Sustainability Coordinator

The Evansville Promise Neighborhood (EPN) is a transformative five-year $30 million federal grant with $32 million in matching funds from 23 community partners, providing cradle to career services for students and their families in six Evansville public schools covering twelve census tracks. As the recipient of one of 81 grants awarded since inception of the program to promote workforce development, stimulate economic development, and address generational poverty, the EPN, through the University of Evansville (UE), seeks to hire a Sustainability Coordinator to ensure this transformation of our community continues after the end of the five-year federal funding grant. 

The Evansville Promise Neighborhood seeks a hands-on individual committed to community impact, collaboration, and growing capacity with our non-profit partners. This individual will facilitate processes to identify, pursue, and secure additional funding opportunities, with the purpose of sustaining the EPN with direct support and advancement of opportunities for the 23 EPN community partners to build capacity within their organizations. This essential work will include federal, state, private, as well as other avenues of financial support in benefit of this momentous community initiative.

Motivated by a deep care for the community, this individual will be committed to collaborating with EPN community partners to enhance their case for support in applying for funding, as well as pursuing, organizing, and facilitating meetings with foundations and grant makers to proactively seek sustainability opportunities.

Serving as a mentor and motivator, the Sustainability Coordinator will identify and illuminate EPN community partners' capacity building needs, opportunities, plans, and partners in collaboration with programs at the Welborn Baptist Foundation, including Nonprofit Excellence, Grow, and connections to other capacity building experts.

Recognizing that impact can be measured to justify this continued investment in the Evansville community, this individual will also collaborate with subcontractors in data and impact evaluation, grant writing, and project management.

Essential Functions

• Create processes that will identify, pursue and secure additional funding opportunities for the sustainability of the EPN, including funding opportunities for the 23 EPN community partners, strategically aligning a sustainable pathway to promote workforce development, stimulate economic development, and address generational poverty with cradle to career services after the federal funding period.
• Assist and collaborate with EPN community partners to build and expand their grant writing skills and organize and facilitate initiatives to advance funding objectives and infuse accountability for the sustainability of the EPN. 
• Connect EPN community partners as needed with resources at the Welborn Baptist Foundation that will help them enhance their skills in non-profit excellence, governance, board development, and other organizational leadership topics.
• Work collaboratively with the EPN Director and the UE Office of Advancement to determine partners' needs, communicate opportunities, and advance progress to sustainability.
• Develop progress reports for the EPN Sustainability Council (sixteen influential Southwest Indiana leaders committed to sustainability; UE President, Chair), the EPN Advisory Council (once established), and the Center for Innovation & Change Advisory Board.
• Lead the work of any subcontractors engaged in the advancement of sustainability goals.

Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrate an essential level of trust and credibility with the EPN community partners, with the ability to serve as a valued mentor and motivator.
• Advocate for the EPN community partners and communicate expertly about their work, both individually and collectively as a group.
• Knowledge of how to blend and braid funding from local, state, federal and private sources.
• Manage numerous details, deadlines and calendars, operating independently to advance work streams and action items.
• Knowledge of place making and nonprofit work.
• Skilled in coaching through honest, empathetic dialogue.
• Significant established network and honed networking skills.

Working Relationships:

• Relationship centric with focus on serving the EPN community partners, including connecting partners to resources in a wide variety of sectors.
• Ability to clearly and effectively communicate progress to the UE Sustainability Council, CIC Advisory Board and the EPN Advisory Council.
• Become immersed in the strategic priorities of the EPN team and align with University Advancement priorities.
• Lead and manage subcontractor relationships to advance the interests of the EPN and sustainability efforts.
• This position reports to CIC Executive Director, with meaningful connections to the EPN Director, Senior Director of Major Gifts within University Advancement, and the EPN Sustainability Council.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references via the University of Evansville’s employment portal: http://www.evansville.edu/offices/hr/employmentApp.cfm

For more information on Promise Neighborhood Partners and the Sustainability Council members, visit www.evansville.edu/promiseneighborhood

The University of Evansville expects all members of its community to treat each other with respect and civility. Harassing behaviors directed towards any member of our community will not be tolerated. As part of its commitment to non-discrimination, the University specifically prohibits harassment based on any other characteristics set forth in its nondiscrimination statement as follows: including race, color, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, creed or religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and all federally protected groups/classes. Any form of harassment undermines the mission of the University and negatively impacts the University community as a whole.

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