CAMELBACK VENTURES
Camelback Ventures (Camelback) increases access to opportunity for entrepreneurs of color and women by investing in their ventures and leadership while advocating for fairness in their funding.
Camelback’s flagship program is the Camelback Fellowship. Since 2015, Camelback has raised over $50M and supported 200+ social entrepreneurs – 95% identified as people of color and 55% as women. Our Fellows have raised over $365M dollars, have been named as Forbes 30 under 30, and made an impact nationwide in communities from Eastern North Carolina to Seattle.
THE ROLE
This Program Partner role will support Camelback Venture’s ongoing commitment to support founders launching charter schools, as well as those developing education programs and products. They will mentor and coach a portfolio of founders as they strengthen their business plans, map out a sustainable fundraising strategy, and provide ongoing support and connections beyond their Fellowship experience as they progress along the long arc of social entrepreneurship (0-10+ years) and meet hard goals (e.g., follow-on funding) while evolving into a durable venture.
As a part of the Program team, the Program Partner will leverage their experience with education venture and charter school founders throughout selection processes, program facilitation, and implementation of Camelback Ventures strategic priorities. Program partners will also collaborate to develop and curate new experiences and programs for founders engaged in the Camelback Ventures network.
They will also cultivate partnerships and with the investor community to help our fellows build the networks and relationships they need to secure follow-on funding for their ventures. In addition, they will assist the team in continuing to improve the design and development of a high-quality curriculum and scope and sequence that supports the growth of the founders and ventures in our program.
All Program team members will support, collaborate on, and facilitate the following bodies of work:
- Facilitate conversations and build relationships with Camelback Fellows, Alumni, current and potential funders, and external stakeholders to provide deeper support for the Camelback Alumni via in-person and virtual engagement, as well as relevant conferences and event participation
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Work with Program and other Camelback team members to plan, facilitate, and execute impactful learning experiences for founders throughout the year, including virtual and in person events, webinars and workshops, and the Camelback’s annual conference, the Guardian Summit
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Co-Lead planning and implementation for ongoing alumni engagement
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Support Programs team members to plan for and facilitate the Fellowship application and selection processes, including strategic sourcing of aligned founders
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Partner with Data & Strategy team to collect, document, and analyze data to inform assigned workstreams and programs; explore and stay up-to-date on current research related to entrepreneurial equity and support for social entrepreneurs of color and women
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Facilitate site visits and regional convenings between Camelback founders and aligned, area stakeholders
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Engage in thought leadership activities, including conference presentations, panels, and writing to amplify the Camelback Ventures brand and impact
Education and Schools Program Partner Specific Workstreams:
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Partner with Chief Program Officer as subject-matter expert to identify and engage external partners to provide targeted support and resources for education ventures and charter school founders
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Build deep knowledge of founders and ventures in your assigned portfolio as a primary point of contact, connection-maker, and thought partner for your portfolio’s founders
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Engage and make connections between Camelback Alumni, Fellows, organizational partners, and investors and funders of early-growth-stage ventures
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Cultivate and maintain relationships with potential funders; support Camelback’s efforts to expand their network of funders that invest and fund education ventures and charter schools
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Collect and analyze data to inform internal understanding of the needs and trends of aligned founders and partners; collaborate with Program team members and Data & Strategy to facilitate data sharing for internal and external audiences
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Collaborate with Camelback leadership to refine investment strategy based on learnings from ecosystem and Camelback founders
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Liaise with the Development team to build and facilitate connections between Camelback founders and investors
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Partner with Program team members to design new content as necessary so programming is responsive to our founders’ needs (both current fellows and alumni)
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Collaborate with the Program team to manage evolving relationships, resource and support needs, and team responsibilities in response to organizational and ecosystem needs over time
Impact & Success Metrics (based on 2023 - 2027 Strategic Plan)
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Support the Program team to provide personalized support for Fellows and alumni via Program Partner engagement, regional convenings, site visits, and working across the alumni network to facilitate ongoing collaboration, revenue generation, and knowledge sharing.
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Support entrepreneurs that care about financial and social impact through a cohort based program (Camelback Fellowship) by helping to ensure 75% of Fellows meet acceleration outcomes across revenue, individuals served, and/or staffing by year three (3) after the Fellowship
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Build a stronger, more cohesive, and strategic network (program participants, guardians, partners & collaborators) by ensuring at least 80% of Fellows agree they've had at least one meaningful engagement in the past year
The Person
Required Qualifications
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Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
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Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
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Ability to contribute to organizational strategy, program design, and thought leadership.
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Deep commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice.
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Understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs from historically marginalized communities.
Education Experience
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Experience and expertise as an education venture founder, public and/or charter school K-12 teaching, charter school leadership or founder, or some combination of these experiences.
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Demonstrated track record of coaching, mentoring, or advising entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds (people of color, women, non-binary founders) in different stages of development, including early and growth-stage ventures.
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Ability to provide actionable feedback, support leadership development, and foster growth mindsets.
Program Content Development and Facilitation
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Proven experience designing and facilitating workshops, training sessions, or cohort-based learning experiences for adult learners.
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Strong group facilitation and public speaking skills.
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Ability to tailor content to diverse, adult audiences and learning styles.
Relationship-Building & Stakeholder Engagement
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Demonstrated track record of cultivating and maintaining relationships with investors, funders, community partners, and other stakeholders.
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Experience in alumni engagement or network management.
Data-Driven Decision-Making
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Experience using data to inform program design, measure outcomes, and drive continuous improvement.
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Comfort with data analysis tools and reporting.
Education
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Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field (e.g., business, education, nonprofit management, social sciences).
Advanced Education
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Master’s degree in business, education, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field.
Fundraising or Investor Relations
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Experience in fundraising, grant writing, or managing investor relationships for social ventures or nonprofits.
Alumni Network Management
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Experience designing or managing alumni engagement strategies, communities of practice, or professional networks.
Thought Leadership
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Experience contributing to sector thought leadership through writing, speaking, or research on topics related to equity, entrepreneurship, or social innovation.
Sector Knowledge
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Familiarity with the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, venture capital, or impact investing.
Technology & Digital Tools
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Proficiency with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, CRM systems, data visualization platforms).
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Empathy and cultural competence
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Strategic thinking and problem-solving
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Excellent written and verbal communication
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Adaptability and resilience
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High ethical standards and integrity
