ABOUT FIRST BOOK
First Book is a leading nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to removing barriers to quality education for children in need. Through innovative public–private partnerships and a national network of more than 600,000 educators, program leaders, and community organizations, First Book has distributed over 250 million books and educational resources to under-resourced communities. Our work spans e-commerce (First Book Marketplace), research and insights (First Book R&I), and tailored program development (First Book Accelerator), all designed to elevate the voices and needs of educators serving children in low-income communities.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of Strategic Alliances, New Business drives new business development strategy for First Book — a fast-growing, mission-driven nonprofit social enterprise at the intersection of educational equity, corporate partnerships, and social impact. This is a senior, externally facing role responsible for sourcing and cultivating new corporate relationships, driving revenue generation, and developing programmatic strategies that support organizational growth. This role will report to the Senior Director, Strategic Alliances - New Business.
The ideal candidate is a proven revenue generator with a minimum track record of $2 million in secured partnerships or fundraising, and brings an entrepreneurial spirit, bold creative thinking, and a highly collaborative work style to a fast-paced, matrixed environment. Core responsibilities span new business strategy, relationship development, pitch formation and delivery, cause marketing, proposal writing, and cross-functional program management.
Successful candidates will demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, sound business judgment, experience navigating complex organizations, and a genuine passion for corporate social responsibility and education equity.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Business Development & Revenue
- Contribute to the department's annual new business development revenue goal, with individual portfolio targets established in partnership with the Chief Revenue Officer.
- Design and lead new business strategies to secure corporate and unrestricted funds in direct support of First Book's mission.
- Lead efforts to prioritize funding opportunities and prospect lists in collaboration with the Strategic Alliances Team and the Executive Team.
- Work with other department leaders to develop monitoring and results frameworks for key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring consistency across projects in alignment with overall portfolio goals.
Corporate Partnerships & Strategy
- Develop an overarching strategy to secure new corporate relationships in collaboration with First Book's Senior Leadership.
- Conceptualize, develop, and present funding concepts and pitches to leading multinational corporations.
- Identify, cultivate, and develop leads with prospective corporate funders and partners.
- Design and launch cause marketing campaigns and corporate partnerships that directly benefit local communities in need.
Proposal Development & Funding
- Develop formal proposals to secure corporate and philanthropic funding.
- Identify and submit formal proposals and applications in response to philanthropic RFPs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with the Chief Revenue Officer on new business strategy, pipeline prioritization, and annual financial targets to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
- Collaborate across marketing communications, engagement, e-commerce, and operations to create and implement value-added, integrated programs that advance organizational goals.
Financial Accountability & Special Initiatives
- Meet annual financial goals as determined by the Executive Team.
- Lead and execute special projects that advance the department at the direction of the Chief Revenue Officer.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sales, business development, corporate philanthropy, cause marketing, or corporate fundraising/sponsorship within a client services or mission-driven environment; nonprofit corporate partnership/sponsorship experience preferred.
- Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding annual revenue goals in a fundraising, business development, or corporate partnership capacity.
- Proven success in securing financial commitments from Fortune 500 companies and/or major philanthropic foundations, with established and actively maintained relationships at those institutions.
- Willingness to travel up to 40% during peak periods, subject to organizational and public health guidelines.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, nonprofit management, or related field required.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Creative, strategic, and entrepreneurial approach to identifying and developing new funding opportunities.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals, presentations, and pitches for diverse stakeholder audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with senior-level internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong command of CRM platforms; Salesforce proficiency preferred, Raiser's Edge or equivalent considered. Familiarity with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) expected.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a complex, concurrent workload with strong organizational skills and consistent adherence to deadlines.
- Strategic problem-solver with the ability to prioritize, drive implementation, and deliver results in a deadline-driven environment.
- Collaborative, solutions-oriented team member able to manage shifting priorities and maintain performance in a dynamic environment.
- High degree of professional discretion and sound judgment in managing confidential information.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary: $115,000 annually (non-negotiable)
All full-time employees are eligible for the following:
- Medical and dental insurance coverage
- Life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- 12 paid holidays annually
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
- Employer-provided parking stipend (Washington, DC)
TO APPLY
- Submit a resume and a cover letter detailing your interest in this position.
- Only applications submitted through First Book's approved platform will be considered.
- Applications submitted through external or unapproved sites will not be reviewed.
- First Book does not accept unsolicited recruiter submissions and does not pay fees for resumes submitted outside of a formal written agreement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
First Book is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, District of Columbia, or local law.
ACCOMMODATIONS
First Book is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law. Applicants requiring accommodations during the application or interview process should submit a written request to First Book’s Human Resources department.
WORK PRESENCE & EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
- This is a hybrid position requiring regular in-office presence at First Book's Washington, DC office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, subject to business needs and reasonable accommodation.
- Reasonable accommodation will be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
- Relocation assistance is not provided.
CONNECT WITH FIRST BOOK
https://www.facebook.com/FirstBook
https://www.x.com/firstbook
https://www.youtube.com/user/firstbook
https://www.instagram.com/firstbookorg/
