Chief External Affairs Officer

@ Common Future
Common Futurecommonfuture.com

Chief External Affairs Officer

Posted 1 week ago

About the job

Common Future works to close the racial wealth gap by incubating initiatives, influencing sectors, and partnering with leaders. As a women-led, multiracial organization, we prioritize equity, innovation, and employee well-being, supporting solutions for systemic change.

Requirements

  • 12+ years in fundraising or development
  • Experience with major donor relationships
  • Strong external communication skills
  • Passion for racial and economic justice
  • Ability to develop multi-channel revenue strategies

Qualifications

  • Proven success in securing large gifts
  • Leadership in organizational change
  • Team management experience
  • Exceptional relationship-building skills
  • Strategic thinking and adaptability

Full job description

Overview

Common Future works to close the racial wealth gap. Our current economic system does not work
for everyone. Generations of Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color
have been and are currently intentionally locked out of wealth and power, holding us all back.

Founded in 2001, Common Future is building a future where all people—no matter their race and
class—have power, choice, and ownership over the economy.

As a women-led, multiracial organization, our diverse team of strategists, community organizers,
financial activists, and policy enthusiasts provides capital, operational support, and strategic
partnership to budding solutions addressing racial and economic injustice. To advance racial and
economic equity, Common Future incubates, co-creates, and funds field-defining initiatives and
influences key sectors. We collaborate with leaders who have the imagination and courage to
rethink our economy. We bring initiatives that model how to build wealth and power in excluded
communities to life.

Our culture values include centering equity, being the communities we serve, embracing
experimentation, reimagining what’s broken, collectively solving problems, and modeling a new
way of working. We strive to be an innovator that prioritizes the well-being of our employees.
Read more about us at commonfuture.co.

Purpose 

Common Future is seeking a Chief External Affairs Officer to serve as a senior executive leader responsible for building and sustaining the financial foundation and brand reputation that makes our mission possible. This is a pivotal role at a pivotal moment: as the landscape for equity-focused organizations grows increasingly complex and the need for durable, flexible funding becomes more urgent, Common Future needs a bold, relationship-driven leader who can match the ambition of our programmatic work with an equally ambitious funding and communications strategy. The Chief External Affairs Officer will own Common Future's revenue strategy across institutional philanthropy, individual donors, capital raising, and emerging revenue streams, developing a business model that supports both organizational sustainability and economic independence. 

Success in the role includes owning a $10M total annual fundraising goal, which includes $6 - 7M in operations and $3M in investment capital. The CEAO will hold a personal portfolio of funder and investor relationships, including high-net-worth and big-bet philanthropic prospects, and will be an active and visible presence in the field, traveling to conferences and convenings (20-25% time) to build new relationships and deepen existing ones.

In addition, the Chief External Affairs Officer will steward Common Future's brand and strategic communications, including providing guidance to the team managing public relations and cross-platform media. This senior leader will remain attentive to the external environment and develop strategies to support the positioning of the Co-CEOs, our organizational impact, and our collective thought leadership. 

As a member of Common Future's Executive Leadership Team, the Chief External Affairs Officer will partner closely with the programmatic team leads on revenue strategy, ensuring that fundraising is tightly integrated with programmatic priorities, and will work in a matrixed fashion across the Impact Investments, Initiatives, and Finance teams. They will oversee Fund Development and Strategic Communications, and will set the tone for a culture of excellence, creativity, and deep relationship-building in service of an equitable economy. 


Position Responsibilities

Revenue Strategy and Business Model (30%)

  • Develop, own, and implement a comprehensive revenue strategy across institutional philanthropy, individual donors, high-net-worth giving, capital raising, and online/digital fundraising channels.
  • In close partnership with the Co-CEOs, own a $10M total annual fundraising goal which includes $6 - 7M in operations and $3M in investment capital.
  • Assess existing strategy and infrastructure quickly, identify what is working, and build forward without waiting for perfect conditions.
  • Lead and steward Common Future's business model with a cross-organizational lens, identifying opportunities to diversify and strengthen revenue streams, increase unrestricted and flexible funding, and build long-term financial sustainability and economic independence. 
  • Partner with programmatic team leads and the CFOO to align fundraising strategy with programmatic priorities, ensuring that restricted and unrestricted funding opportunities are pursued in ways that serve organizational strategy and budgetary allocations.
  • Collaborate across teams to align and integrate revenue strategies organization-wide, including: a) capital raising with Impact Investments and our affiliate organization, Community Credit Lab (CCL); b) restricted grant fundraising with our programs team; c) Finance; and d) digital fundraising.
  • Track, analyze, and report fundraising performance to the Co-CEOs, Executive Leadership Team, and Board. 
    • Funder and Investor Relationship Management (20%)

  • Generate, hold, and actively steward a personal portfolio of institutional funders, high-net-worth individuals, and capital investors, with a particular focus on big-bet and transformational giving opportunities.
  • Travel to conferences, convenings, and in-person engagements at least 2 - 3 times per quarter to build and deepen funder and investor relationships and represent Common Future externally.
  • Develop and lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for current and prospective funders across all giving levels, applying an equity lens to how capital is pursued, including prioritizing funders aligned with Common Future's values, challenging extractive funding dynamics, and modeling the kind of capital relationships the organization advocates for in the broader ecosystem.
  • Identify and pursue new philanthropic, corporate, and capital sources aligned with Common Future's mission, including donor-advised funds, national donor circles, and emerging giving vehicles.
  • Support and participate in funder diligence and pre-diligence processes for the CCL Fund and other capital-raising efforts in coordination with the Impact Investments team. 
    • Brand, Positioning, and External Relations (20%) 

