What are the responsibilities and job description for the Portfolio Manager, Institutional Investments position at The Commit Partnership?
Job Summary
The Philanthropic Investment (PI) Team plays an integral role in supporting the mission, vision, and impact of the Commit Partnership by cultivating, securing, and stewarding investors in the organization’s work. We work collaboratively across the organization and with external partners to secure an annual budget of at least $40M.
The Portfolio Manager, Institutional Investments will focus on securing a minimum of $8 million annually from local and national institutional funders, with a specific emphasis on one of the organization’s key programmatic areas: Early Childhood through Grade 12 (EC-12), Postsecondary Readiness, or Statewide Initiatives including Policy, Advocacy, and Policy Implementation. This role emphasizes lead generation, prospecting, and networking to cultivate relationships with new and existing investors.
The Portfolio Manager will work directly with programmatic teams to develop innovative strategies to connect with local and national funders, write compelling proposals, and serve as a key connector and content expert for their programmatic area. They will also ensure thoughtful co-created stewardship plans to foster deeper engagement and maximize contributions year over year.
Reporting to the Senior Director of Institutional Investments, this external-facing role plays a pivotal part in driving the sustainability and growth of their assigned programmatic area’s impact through collaboration, innovation, and relationship-building.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate should embody the following qualities:
This is a Dallas-based position with a minimum requirement to be in person at the Commit Partnership offices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and remote on Tuesdays and Fridays which requires a reliable internet connection.
Benefits
The Commit Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to hire individuals with backgrounds similar to that of the stakeholders they serve. As an organization that embraces equity and inclusion, all employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Commit does not sponsor visas of any kind.
About The Commit Partnership
Our Mission
We believe that through our actions, Dallas County – which educates 10% of Texas and 1% of the nation– can be an inclusive and prosperous region where economic opportunity is shared equitably. That’s why our true north goal is that by 2040 at least half of all 25-34-year-old residents of Dallas County, irrespective of race, will be provided the opportunity to earn a living wage.
To increase living wage attainment, we must equitably increase educational success aligned with high-demand jobs, maximizing the cumulative impact from early education all the way to college, career, and/or military readiness and accessing and completing a strong postsecondary education. Our staff aligns community stakeholders around this shared future roadmap – analyzing data to lift up strategic initiatives that improve policies, practices, and funding that grow our community’s capacity to serve every student more effectively.
Our Story
Founded in 2012, this partnership is the nation’s largest educational collective impact organization, composed of backbone staff and over 200 partners across Dallas County and the state of Texas working collaboratively to solve systemic education challenges. Our staff aligns community stakeholders around a shared future roadmap – analyzing data to lift up strategic initiatives that improve policies, practices, and funding that grow our community’s capacity to serve every student more effectively.
Together, we work to advocate for excellent and equitable public education that ensures all students – regardless of race, place, or socio-economic status – have the power to determine their future and earn a living wage. We do this work through several ventures including Early Matters Dallas, North Texas Tutoring Corps, Dallas County Promise, Texas College Bridge, Dallas Thrives, Commit’s Policy Team, the Texas Impact Network, and several coalitions.
True North Traits
Our True North Traits creates a mission-driven environment and champions us to do our best work each day.
Systemic Impact: You understand the barriers and lived experiences that our students face and are skilled at delivering systemic solutions at scale that address these needs. You achieve significant, sustainable results that increase equitable outcomes through your work (including the reallocation or improvement in public funding), and you recognize the difference between activity and impact.
Judgment: You exhibit a relentless “students first” focus by thinking strategically about what data must be collected, analyzed, visualized, and activated (and what steps must be taken, in what order) to cause resources to be reallocated and actions to be taken to systemically overcome the root causes hindering achievement of the Partnership's mission.
Communication: By listening to understand before seeking to be understood, you’re able to build trust and facilitate collaboration across lines of difference, recognizing that both are essential to our success. You are also able to find common ground with diverse stakeholders and can tailor the organization's message to different audiences as needed to influence meaningful change.
Innovation: You can create or meaningfully contribute to the design and execution of a systemic and transformational strategic plan to solve complex problems, often at scale, that improves organizational effectiveness and/or closes equity gaps for our students and families.
Equity and Inclusion: You intentionally create spaces where relevant stakeholders have a seat or voice at the table, ensuring that each person at the table's thoughts and perspectives are shared, valued by all others at the table, and reflected in our work. You're excited to help build and/or contribute to teams where everyone feels welcomed, respected, valued, and highly supported.
Joy: You recognize that people are central to our work, striking a balance between people and process, and you inspire others with your optimism and thirst for substantive change in service to the mission.
Integrity: You admit mistakes openly, share learnings widely, and elevate bad news quickly, also capable of making difficult decisions in all situations to ensure the success of the organization.
