Partner, Pathways Fund

New Profit Inc.
Cambridge, Massachusetts

In 1998, founding partner Vanessa Kirsch brought together a team of leaders from the business and nonprofit sectors to explore new approaches for supporting nonprofit organizations. This group formed New Profit Inc., a nonprofit venture philanthropy fund that exists to help social entrepreneurs and their organizations dramatically improve opportunities for children, families, and communities.

To achieve this mission, New Profit provides multi-year grants and strategic support to social entrepreneur-led nonprofit organizations with the potential to create significant, long-term impact on the lives of low-income Americans by tackling persistent social problems in education, workforce development, public health, and other areas. With the support of individual philanthropists and its signature partner, Monitor Group, New Profit has committed more than $65 million in financial and strategic resources to 27 organizations, including such groundbreaking organizations as Teach For America, Year Up, and Project HEALTH.

New Profit also pursues a set of strategies and initiatives designed to help build an environment in which all innovative organizations may achieve significantly greater impact on the problems they aspire to solve. These initiatives, including America Forward and the Gathering of Leaders, work beyond the bounds of individual organizations to more effectively allocate public and private resources for social problem solving.

Focused on continuing to bring transformational ideas and organizations to scale, New Profit seeks demonstrated, mission-driven collaborators and problem-solvers to support a portfolio of bold organizations committed to social change.

PATHWAYS FUND

The Pathways Fund, launched by New Profit Inc. in our capacity as a Social Innovation Fund intermediary organization, is dedicated to serving low-income youth transitioning from high-school to post-secondary education and productive employment. The Pathways Fund will grant dollars and provide necessary support to scale five to six of our nation’s most promising social innovations focused on youth development. Building upon the tens of thousands of young people currently supported by these organizations, the Pathways Fund will provide them with an opportunity to build their base of evidence and expand their programs to serve 6,000 to 8,000 more 14-24 year olds. In addition, these organizations will collectively replicate to several new cities in the next five years, reaching many locations across the country that have not yet benefitted from their innovative programs.

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) is a new competitive grant program housed at the Corporation for National and Community Service designed to expand innovative solutions to social sector problems with evidence of strong results in communities throughout America. The SIF creates a new role for government as a catalyst for philanthropic partnerships that invests in proven solutions, and taps into existing expertise and resources within the private and philanthropic sectors to collaborate in addressing some of the country’s greatest social challenges by enabling effective nonprofit organizations to grow and replicate.

POSITION OVERVIEW

New Profit is seeking an experienced, strategic, entrepreneurial leader to help launch and build the Pathways Fund and its portfolio of nonprofit organizations. Over the next five years, the nonprofits in the Pathways Fund will deepen their impact in existing locations, replicate to 3-5 new cities, and create new proof points that link education and workforce development efforts to serve as the basis for major social reform. The Partner will play a key role in selecting and then supporting high-potential organizations to achieve their goals to grow their base of evidence and scale their organizations. In addition, the Partner will be a member of the learning community of the Social Innovation Fund convened by Corporation for National and Community Service to help the government find new ways to foster social innovation. The Partner will contribute to overall leadership of the fund, including helping to create and execute the Pathways Fund’s strategy, managing the Pathways Fund’s nonprofit portfolio and funder team, managing and coaching junior team members, and representing New Profit and the Pathways Fund externally.

Investment Selection

• Lead screening and diligence for prospective investments; provide support and insight throughout the decision-making process; and assess organizations on leadership, impact, scalability, and overall fit

Portfolio Support

• Build and lead relationships with social entrepreneurs and their organizations—act as a sounding board and advisor to the entrepreneur and her/his leadership team on a broad range of strategic and operational issues

• Help organizations make critical choices and execute against plans to increase impact; develop strategic growth plans, economic models, and metrics; and help to build leadership, governance, and overall organizational capacity

• Work with the Director of Evaluation to create and guide compelling evaluation plans for each organization

• Serve as an active board member for portfolio organizations and play a key role in board development

Fund Leadership

• Collaboratively create and execute the Pathways Fund strategy with the team

• Lead discussions among philanthropic partners and portfolio organizations

• Support the growth of the Pathways Fund portfolio; hone New Profit’s approach to driving impact

• Actively contribute to the learning community of the Social Innovation Fund convened by the Corporation for National and Community Service

• Enhance the development of junior team members through coaching and mentoring

• Cultivate and maintain a network relationships with philanthropic partners, stakeholders, government officials, and others interfacing with social innovation and entrepreneurship

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate will possess the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Demonstrated passion for and commitment to New Profit’s mission through experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • investing in or consulting to entrepreneurial organizations during a high growth phase

  • working in nonprofits or foundations

  • driving organizational change and transformation;

• A successful track record of 10+ years in senior management positions of increasing complexity and responsibility;

• Experience leading and bringing a solutions-driven approach to complex projects in an entrepreneurial fast-paced environment;

• Demonstrated experience building and managing professional relationships and coaching and developing talent; a collegial and team-building approach that puts others at ease and engenders trust;

• The ability to actively listen, with an appreciation for nuance in communication; a consultative stance

• Outstanding analytical skills; demonstrated ability to quickly assess situations, identify trends, develop solutions, and translate insights into high level guidance and tactical execution;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to represent New Profit and portfolio organizations in a professional, engaging, and dynamic manner;

• A lively, curious and creative intellect, and a style that includes flexibility, evenness and a sense of humor;

• Relentless customer orientation and an eagerness to “roll-up ones’ sleeves”; and

• Graduate degree; MBA or MPP preferred.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

More information about New Profit and the Pathways Fund can be found at www.newprofit.com.

Due to the pace of this search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and applications will be reviewed as they are received. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history, and where you learned of the position should be sent to: NP-Partner@nonprofitprofessionals.com

In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) in the subject.

Interested parties are strongly encouraged to submit applications via electronic mail.

New Profit offers competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills. New Profit is an equal opportunity employer.