Market President

About the role

LiftFund is a national nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that expands access to capital for small businesses and strengthens local economies. This role is built for a senior market leader who can grow philanthropic and institutional investment, expand LiftFund’s visibility and credibility, and build durable partnerships that increase small business access to capital.

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.