The Commit Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to hire individuals with backgrounds similar to that of the stakeholders they serve. As an organization that embraces equity and inclusion, all employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Commit does not sponsor visas of any kind.
The Philanthropic Investment (PI) Team plays an integral role in supporting the mission, vision, and impact of the Commit Partnership by cultivating, securing, and stewarding investors in the organization’s work. We work collaboratively across the organization and with external partners to secure an annual budget of at least $40M.
The Portfolio Manager, Institutional Investments will focus on securing a minimum of $8 million annually from local and national institutional funders, with a specific emphasis on one of the organization’s key programmatic areas: Early Childhood through Grade 12 (EC-12), Postsecondary Readiness, or Statewide Initiatives including Policy, Advocacy, and Policy Implementation. This role emphasizes lead generation, prospecting, and networking to cultivate relationships with new and existing investors.
The Portfolio Manager will work directly with programmatic teams to develop innovative strategies to connect with local and national funders, write compelling proposals, and serve as a key connector and content expert for their programmatic area. They will also ensure thoughtful co-created stewardship plans to foster deeper engagement and maximize contributions year over year.
Reporting to the Senior Director of Institutional Investments, this external-facing role plays a pivotal part in driving the sustainability and growth of their assigned programmatic area’s impact through collaboration, innovation, and relationship-building.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Fundraising and Investor Engagement
- Identify and generate leads for potential local funders through research, networking, and relationship-building efforts.
- Cultivate and manage relationships with institutional funders to secure at least $8 million annually in philanthropic investments.
- Develop and execute customized strategies to identify, solicit, and secure funding opportunities from local investors.
- Write compelling and tailored proposals that align investor priorities with organizational goals and programmatic needs.
- Act as a connector by leveraging personal and organizational networks to expand the organization’s reach and donor base.
- Stewardship and Portfolio Management
- Design and implement comprehensive stewardship plans for all investors within the assigned portfolio to ensure consistent engagement and relationship-building.
- Ensure funders are kept informed of the impact of their investments through high-quality reports, personalized updates, and strategic touchpoints.
- Proactively identify opportunities for funders to renew and increase their contributions year over year.
- Organizational Systems and Processes
- Utilize Salesforce for accurate data entry, dashboard insights, and reporting to track and analyze fundraising activities and outcomes.
- Leverage Teamwork (project management software) to manage tasks, timelines, and cross-departmental collaboration.
- Maintain efficient systems and processes to ensure seamless communication and transparency in fundraising operations.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration and Content Expertise
- Serve as a content expert for the assigned programmatic area (EC-12, Postsecondary, or Statewide Initiatives) to effectively communicate its goals and impact to funders.
- Partner with internal teams, including program, data, and communications teams, to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities and create funder-facing materials.
- Act as a liaison between funders and program leads to facilitate effective communication and alignment.
- Support cross-departmental efforts to meet organizational fundraising goals and objectives.
- Strategy, Innovation, and Networking
- Contribute to the development and execution of innovative fundraising strategies tailored to local funders.
- Stay informed on trends in local philanthropy to inform creative approaches and best practices.
- Represent the organization at external events and networking opportunities to expand visibility and donor engagement.
- Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in institutional fundraising, grant writing, or philanthropy, preferably within a mission-aligned organization.
- Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts from institutional funders.
- Experience with Salesforce Nonprofit Marketing Cloud with the knowledge, understanding, and ability to execute moves management
- Experience working in an education-focused nonprofit or organization
- Experience as a classroom teacher
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and stewardship materials.
- Strong relationship-building and networking skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage new and existing funders.
- Highly organized with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and accountability and to be a team player.
- Ability to develop and follow through on creative and effective solicitation strategies and to motivate and generate enthusiasm for them among team members.
- Ability to create and deliver highly professional, compelling presentations to investors and facilitate investor meetings.
- Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and data management tools.
- Familiarity with project management software such as Teamwork.
- Strategic thinker with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset.
- Familiarity with philanthropic trends, particularly in education, social impact, or public policy sectors.
To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate should embody the following qualities:
- Relationship-Driven: Passionate about building and nurturing relationships both within the organization and externally with investors, partners, and other stakeholders. Understand that relationships are the foundation of our work.
- Data-Obsessed: Demonstrated ability to analyze and communicate outcomes and impact with a focus on measurable results. You thrive on using data to guide decisions and demonstrate progress.
- Customer Service Mindset: Committed to providing a high level of service to investors, partners, and internal stakeholders, with a focus on ensuring they feel supported, valued, and informed.
- Proactive, Entrepreneurial, & Innovative: A self-starter with the ability to take initiative, manage multiple projects, and identify new opportunities for engagement and growth. Embraces innovation, is not afraid to think outside the box, and has an entrepreneurial mindset focused on advancing the mission.
- Collaborative & Team-Oriented: Operate with a team-first mindset, bringing your individual strengths to the table while recognizing the importance of collective success.
