Deputy Director of Fiscal Sponsorships

ABOUT RESOURCES LEGACY FUND

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) builds alliances that advance bold solutions to secure a just and resilient world for people and nature. As both a funder and a grantee, building alliances is at the heart of what we do. We partner with philanthropy, community groups, government, science, and business to promote smart policies and ensure equitable public funding for the environment, climate change resilience, and healthy communities. Across the American West and internationally, we manage complex, multi-year grantmaking programs and fiscally sponsor projects that accelerate change on environmental and equity issues. We believe strategic philanthropy and thoughtful partnerships can achieve enduring, equitable outcomes at scale for land protection, ocean conservation, resilient communities, healthy watersheds, and parks access.

Since RLF’s founding 20+ years ago, we have partnered with philanthropy to protect more than five million acres and generated more than $30 billion in new public funding for land and ocean conservation, equitable outdoor access, and climate resilience. Our work has taught us that conservation does not advance in a bubble. Its success is integrally tied to social equity, community health, economic opportunity, and a strong democracy. To safeguard our achievements to date, and help prepare a favorable environment to face the daunting threat of climate change, we helped launch two partner organizations – Fund for a Better Future (FBF), a 501c4 social welfare organization and Shared Ascent Fund (SAF), a 501c3 public charity – to work in the intersecting areas of democracy, environment, health, and equity.

We are a core team of approximately 50 people in 7 states, with the majority based in the Sacramento, California region. We also have approximately 90 additional team members across the country working on more than 25 fiscally sponsored projects that span the globe.

To learn more about Resources Legacy Fund, visit https://resourceslegacyfund.org

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Resources Legacy Fund seeks a Deputy Director of Fiscal Sponsorships, a new position created to expand leadership capability for a high-growth, high-volume, fast-paced team. RLF’s Fiscal Sponsorships program provides highly responsive administrative, financial, and philanthropic support to fiscally sponsored projects, in alignment with each project’s mission and objectives. Since launching in 2016, the program has seen strong growth in projects, personnel, and resources under management. We anticipate continued growth in response to interest from our donor-partners and from leaders in the field.

The Deputy Director reports to, and collaborates closely with, the Director of Fiscal Sponsorships. The Deputy Director provides leadership to, and may have supervisory responsibilities within, a team that is high-functioning, tight-knit, and fun. This role collaborates closely with fiscally sponsored projects of RLF, SAF, and FBF, while partnering with administrative and programmatic teams to ensure alignment and provide timely and high-quality service to all aspects of sponsored projects.

This position may be based in our Sacramento office, or the position may be 100% remote with travel to Sacramento at least quarterly. Please note that due to COVID-19, RLF offices are closed, and we remain a fully remote organization until further notice.

Key aspects of the role include the following:

Support to Fiscally Sponsored Projects

The Deputy Director of Fiscal Sponsorships provides a combination of management support and direct engagement to deliver high-quality services to fiscally sponsored projects. This position meets regularly with project staff, RLF’s Fiscal Sponsorships team, and other RLF staff to identify and address project support needs. A key function of this role is to coordinate among project leads, counsel, and RLF leadership to understand and constructively address potential legal, compliance, and related issues arising out of project activities, such as those with legislative advocacy elements.

This position also oversees and may directly provide back-office support to projects including developing and submitting funder proposals and reports, reviewing and signing grant and contract agreements on behalf of projects, and ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of communications.

Collaboration Across RLF

The Deputy Director helps the Director of Fiscal Sponsorships coordinate project support as needed from RLF teams with responsibilities for HR, facilities, financial management, and donor engagement. This position works with philanthropic staff to ensure philanthropic policies and procedures are followed consistently. The Deputy Director works closely with the Director of Fiscal Sponsorships and the Chief Financial Officer to develop budgets and steward management fees. The Deputy Director also works closely with the Director of Human Resources to manage hiring and employment needs of the sponsored projects. As appropriate, the Deputy Director provides updates to RLF’s Executive Team and Board of Directors.

