Market President

About the role

This role is currently open in multiple markets, including Houston, Dallas, and West Texas. LiftFund is a national nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that expands access to capital for small businesses and strengthens local economies. The Market President will be LiftFund's primary external representative across the area and will operate with autonomy, executive-level exposure, and market-building responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Build and execute a fundraising strategy focused on foundations, corporate partners, bank foundations, and aligned public-sector investment.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, and close multi-year commitments that expand LiftFund's ability to deploy capital and services.
• Lead partner strategy and stewardship, including renewal planning and performance reporting that strengthens trust and repeat investment.
• Develop funder-ready materials in coordination with internal teams, including concept briefs, budgets, outcomes, and impact reporting.
• Build and manage referral networks that drive a consistent flow of viable, fundable borrowers.
• Activate partnerships with trusted intermediaries and technical assistance providers to strengthen readiness and improve conversion.
• Collaborate with lending teams to support movement from intake through underwriting and closing, with a focus on speed, clarity, and borrower experience.
• Maintain accurate and timely CRM records and opportunity tracking across funders, partners, and referrals.
• Provide regular forecasting and updates to leadership, including risks, opportunities, and decision needs.
• Coordinate across internal teams to ensure partner expectations, delivery, and reporting remain aligned.
• Use AI tools to accelerate market research, funder and partner targeting, meeting preparation, stakeholder mapping, and draft development of briefs and proposals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in institutional fundraising, philanthropy, corporate partnerships, CRA/community development, economic development, CDFI or community finance, or related external leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding institutional commitments and/or public-sector funding, preferably including multi-year partnerships.
• Strong executive presence and ability to represent LiftFund with senior leaders across philanthropy, corporate, banking, and government sectors.
• Track record of building partnerships that produce measurable outcomes.
• Strong writing, communication, and public speaking capabilities.
• High autonomy, high follow-through, and strong CRM and pipeline management discipline.
• Experience with a CDFI, community development intermediary, bank CRA/community development team, or bank foundation.
• Track record closing large institutional commitments (e.g., $250K+).
• Familiarity with the region’s philanthropic, civic, and economic development ecosystem.
• Experience with small business recovery, resilience, stabilization, or disaster-response programming.