- Meticulous About Processes & Systems: Detail-oriented, with a strong commitment to maintaining organized systems, accurate data, and efficient workflows.
- Commitment to Learning: Continually strives to learn and grow both in terms of professional skills and understanding of the educational landscape and Commit’s work, remaining open to new ideas and feedback.
- Impact-Focused Communicator: Obsessed with proactively communicating to stakeholders and able to distill complex information into compelling, data-driven narratives that communicate impact and engage stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to read and write in Standard American English.
- Ability to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate need.
- Ability to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
- Ability to describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
- Mission-driven and passionate about advancing educational equity and systemic change.
- Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Results-oriented with a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
- Ability to interact with people of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.
- Ability to listen perceptively and convey awareness.
- Ability to interact diplomatically with the public.
- Ability to work as part of a team and in a team environment.
- Ability to maintain level-headedness in the face of resistance.
This is a Dallas-based position with a minimum requirement to be in person at the Commit Partnership offices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and remote on Tuesdays and Fridays which requires a reliable internet connection.
Benefits
- Basic life and AD&D insurance provided
- Professional Development
- Hybrid work environment
- 8 paid holidays
- Flexible PTO
- Volunteer hours
- Voting hours
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Health savings account
- Flexible spending account
- Paid maternity and paternity leave
- And More!
The Commit Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to hire individuals with backgrounds similar to that of the stakeholders they serve. As an organization that embraces equity and inclusion, all employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Commit does not sponsor visas of any kind.
About The Commit Partnership
Our Mission
We believe that through our actions, Dallas County – which educates 10% of Texas and 1% of the nation– can be an inclusive and prosperous region where economic opportunity is shared equitably. That’s why our true north goal is that by 2040 at least half of all 25-34-year-old residents of Dallas County, irrespective of race, will be provided the opportunity to earn a living wage.
To increase living wage attainment, we must equitably increase educational success aligned with high-demand jobs, maximizing the cumulative impact from early education all the way to college, career, and/or military readiness and accessing and completing a strong postsecondary education. Our staff aligns community stakeholders around this shared future roadmap – analyzing data to lift up strategic initiatives that improve policies, practices, and funding that grow our community’s capacity to serve every student more effectively.
Our Story
Founded in 2012, this partnership is the nation’s largest educational collective impact organization, composed of backbone staff and over 200 partners across Dallas County and the state of Texas working collaboratively to solve systemic education challenges. Our staff aligns community stakeholders around a shared future roadmap – analyzing data to lift up strategic initiatives that improve policies, practices, and funding that grow our community’s capacity to serve every student more effectively.
Together, we work to advocate for excellent and equitable public education that ensures all students – regardless of race, place, or socio-economic status – have the power to determine their future and earn a living wage. We do this work through several ventures including Early Matters Dallas, North Texas Tutoring Corps, Dallas County Promise, Texas College Bridge, Dallas Thrives, Commit’s Policy Team, the Texas Impact Network, and several coalitions.
True North Traits
Our True North Traits creates a mission-driven environment and champions us to do our best work each day.
Systemic Impact: You understand the barriers and lived experiences that our students face and are skilled at delivering systemic solutions at scale that address these needs. You achieve significant, sustainable results that increase equitable outcomes through your work (including the reallocation or improvement in public funding), and you recognize the difference between activity and impact.
Judgment: You exhibit a relentless “students first” focus by thinking strategically about what data must be collected, analyzed, visualized, and activated (and what steps must be taken, in what order) to cause resources to be reallocated and actions to be taken to systemically overcome the root causes hindering achievement of the Partnership's mission.
Communication: By listening to understand before seeking to be understood, you’re able to build trust and facilitate collaboration across lines of difference, recognizing that both are essential to our success. You are also able to find common ground with diverse stakeholders and can tailor the organization's message to different audiences as needed to influence meaningful change.
Innovation: You can create or meaningfully contribute to the design and execution of a systemic and transformational strategic plan to solve complex problems, often at scale, that improves organizational effectiveness and/or closes equity gaps for our students and families.
Equity and Inclusion: You intentionally create spaces where relevant stakeholders have a seat or voice at the table, ensuring that each person at the table's thoughts and perspectives are shared, valued by all others at the table, and reflected in our work. You're excited to help build and/or contribute to teams where everyone feels welcomed, respected, valued, and highly supported.
Joy: You recognize that people are central to our work, striking a balance between people and process, and you inspire others with your optimism and thirst for substantive change in service to the mission.
Integrity: You admit mistakes openly, share learnings widely, and elevate bad news quickly, also capable of making difficult decisions in all situations to ensure the success of the organization.
The Commit Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to hire individuals with backgrounds similar to that of the stakeholders they serve. As an organization that embraces equity and inclusion, all employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Commit does not sponsor visas of any kind.
Salary : $8 - $40
