Director of Strategic Partnerships
Position Type & Schedule: Full-time position (open to negotiating for part-time role for the right candidate). Business hours generally Monday through Friday, with flexibility for occasional evening and weekend convenings or travel.
Location: Hybrid position based in Durham, NC; team members are expected to commute to office in downtown 4-8 times per month
Travel: Approximately 25%, mostly within the South, including funder convenings, site visits, conferences, and organizational retreats
Reports to: Chief Executive
About Laughing Gull Foundation
LGF is a progressive family foundation rooted in the South and committed to justice.
We are helping build a world where everyone, especially those pushed to the margins, is liberated from intergenerational harm, living in balance with the earth, and included equally and fully as a part of our human family. We advance intersectional justice through three grantmaking strategies: LGBTQ+ Equality, Higher Education in Prison, and Climate and Environment. Our approach is built around developing authentic, trust-based relationships; actively listening to our grantees’ evolving needs and mobilizing resources to build their capacity, leadership, capabilities, and power. LGF was founded in 2012 and plans to spend out all assets by 2036.
Position Summary
The Director of Strategic Partnerships is a leadership role at a small, values-driven foundation. They will be responsible for spearheading strategic initiatives and building influence that bridge funders, movement leaders, and allies to unlock abundant resources for Southern justice movements. This role combines funder organizing, strategic grantmaking, and partnership development to cultivate trust-based relationships across sectors while remaining deeply rooted in and accountable to grassroots leaders. The Director will set clear goals, shape agendas, and creatively mobilize funders to give to BIPOC-led LGBTQ+, climate, and justice organizations in the South.
The ideal candidate will be an accomplished philanthropy strategist who can effectively analyze the sector and has a track record of building relationships and influence within mainstream philanthropic spaces with an aim of turning attention and resources toward progressive organizations. They must be a creative thinker who uses novel approaches while upholding LGF’s commitments to power-building, coalition support, and community-led systemic change, while understanding how to be a trusted accomplice to the Southern movement ecosystem. This position plays a critical role in ensuring that partnership efforts reflect LGF’s commitment to liberation, healing, and intersectional solidarity for justice.
Key Responsibilities
Funder Organizing and Strategic Partnerships (60%)
- Spearhead strategic initiatives that bridge funders, movement leaders, and allies across various sectors in service of Southern justice movements
- Build influence across the philanthropic sector, shaping agendas and strategies within key funder networks to creatively move resources to our focus areas
- Approach resource mobilization with a campaign-like approach with clear goals and measurable outcomes for increasing investments in the South
- Foster trust-based relationships through active listening and genuine collaboration
- Engage in strategic “inside” organizing by attending and influencing funder networks
- Represent LGF at funder conferences, convenings, and roundtables to help shift narratives and priorities toward intersectional justice in the South
- Convene aligned funders, create strategy briefings and learning sessions, and identify opportunities to move resources to BIPOC-led grassroots groups in LGF’s focus areas
- Co-develop talking points, presentations, and framing that meet funders where they are while holding strong values and program integrity.
- Draft funder updates, briefings, and other donor communications that lift up LGF’s program goals, grantee impact, and strategic vision
- Help plan and facilitate funder convenings, including preparation of materials and follow-up communications
Strategic Grantmaking & Portfolio Development (20%)
- Collaborate with other grants team members on proposal review, due diligence, and funding recommendations for BIPOC-led organizations across focus areas
- Contribute to portfolio development across LGF’s funding areas, helping identify emerging leaders and organizations
- Conduct site visits and relationship-building meetings with prospective and current grantees to strengthen organizational understanding of field needs
- Support responsive grantmaking strategies that center community needs and grassroots leadership
- Participate regularly in grants team meetings to stay informed about grantee needs, field developments, and strategic opportunities
Strategy Development & Cross-Issue Alignment (10%)
- Track trends and shifts in funding that affect Southern BIPOC-led movements, including research and analysis of regional philanthropy patterns
- Collaborate on developing field-informed messaging and strategy to engage funders around intersectional work
- Translate complex programmatic strategies into accessible, compelling language for institutional audiences while maintaining program integrity
Internal Collaboration & Administration (10%)
- Participate in internal planning, team meetings, and documentation to ensure alignment across organizational functions
- Collaborate with communications and strategy lead to inform content strategy and co-develop public messaging, reports, and updates
- Provide insights that inform LGF’s overall strategy, communications, and learning
- Develop and maintain quarterly workplans and timelines
- Track deliverables, flag capacity or content gaps, and communicate needs across the organization
Qualifications
The Director of Strategic Partnerships will be a seasoned leader with a passion and excitement for advancing justice in the South. While we recognize that candidates may not possess all the following qualities, ideal applicants will demonstrate a number of these attributes, skills, and experiences. If you believe your background and experiences align with this work, we encourage you to apply.
- Based in the South, with a deep understanding of Southern organizing, politics, and community dynamics (Durham-based preferred; must commute to Durham office at least 4-8 times per month)
- 5+ years of experience in philanthropy, movement-building, development, or related fields that demonstrates capability in relationship building and strategic communications
- Demonstrated ability to build and sustain trust-based relationships with BIPOC-led groups in the South with accountability to directly-impacted leadership
- Experienced in navigating mainstream philanthropic spaces and persuasively advocating for radical, gender, and climate justice while maintaining strong values alignment
- Strong strategic acumen with ability to identify opportunities and challenges while holding complex understanding of intersections of race, gender, geography, and issue areas
- Exceptional written and oral communication and presentation skills that adapt messaging based on audience and purpose, from 1:1 stakeholder meetings to large conference presentations
- Values alignment: You move in the world with humility, accountability, and a deep belief in the power of grassroots leadership
- Knowledge of and experience in responsive philanthropy and trust-based grantmaking practices
- Experience working with donor collaboratives, funding networks, or philanthropic partnerships
Compensation & Benefits
Laughing Gull Foundation is committed to ensuring that employees are supported holistically through competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits (including paid time off, professional development, retirement savings account with organizational contribution, and medical and dental benefits), and an enriching collaborative work environment rooted in our core values.
The salary for a full time Director role is $112,000 -120,000 and is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, education and skill level, years of applicable experience, and our commitment to pay equity within the organization.
Physical Requirements and Accessibility
LGF is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants and staff members and will ensure people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application, interview process, and to perform essential functions of the position.
This position is largely sedentary, with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; however, some movement may be required depending on the specific job duties. This position requires the ability to: operate a computer daily, communicate effectively with coworkers and external parties, including via email, phone, and/or video calls on zoom and, occasionally, lift up to 25 lbs.
Equity at Laughing Gull Foundation
LGF believes that one of the greatest strengths of an organization is the rich diversity of its staff and board and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who reflect the communities we support and are committed to advancing justice in the U.S. South.
Learn more about our commitment to racial equity, values, and culture here.
