Director of Impact Investing Education Programs

Overview

Boston Impact Initiative (BII) is a nonprofit impact investing fund working to build a future where entrepreneurs of color and their communities have the financial, social, and political power to create a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economy for future generations. We do this by investing in the people, places and social enterprises that share our vision of an equitable economy and access to catalytic capital. We also seek to transform the impact investing field through field-building and education for fellow investors, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists so that economic and racial justice becomes integral to any place-based investment strategy. Critically, this includes our Emerging Fund Manager Cohort program, which supports new fund managers that share BII’s ethos in developing similar impact funds to BII in their own communities.  

Over the last 10 years, BII has pioneered how to deploy integrated capital—defined as financial (equity, debt and grants), knowledge and social capital—to regenerative local enterprises owned and controlled by communities of color. Our aim now is to keep moving capital along our mission and expand our efforts to share learnings and best practices with the emerging fund managers who receive our training and the broader impact investment field. BII sees a unique opportunity to grow the solidarity finance movement to fund and strengthen the people, places and enterprises building the solidarity economy in Massachusetts and beyond. 

As BII expands its team and reach,  we are looking for a Director of Impact Investing Education Programs to play a significant role in delivering on BII’s field building and education work. Main areas of responsibility include: Project Managing BII’s Fund Manager Education Cohorts, Building Relationships with and among BII’s Fund Manager Alumni, Developing Additional Programming to support BII Fund Manager Alumni, including investor showcases, convenings, continuing education, Delivering Integrated Capital Card Workshops, refining BII’s Fund Manager Education curriculum and case studies, and creating local and national partnerships within the field of economic justice impact investing. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participant Recruitment: Actively recruit cohort program participants from across the country through targeted outreach, partnerships, and marketing initiatives.
• Curriculum Development and Refinement: Contribute to and continuously refine BII’s Fund Manager Education curriculum. This includes coordinating professional recording of key lectures, redesigning formats for improved engagement, and regularly updating content based on BII’s evolving materials and participant feedback.
• Session Facilitation: Facilitate cohort program sessions, manage schedules for guest speakers, promptly respond to participants' questions and requests, and coordinate coaching sessions with subject matter experts.
• Alumni Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with cohort alumni to track the progress of their funds. Coordinate ongoing support and resources from the BII Team and its network to ensure their continued success.
• Event Design and Management: Design and organize programming and events for cohort alumni, including the planning and execution of the annual national convening, ensuring engaging and valuable experiences for all attendees.

• Workshop Coordination and Delivery: Schedule and deliver integrated capital card games to diverse stakeholder groups, including impact investment groups, business support organizations, and foundations.
• Content Mastery: Attain comprehensive knowledge of BII’s case materials to effectively facilitate engaging and informative sessions.
• Material Development: Collaborate with the BII investment team to develop new and relevant case materials that enhance the learning experience and reflect current industry trends.

• Conference Attendance: Represent BII at local and national impact investing conferences and events, dedicating approximately 15% of the time to travel.
• Industry Awareness: Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the emerging place-based impact investing field, identifying trends and opportunities that align with BII’s mission.
• Networking and Outreach: Share BII’s insights and offerings with the broader community, and actively network with like-minded individuals and organizations to foster partnerships and collaborations that advance the field of impact investing.

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Strong Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills: Exceptional ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including funders, community partners, and participants. Proven track record in building robust networks and fostering communities.
• Facilitation Expertise: Extensive experience in facilitating diverse groups, both virtually and in-person, ensuring inclusive and engaging environments that drive productive discussions and outcomes.
• Event Planning Proficiency: Demonstrated success in planning and executing virtual and in-person events, from small workshops to large national convenings, with attention to detail and participant satisfaction.
• Strategic and Programmatic Thinking: Deep strategic thinking capabilities, coupled with practical experience in program management or investment with small businesses and community investors (e.g., CDFIs, business support organizations, impact funds). Ability to align program goals with broader organizational objectives.
• Impact Investing Ecosystem Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of the impact investing ecosystem, including familiarity with key investors, funders, and stakeholders. Ability to navigate and leverage this ecosystem to advance programmatic goals.
• Partnership Development and Relationship Management: Proven ability to establish and sustain strong partnerships with community partners, funders, and other key stakeholders. Skilled in nurturing and maintaining relationships to support program success and access to diverse funding streams.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, and execute tasks efficiently. Adept at managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Commitment to Social Justice: Demonstrated interest in and understanding of economic justice, racial justice, gender equity, sustainability, and related topics. Passionate about advancing these causes through impactful programming and partnerships.
• Resourcefulness and Proactivity: Highly resourceful and proactive, capable of prioritizing tasks and navigating complex challenges with ease. Strong problem-solving abilities and a can-do attitude.
• Effective Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Financial and Economic Acumen: Basic understanding of finance, investment, and/or entrepreneurship, with a keen interest and willingness to deepen knowledge in these areas. Insight into the US economy and its impact on small businesses.
• Team Collaboration Experience: Multi-year experience working as part of a professional team, demonstrating the ability to collaborate effectively and contribute to team success.
• Nonprofit and Mission-Driven Experience: Experience in nonprofit or mission-driven contexts is highly desirable, as it showcases a commitment to impactful and meaningful work.
• Bilingual Proficiency: Bilingual in Spanish is a plus, enhancing the ability to engage with a broader range of stakeholders and participants.