Type: Full-time Exempt, Hybrid/Remote
Expected Salary Range: $45,000-$60,000 DOE, plus benefits
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Preference is for hybrid candidates near West Central Illinois (Galesburg /Monmouth) or Southern Wisconsin (Madison/Platteville). Qualified remote candidates will also be considered in RSC’s Regional Hub partner locations.
Travel: This role may include up to 25% travel to RSC partner and office locations.
RSC Mission:
Building sustainable rural communities through a keen focus on place, teachers, and philanthropy.
About RSC:
Launched in 2015, the Rural Schools Collaborative (RSC) is emerging as a national leader in supporting rural school communities and encouraging the development of teacher-leaders. RSC believes a healthy American future must include a thriving rural landscape, and that public schools will be at the forefront of this effort.
Our work is supported by a volunteer Board of Directors and rural advocates in 14 Regional Hubs across the United States. Regional Hubs are essential to RSC’s work, and it is through the Hubs that RSC conducts its key programs: Grants in Place, Rural Teacher Corps, I Am A Rural Teacher, and Impact Philanthropy. RSC takes a collaborative, place-responsive, and asset-based approach to all of our work.
Position Description:
We are seeking visionary, authentic candidates who aspire to a leadership role in rural development. This role will identify and support incoming grants and contributions to RSC with a keen focus on expanding capacity and resources for RSC programs and our Regional Hub Partners. This role will work collaboratively with all RSC team members, including the Operations & Development Manager who oversees the Grants in Place awards.
Day-to-day activities may include prospective donor and grants research, program impact reporting and communications, process improvement and information management, program support, partner communications, advising on and implementing strategic fundraising initiatives, and special projects with the Executive Director.
Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; this is a core value of RSC.
Essential Duties:
- Identifying prospective fundraising opportunities for RSC’s programs and partners (at the local, regional, and national levels)
- Collaborating with the Executive Director on grant writing and donor development
- Developing project work plans and reporting on deliverables and deadlines
- Building positive, collaborative, and trusting relationships with staff and partners
- Serving as lead for potential high-profile national grants
- Researching, recommending, and supporting best practices on internal information management (gift/grant tracking, etc.)
- Collaborating with RSC team to identify and transition to a new donor database
- Designing and leading philanthropic storytelling, with a knack for demonstrating impact
Required Skills:
- Energetic, creative, and charismatic, with strong leadership qualities
- Project management abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Financial acumen, budget development & tracking
- Independently directed and proactive communicator
- Interest in rural education advocacy
- Understanding of non-profit fundraising principles
- Humble, thoughtful, and a willing to learn from others
- Ability to work productively and efficiently in a self-directed, remote capacity
- A high degree of technical savvy, particularly in the following platforms: Google Suite (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meets, Jamboard, etc.), Adobe Acrobate, website CMSl, Sack, Zoomc, Microsoft Teams
Preferred Experience:
- 5-7+ years experience in nonprofits, education, or rural development
- Experience and interest in rural contexts
- Demonstrated experience in rural development, K-12, higher ed, or philanthropy
- Understanding of place-based principles and strategies
Benefits
- Unlimited/Flexible PTO
- 10 Personal / Sick Days
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Health benefit reimbursement QSEHRA plan
- 3% employer retirement match via SIMPLE IRA plan
- Employer-paid Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
- Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance, & Short-term Disability Insurance
How to Apply:
Not sure you’re a perfect fit, but passionate about sustainable rural communities? We want to hear from you.
Please send a letter of interest and resume to RSC Executive Director, [email protected].
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a candidate is identified. Target start date is negotiable, preferably no later than May 1.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this position. Employees will perform other job-related duties in line with typical nonprofit work. All duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
RSC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RSC are based upon organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Those applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should contact a management representative.