Head of Key Relationships & Communications

Position Title: Head of Key Relationships & Communications

Reports to: CEO

FLSA Status: Exempt (full-time)

Location: Rideback Ranch, Los Angeles, CA

Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000

Please Submit a Resume & Cover Letter to: Diana Mogollon / CEO    join@ridebackrise.org

Who We Are

Rideback Rise is a new non-profit content and creator accelerator focused on developing mainstream BIPOC-created film and television in order to propel narrative change. Launched by prolific producer Dan Lin (Rideback) in July 2022, Lin now serves as the chairman of the Board of Directors. 

Our Mission

To empower BIPOC creators, artists, and entrepreneurs to make commercial entertainment that reflects our multicultural society in an effort to propel narrative change.

We're creating a system of change designed to reshape majority opinions by ensuring that creators of all backgrounds can tell their stories and see themselves in popular culture.

Our Vision

We are committed to creating a more empathic world. We believe stories and content have the power to unite people, bridge cultures, and achieve racial equity.

Our Funders

Rise launched in July 2022 from leading philanthropic institutions — the Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Zelnick Belzberg Charitable Trust, Doris Duke Foundation and the UTA Foundation. Since then, Rise has raised additional funding from the Murphy Family Fund, Comcast NBCUniversal and GTDI, and TAAF, bringing the total raised by Rise to more than $4 million.

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Head of Key Relationships & Communications is responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing all aspects of Rise’s fundraising, communications, and marketing program to achieve the organization’s annual and long-term financial and relationship goals. Alongside the CEO, they develop, oversee, and implement Rise’s major gift program, foundation support, planned giving, special events, capital campaigns, marketing and communications. The Head of KR & Comms will identify and cultivate donors and funding sources to achieve our roughly $2.5 million annual operating budget and will work closely with the CEO, Rise’s programs team, the Board of Trustees, and Rise’s community of champions to grow Rise’s funding base. They work closely with the finance staff on budgeting, grant management and reporting processes and with Rise’s coordinator to ensure compelling fundraising messaging. This position reports to the CEO and is a valued member of the senior leadership team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising: Using creative, strategic, and effective development strategies, Head of KR & Comms prepares and implements fundraising plans for annual operations, reserves/endowment, and special campaigns. The position works with donors, cultivating new prospects and sustaining the organization’s existing base of support. They lead all strategic initiatives to identify, cultivate, solicit, and maintain positive relationships with major donors and foundations, as well as identify and bring in new donor prospects, sustain grassroots members, and increase overall contributions. Along with the CEO, they have lead responsibility for meeting with and engaging major donors, foundations, and other sources of significant funding. They seek funding from sources that can include foundations, individual donors, board members, planned gifts, and businesses and corporations. They will oversee annual appeals, special events, and online and social media fundraising campaigns. 

Special Campaigns & Events: Working with the CEO and Rise’s Event Producer, the Director develops and implements special fundraising campaigns and events, such as Rise’s signature annual event, Rise for Comedy III, to meet campaign outcomes and objectives. 

Communications & Marketing: Understand our work and develop compelling narratives to explain our mission and build a case for support. Craft effective communications and messages which help engage, educate and steward prospects and donors to maintain interest and excitement for our vision and mission. Develop, adapt, and oversee all aspects of Rise’s marketing and communication strategy including branding, the design and content for social media, newsletters, annual report, year end appeal mailings, and other collateral material. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

Resource Development 

The Head of KR & Comms is charged to drive key results in fundraising; to identify, cultivate and solicit prospective donors and key leaders of prospective new corporate partners; to leverage personal and professional contacts and relationships into fundraising opportunities; and to promote a culture of fundraising in the organization, both at the staff and board level. 

Strategic Management 

The Head of KR & Comms serves as the principal resource to the CEO, Board of Directors and its key committees and gives direction and shape to all fundraising goals and strategies. They partner with the Board of Directors and the Senior Leadership team to craft organizational goals and develop strategies to ensure that they are achieved. 

EXPERIENCE/POSITION REQUIREMENTS 

• Informed passion and sense of urgency for the mission of Rise.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in and responsibility for non-profit fund development and communications. 
• Demonstrated track record cultivating and stewarding major gifts from individuals and institutions. 
• Superior executive functioning skills and sound judgment with a growth mindset. 
• Experience with leading and inspiring teams to perform at their best. 
• Strategic mindset with the ability to develop and implement vision, strategy, and timelines to reach the end goal of multiple projects. 
• Prior experience writing communication materials such as newsletters and annual reports and using electronic communications, including social media, preferred. 
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Business Administration, or related field or equivalent experience working with communications and/or development programs for a non-profit agency required. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer proficiency in the use of Microsoft Suite and database applications. 
• Talented candidates that meet all requirements are encouraged to apply.

They have unquestioned integrity; a long term perspective; a strong sense of accountability; a practical ability to get things done; wisdom and good judgment; a fair and thoughtful approach to management, combined with the flexibility and courage to shift direction and experiment with new initiatives; excellent verbal and written communication skills; a high energy level and sense of humor. 

Education Background 

Undergraduate degree required. Training, experience or advanced degree preferred in business, public administration, or not for profit management. Experience 2-3 years working closely with senior strategic leadership teams and boards required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

This position is an in person role, located at Rideback Ranch in historic Filipinotown, in Los Angeles, California. This is not a remote position.The CEO must be able to lead his/her team as they work long hours producing events several times a year. There is regularly a need to meet after or before normal business hours. 

CORE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION  

• Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to the mission to create real social change. This drives their performance and professional motivations.  
• Relationship-Oriented: Astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.  
• Collaborator: understands the roles and contributions of all sectors and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.  
• Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.  
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.  
• Visionary: Confronts the complex realities of the environment and simultaneously maintains faith in a different and better future, providing purpose, direction, and motivation.  
• Team-Builder: First ensures that the right people are in the right roles at the right times; fostering commitment, trust, and collaboration among multicultural leaders and stakeholders.  
• Business Acumen: Possesses a high-level of broad business and management skills and is effective at generating financial support for the organization.  
• Network-Oriented: Values the power of networks; striving to leverage Rideback and Rise’s breadth of entertainment industry presence, relationships, and strategy.

Folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply.

We also offer great benefits and perks for employees:

• Fully covered health and dental insurance;
• A 401(k) upon completion of 1 year of employment
• A beautiful creative space and office in Historic Filipino town
• Unlimited, flexible paid vacation

Please submit cover letter & resume to join@ridebackrise.org