Manager of Foundation and Corporate Partners bei Urban Pathways

About Urban Pathways 

Since 1975, Urban Pathways has engaged New York City’s most vulnerable residents, people on the streets or in areas unfit for human habitation, “lighting the path home, one person at a time.” Urban Pathways is a catalyst for transformative change in the lives of unhoused adults, empowering them to discover their inherent strengths and abilities. We provide essential support and foster an environment where individuals can redefine their narratives and become their best selves. 

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions  

Reporting to the Chief Development and Communications Officer, the Manager, Foundation and Corporate Relations leads day-to-day engagement with philanthropic funding institutions. This role is responsible for identifying opportunities and collaborating on requests/reports for funding with all internal and external stakeholders. The Manager, Foundation and Corporate Relations, will develop and implement engagement strategies to cultivate relationships with corporate and foundation partners, unlocking new grants and sponsorship opportunities. This role is also responsible for crafting compelling proposals, managing complex internal communications across teams, and ensuring consistent results that meet deadlines and funder expectations while remaining highly competitive. This role requires strong relationship management skills, a proven track record in grant writing and reporting, and the ability to drive philanthropic growth. The Manager, Foundation and Corporate Relations will be an active listener and provide high quality customer service and respond by exhibiting cross-cultural awareness with the ability to promote and contribute to an equitable and inclusive anti-racist organizational culture and environment. 

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions 

• Corporate & Foundation Relationship Management (35%)
  • Cultivate and sustain meaningful relationships with existing and prospective corporate partners, leveraging a tailored and strategic engagement approach to drive long-term philanthropic support.
  • Seek opportunities for funder site visits, hands-on volunteer experiences, and interactive activities to strengthen engagement and build deeper connections.
  • Represent Urban Pathways in meetings with institutional funders, promoting the organization’s impact and vision. 
• Grant Writing, Proposal Development & Impact Reporting (35%)
  • Spearhead the creation of persuasive, high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and impact reports tailored to institutional funders, aligning with the organization's mission and funding priorities.
  • Work closely with executive and program staff to gather data and programmatic outcomes for proposals and ensure alignment with funder priorities.
  • Ensure timely submission of all proposals and reports, maintaining high standards of accuracy, clarity, and a focus on meeting funder requirements.
  • Prepare timely and accurate reports for funders, demonstrating program outcomes and financial accountability.

• Prospect Research & Strategy (15%)
  • Proactively identify and research new institutional funders to expand the pipeline of funding opportunities.
  • Develop detailed funder profiles and engagement strategies for prospective foundations and corporations.
    
    
• Cross-Team Collaboration and Internal Communication (15%)
• Collaborate with the executive and senior team members, program directors, and other stakeholders to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities. 
• Create briefing materials and talking points for funder meetings and events.
• Serve as a liaison across teams to ensure seamless communication and coordination.

Community Relations 

• Attend local events, networking functions, and community meetings to promote the organization’s mission.
• Identify strategic partnerships that align with the organization’s fundraising goals. 
• Serve as an ambassador, strengthening the organization’s visibility and reputation among stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships internally, and with funders and other community partners.

Communication 

• Participates in staff meetings, training sessions, and supervisory meetings as required.
• Promptly responds to all communications, including telephone calls, emails, and other oral or written inquiries.

Performs all other duties as assigned and as required. 

Qualifications, Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in grant writing, fundraising, or foundation relations.

Skills & Competencies 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to compose compelling narratives in support of funding requests and reports.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with an ability to manage deadlines, multiple projects, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfort with understanding and using data in assessing program outcomes, including processing and cleanup of information extracted from databases.
• Ability to manage relationships with tact and discretion, a strong commitment to maintaining confidentiality, extraordinary judgment.
• Skilled in effectively managing multiple diverse projects and details simultaneously, ensuring organization, accuracy, and timely execution.
• Must be resourceful, self-motivated, and proactive.

Capabilities 

• Occasional evening work may be required. 
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, push, pull, lift (up to 25 lbs.).
• Desire to perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Comfortable with using public transportation to travel to and from various programs sites.