Team Leadership

Empowered by and in close collaboration with the Director of Fiscal Sponsorships, the Deputy Director provides leadership to the Fiscal Sponsorships team, managing workflow and facilitating process improvements with staff and consultants to create efficiencies and increase timeliness while emphasizing the importance of warm and mission-aligned customer service. The Deputy Director provides regular briefings and consultations with the Director of Fiscal Sponsorships and Executive Team.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Deputy Director of Fiscal Sponsorships is collaborative, service-oriented, and humble, taking pride in meeting and exceeding the expectations of donors, project leads, and partners – not only for providing efficient back-office services, but also for supporting each project’s mission and programmatic activities.

The ideal candidate finds joy in providing operational expertise to launch and support high-impact initiatives, bringing experience as a hands-on non-profit manager and executive and/or years of cross-functional operational experience. Well-rounded expertise managing both people and financials is essential, as is a high degree of comfort with sophisticated systems.

This is a highly relational role requiring an outstanding ability to collaborate with others. The ideal candidate has strong written and oral communication skills to ensure full circle communications with staff and partners; strong attention to detail and accuracy; comfort with assigning and overseeing tasks and projects; and dedication to delivering on commitments. A high degree of discretion, confidentiality, and tact are a must, along with the ability to resolve conflicts professionally and maintain patience, grace, and humor under pressure. The Deputy Director has a well-honed ability to provide oversights to both direct reports and to sponsored projects.

RLF’s fiscally sponsored projects operate in quickly changing environments, and the Deputy Director must have the capacity to respond rapidly and appropriately to evolving priorities, objectives, and situations. This individual demonstrates good judgment, resilience, and flexibility, and can provide motivation and guidance to project leads and staff as conditions change.

Interest in, and alignment with, the missions of Resources Legacy Fund, Shared Ascent Fund, and Fund for a Better Future is a must, though professional experience in all of these organizations’ content areas is not a requirement.

Every team member who joins RLF is expected to embody RLF values:

• Collaboration – We believe the key to achieving meaningful environmental results and a productive workplace is rooted in humanity—our ability to build effective relationships, listen deeply, respect different perspectives, and elevate new leaders.
• Equity – We value the insight, energy, and innovation of inclusive decision making. Our work seeks to elevate voices and build power within underrepresented communities to help advance a just and equitable future in which leadership reflects the diversity of the world we live in.
• Integrity – We are dedicated to our cause, genuine in our approach, and strive to cultivate a foundation of trust within our organization and with our partners. We believe humility and commitment to ongoing learning keeps us effective in our work.
• Creativity – We embrace a thoughtful, entrepreneurial spirit, seeking innovative ways to solve problems new and old. We are willing to take risks that the times and issues require to achieve lasting results.
• Excellence – We aspire to high standards of quality in everything we do—from internal operations to strategic program implementation. We are attentive to detail and persevere to deliver results on goals we share with funders, partners, and colleagues.

QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered, applicants must have nonprofit leadership experience within a 501c3 or 501c4 organization, including direct management of two or more of the following functional areas: finance, human resources, grants & contracts, legal & compliance. Donor intermediary or fiscal sponsorship experience is a strong plus but not required.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

RLF is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment free from discrimination, where all team members feel valued, respected, and included. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates, whatever their race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status, religious or political affiliation, marital status, or any other dimension of diversity. We know that our work is enriched by the varied voices and perspectives of every staff and board member, so we are committed to making an earnest effort to recruit, welcome, train, develop, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. We believe that a diverse and inclusive culture expands our creative capacity to do our work and achieve greater outcomes for people and the natural world.

We invite you to learn more about RLF’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion on our website.

COMPENSATION

Salary range of $124,000 - $150,000. We offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) plan, student loan repayment assistance, and generous paid time off.

TO APPLY

Please provide a resume and cover letter explaining how your skills and experience align with this position.

Recruitment Schedule:

December 13 – Application deadline (applications received after this date may still be considered)

RLF requires that employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to visiting or working in an RLF office or conducting any travel or in-person meetings on behalf of our organization. If you are hired for this position, RLF will require proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated. 

Please provide a resume and cover letter explaining how your skills and experience align with this position.

Apply Here