UpStart seeks a skilled finance and operations professional to support the expansion of our Fiscal Sponsorship Program.
UpStart aims to support the sustainability and development of some of the community’s most critical ideas and projects. Through a shared services model, UpStart provides necessary infrastructure and business management, allowing each Project to focus on the core of its work—contributing to a Thriving Jewish Community.
The Director, Fiscal Sponsorship Program will be responsible for oversight of our growing Model C program (limited, grant-based relationship) and developing Model A program (comprehensive shared services support), simultaneously stewarding existing partners and cultivating new ones.
This role will report to the Chief Operating Officer and work closely with the Central Operations and People & Culture teams. This role is expected to travel up to 3 times a year for team gatherings and national conferences.
Responsibilities: Operations Support (55%): Act as the primary point of contact with our current and prospective fiscal sponsees, maintaining a high level of responsiveness and building strong, trusting relationships; Liaise with UpStart’s external accounting team, ensuring that fiscal sponsees have timely access to reports and information; Support fiscal sponsees on their budgets and financial practices, in partnership with UpStart’s Central Operations team; Coordinate with our People and Culture staff, providing coaching on human resources issues and ensuring we are following best practices; Review grants and contracts and coordinate with our Operations team to address any legal/risk issues that may arise; Partner with our Investment Strategy team to ensure proper coordination between fiscal sponsee grants and UpStart’s overall grants calendar; Ensure all legal paperwork, licensing, insurance, and other aspects of organizational operations are properly maintained; Ensure that UpStart’s finance, human resource, and other relevant systems are efficient and user-friendly for fiscal sponsees, identifying regular feedback and partnering with respective teams towards improvements; Program Management (45%): Steward the expansion of UpStart’s Fiscal Sponsorship programs through outreach and recruitment efforts; Support the onboarding of new partner organizations by conducting organizational assessments to identify their strengths and capacity-building needs, while providing responsive support to ensure a seamless transition into the Fiscal Sponsorship Program.; Partner with UpStart’s finance staff and evaluation staff to track fiscally sponsored projects’ growth and development as a result of our capacity-building efforts to ensure the program is effective and impactful; Partner with UpStart’s Program Team to ensure fiscally sponsored projects are connected to appropriate UpStart opportunities; Learn from other capacity-builders in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of UpStart’s programs
Requirements
5-7 years of experience managing various aspects of nonprofit operations, such as in the finance and operations functions
Desire to connect with grassroots organizations and leaders of growing nonprofits
Working understanding of the most common models of fiscal sponsorship and how they can be implemented
Experience leading/managing projects, individuals, and teams
Commitment to leading through a lens of community and belonging
Adaptability and agility in the face of change, both organizational and technological
Comfort with finance, operations, and human resources platforms (Salesforce, QuickBooks, Gusto, fundraising platforms, etc.)
Comfort with communications and project management platforms (Slack, Teams, Trello, Asana, etc.)
Passion for UpStart’s mission and the work of UpStart’s network
Commitment to upholding UpStart’s values and Guiding Principles Regarding Client and Program Partnerships