  • Steward and strengthen Common Future's brand, ensuring it is compelling, consistent, and resonant across platforms and external audiences including funders, partners, media, and the broader field.
  • Ensure that Common Future's narrative and brand strategy is tightly integrated with fundraising efforts, creating a coherent and compelling story for diverse audiences.
  • Work collaboratively with communications and programmatic staff to produce high-quality external-facing materials including proposals, impact reports, one-pagers, and case stories, ensuring ongoing, timely, and strategic placement.
  • Ensure high-quality execution of communications across all organizational channels, checking for internal alignment with the strategic plan and theory of change 
    • Team Management and Leadership (20%)

  • Directly manage the Fund Development and Strategic Communication teams, with accountability for team performance, professional development, and budget.
  • Rapidly assess team capacity, individual development needs, and systems gaps to build a path forward.
  • Hold a strong vision for the Fund Development team's work as it builds toward achieving organizational revenue goals, and effectively cultivate a culture of excellence, creativity, and accountability.
  • Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and support to direct reports, including on grant writing, funder engagement, pipeline and portfolio management, and systems and operations. 
  • Identify and create opportunities to develop the professional expertise of Fund Development team members.
  • Oversee fiscal management of the Fund Development team budget in coordination with the Finance team.
    • Executive Leadership and Cross-Organizational Collaboration (10%)

  • Serve as a member of Common Future's Executive Leadership Team (ELT), partnering with the Co-CEOs and peer executives to shape organizational strategy, culture, and financial sustainability - monitoring progress toward goals, cultivating external relationships, championing change management, and fostering leadership development and succession planning.
  • Make sound decisions with available information and course-correct quickly as new information emerges.
  • Engage as a visible, collaborative leader in both virtual and in-person settings, including supporting the planning and facilitation of Common Future team retreats and convenings.
  • Provide relevant guidance and thought partnership on an ad-hoc basis to team members across the organization, particularly on revenue positioning and external communications.
  • Maintain open communication with the ELT to ensure cross-functional collaboration and shared alignment on organizational priorities. 

    • Desired Qualifications

    • 12+ years of experience in fundraising, development, or a related field, with demonstrated success raising significant philanthropic and/or investment capital at an executive level.
    • Proven track record of building and closing a portfolio of major donor, institutional funder, and/or impact investor relationships, including experience with transformational and big-bet gifts.
    • Strong brand instincts and experience in organizational positioning, external communications, and supporting executive visibility.
    • Deep understanding of and passion for racial and economic justice, with a clear perspective on how philanthropic and investment capital can be a tool for systems change.
    • Demonstrated experience developing and executing a multi-channel revenue strategy - spanning foundation grants, individual giving, high-net-worth cultivation, digital fundraising, and/or capital raising.
    • Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change and ambiguity, including building or rebuilding systems, strategy, and team culture, without losing momentum on revenue goals.
    • Experience managing and developing teams at varying levels of seniority and expertise, with a high standard of excellence and accountability.
    • Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage authentically with a diverse range of stakeholders, from community members to major institutional funders and high-net-worth individuals.
    • Willingness and capacity to travel 2 - 3 times per quarter for conferences, convenings, and in-person funder engagement, with any accommodations considered.
    • Demonstrated ability to apply an equity lens to how capital is pursued, what kinds of funders and investors are cultivated, and how funder relationships are built and maintained, modeling the values Common Future advances externally.
    • Exceptional strategic thinking skills, with a high level of intellectual curiosity, a builder and rebuilder mentality, and comfort operating in complex and ambiguous environments.
    • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
    • Entrepreneurial style, with enthusiasm for working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

    Competencies for All Common Future Team Members

    • Understands the Work and Organization 
    • Project Management/Planning
    • Relationship Building
    • Strong Communication
    • Strategic Thinking
    • Practices Emotional Intelligence 

    Our Commitment

    As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Common Future does not discriminate against applicants or employees due to their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical ability, hairstyle, previous incarceration, or length of time spent unemployed. As an organization, we are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve.

    Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

    Benefits

    Common Future offers a work environment that is committed to the wellbeing and support of our employees. We embrace a human-centered approach to our practices and policies. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes: 

    •Ongoing 4 day work week, Monday - Thursday, 32-hour workweek, 80% time at 100% pay

    •Remote and flexible work options

    •20 days of PTO

    •18 paid holidays*, including a week off in the Spring and Winter

    •Fully paid medical, dental, vision for employees. Dependents covered at 75%

    •Access to a flexible spending account (FSA) for medical and dependent expenses

    •Paid long-term disability and life insurance

    •16-week paid parental leave

    •$500 annual professional development stipend

    •$500 monthly caregiver stipend

    •Immediately vested 4% 403b retirement plan contribution after 90 days

    •$800 one-time home office set up stipend for new employees

    •$150 per month coworking, home office, and cell phone stipend

    •Annual in-person retreat, and more! 

    *Holidays that fall on Fridays are not rescheduled to another day.

    Notes

    Applications will be evaluated as they arrive and the position will remain open until filled.

    Due to the high volume of applications, our hiring team is not able to field requests for feedback or informational interviews sent via LinkedIn or email. If you are a good match for the role, our team will reach out to you directly. 

    Show full description

    Similar jobs in Columbus, OH

    See all Chief External Affairs Officer jobs