About Understood

Understood is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference. We raise awareness of the challenges and strengths of people who learn and think differently. Our resources help people navigate challenges, gain confidence, and find support and community so they can thrive. 

Having a shared commitment to our values is a key factor in any hire we make. We have five core values: 

1. Continuously learn.
2. Act with intention.
3. Champion difference.
4. Inspire change.
5. Grow together. 

Come be part of an organization with an entrepreneurial spirit that’s helping to shape the world for difference. Together, we can build a world where everyone can reach their full potential. 

To learn more about Understood, please visit: www.understood.org.

Who you are 

To grow and accelerate our mission and impact, we are hiring a Vice President of Advancement, reporting to the Co-President and Chief Marketing Officer.

This role will drive the overall long-term advancement vision and strategies that will elevate awareness of Understood, cultivate significant relationships, and yield material progress that enables the delivery of our mission. This leader will oversee a team that includes Individual Giving, Institutional Giving, Corporate Giving/Partnerships, and Public Partnerships. This leader must be fluent in the fundamentals of each area, while focusing on capacity building and delivering value beyond the day-to-day work.

We’re seeking a believer in the power of technology and its ability to change lives; someone eager to leverage their skills to advance important efforts that shape the world for difference so every individual can thrive. You should be excited by challenges that have yet to be solved, enjoy the discomfort of the unknown, and partner with like-minded people to address critical problems that impact nearly everyone. If you have a desire to join a nonprofit that operates as a business, is agnostic to how the impact is delivered, and is innately creative in how we work with, through, and alongside others to deliver our mission, then we encourage you to apply within.  

This is a hybrid opportunity, which requires three (3) days per week in our NYC office.

What you’ll do

• Lead and cultivate the advancement function, including Corporate Partnerships/Giving, Individual Giving, Institutional Giving, and Public Partnerships
• Set long-term vision and annual goals for Advancement Function and secure alignment with Board and Leadership Team
• Deliver on annual goals for Advancement, including, but not limited to dollars raised, impact delivered, awareness increased, etc. 
• Drive the development of advancement campaigns, novel offerings, and new opportunities that link the tactical work to the overall vision
• Identify, prioritize, and position our impactful programming to potential funders, donors, and other external audiences to secure transformational funding
• Develop and empower the team leading and enabling advancement efforts
• Be a key stakeholder to data and technology teams to build out Advancement related technologies and workflows
• Partner with the People Team to instill a culture of philanthropy in the organization
• Participate in organizational-level strategy and planning efforts
• Develop and implement new strategies for donor generation in our target segments
• Drive performance through a focus on fundraising outcomes, including donor generation, donor conversion, and prospect engagement
• Support the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of current and prospective funding sources
• Represent the Understood at external events and conferences to promote the organization and foster strategic partnerships

Must-haves

• 10+ years in development, advancement, and fundraising
• Expertise in business development and partnership cultivation across multiple sectors and verticals
• Track record of leadership with high-performing teams
• Demonstrated expertise with multi-year and multifaceted partnerships
• Qualities of an entrepreneur who can operate and scale effectively in a high growth and cross-functional environment to take products from zero to one
• Committed to embodying and being a steward of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Familiarity with working in an collaborative and agile environment
• Ability to communicate ideas and information, confidently, effectively and compellingly to both internal and external stakeholders

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor’s Degree philanthropic studies, fund-raising, or a related field
• Previous work in both the nonprofit and for-profit organizations
• Track record of transformational leadership that elevates next-level team members
• Fluency in modern marketing strategies and tactics
• Understanding of relevant tools, technologies and the value of data
• Strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines

The base salary range for this role is minimum $250,000 - $300,000 maximum, depending on years of experience and qualifications. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports wellness for our team members and their families. You can learn more about our benefits and offerings.

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Understood encourages individuals of all learning styles and ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those whose life experiences may include the challenge of access due to a disability, to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to supporting this work.

Understood is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability (where the applicant or employee is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation), any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, stalking, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law or that of persons with whom that individual associates, or any other legally protected characteristics.

For additional information on learning and thinking differences, including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, executive function challenges, nonverbal learning disabilities, processing issues, and more, please visit www.understood.org.

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