legacy giving and more.
Key Responsibilities
- Cultivates and sustains relationships with prospective and current individual supporters in partnership with the Executive Director and the Forum’s Board.
- Solicits individuals for donations and sponsorships.
- Directs all activities to realize the individual development and direct mail goals of the development plan.
- Directs the delivery of individual giving benefits including pre-Forum dinners and receptions.
- Drives the research, preparation, and timely and complete submission of proposals and reports to meet individual donors’ requirements.
- Cultivates and sustains relationships with individual Forum constituents, including donors, Board members, and subscribers.
- Directs all activities to realize the goals of major giving and Patrons of The Forum annual giving campaigns.
- Directs all activities related to direct mail solicitations, including preparation of the letter, publication and mailings.
- Plans and implements legacy bequest initiatives.
- Manages or co-manages interns or part-time staff supporting the Development team.
- Supports donor recordkeeping and ensures that donor records are current and accurate.
- Plans and executes special projects to advance Strategic Plan initiatives and pursue new fundraising opportunities as they arise to solidify and diversify The Forum’s revenue streams.
- Maintains records of donor communications, solicitations, reporting, gift acknowledgement, event attendance and more in Salesforce/Patron Manager.
- Represents The Forum at Forum events and other events and activities across the region.
- Provides staff support to the Board’s Fund Development Work Group.
Qualifications
- 5+ years fundraising experience (or equivalent).
- Bachelor’s Degree or higher preferred.
- Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact and communicate with a diverse group of constituents.
- Passion for The Connecticut Forum mission.
- Strong interest in engaging the Greater Hartford community – businesses, schools, people, and organizations.
- Proven ability to build donor relationships and meet fundraising goals.
- Proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
- Knowledge of Salesforce, Patron Manager or another CRM a plus.
How To Apply
- Candidates should send a resume, as well as a cover letter describing how their qualifications and experience match the development needs and mission of The Connecticut Forum—to Mana Zarinejad at [email protected].
- The Assistant Director, Individual Philanthropy, position is full-time and based in Hartford, Connecticut, with the ability to work a hybrid arrangement.
- The Connecticut Forum offers a comprehensive benefits package. The salary is competitive and considers applicant’s qualifications, within the framework of the organization’s annual operating budget, and in the approximate range of $70,000-$80,000.
- The Connecticut Forum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. In addition to federal law requirements, The Connecticut Forum complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
About The Connecticut Forum
The Connecticut Forum is a nationally recognized, one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization serving Connecticut and beyond. Co-founded in 1992 by Doris and Richard Sugarman, The Forum’s mission is to encourage the free and active exchange of ideas in forums that inform, challenge, entertain, inspire, and build bridges among all people and organizations in our community.
The Forum fulfills its mission by presenting large scale, high profile, issue-focused in-person panel discussions and events among renowned experts and celebrities, and through outreach programs serving youth and the community. In addition to its core programming, The Forum shares its expertise with the community by providing leadership, resources, and consultation services to community organizations, nonprofits, corporations, schools, and others. The 2023-2024 season features: An Evening with Ken Burns in Conversation with Audie Cornish; Liz Cheney: On Defending Democracy and a Path Forward; Being Human in an Age of AI: Debating Advances and Ethics; and Chefs! Top Chefs Dish on Food, Flavor and Culture featuring Marcus Samuelsson and Gail Simmons.