Fiscal Sponsorships Manager

ABOUT Resources Legacy Fund (RLF):

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) builds alliances that advance bold solutions to secure a just and resilient world for people and nature. We design and carry out programs and projects that promote smart policies, secure equitable public funding, and build strong constituencies for protecting nature, addressing the climate crisis, and advancing environmental equity and justice. Since RLF’s founding in 2000, we have partnered with philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, community groups, government, business, and academia to protect more than five million acres of land and ocean spaces, advance critical climate and environmental justice policies, and generate more than $30 billion in new public funding for conservation, equitable outdoor access, and climate initiatives.

We believe strategic philanthropy and thoughtful partnerships can achieve enduring, equitable outcomes at scale. Philanthropic partners trust us to manage complex, multi-year policy campaigns and philanthropic initiatives. As a grantmaker, we offer beyond-the-dollar support to strengthen grantees’ ability to meet ambitious goals. We also serve as fiscal sponsor to more than 20 projects across the nation and around the world that are doing remarkable work to advance biodiversity protection, climate resilience and mitigation, and justice and equity outcomes.

Our success is integrally tied to social equity, community health, economic opportunity, and a strong democracy. To safeguard our achievements to date and help prepare a favorable environment to face the daunting threat of climate change, we helped launch two partner organizations: Fund for a Better Future, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, and Shared Ascent Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, to work in the intersecting areas of democracy, environment, health, and equity.

We are a multi-disciplinary team of political strategists, coalition builders, grant makers, communicators, and administrative professionals intently focused on delivering results. We are headquartered in Sacramento, California, with staff distributed across the country.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Fiscal Sponsorships Manager serves as the primary liaison between the fiscal sponsor and sponsored projects; fostering strong relationships, ensuring mutual understanding of goals, helping proactively identify and propose solutions to administrative and operational challenges, and supporting compliance with financial, legal, and operational requirements.

As part of the Fiscal Sponsorships team and in collaboration with other RLF departments, the Fiscal Sponsorships Manager provides a combination of management support and direct engagement to deliver high-quality services to fiscally sponsored projects, and to utilize technology and best practices in the field to find new and improved ways to deliver fiscal sponsorship services. This position provides back-office support to projects including developing and submitting funder proposals and reports, reviewing grants, contracts, and other outgoing agreements, providing accurate financial analysis and reporting to projects, and ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of communications. This position meets regularly with project staff, RLF’s Fiscal Sponsorships team, and other RLF staff to identify and address project operational support needs and to identify potential legal, compliance, and related issues arising out of project activities, such as those with legislative advocacy elements or other areas of organizational risk.

This manager is an excellent communicator and thoughtful collaborator, adept at building strong relationships with FSP leaders. A successful candidate will have excellent analytical skills and the ability to propose creative solutions to the unique administrative and operational challenges faced by developing organizations. This role involves maintaining a portfolio of complex clients, with a strong preference for candidates who have prior experience in fiscal sponsorship and a deep understanding of the lifecycle of nonprofit organizations and their operational management.

This position is full-time and exempt, with willingness to work outside regular business hours as needed. This is a remote position with required occasional travel within the U.S. for meetings, conferences, or staff retreats.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In collaboration with the Fiscal Sponsorships team, ensure high quality customer service and support to fiscally sponsored projects.
• Serve as a relationship manager for complex fiscally sponsored projects that require experience navigating ambiguity, managing expectations, and strategic advising.
• Meet with project leads regularly (typically weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) to check-in on project activities and needs.
• Monitor project timelines and milestones in collaboration with project leads to achieve project goals; provide guidance and actively engage to address delays or obstacles.
• Proactively identify needs and connecting projects with appropriate internal teams (e.g. Legal, Operations, Human Resources) to address questions, resolve issues, and develop creative solutions. Ensure timely, service-oriented responses throughout the process.
• Ensure projects consistently meet RLF’s policies and procedures.
• Understand and constructively respond to a range of legal concepts and issues that arise within fiscally sponsored projects’ operations.
• Provide regular strategic guidance and updates on projects’ financial, strategic and compliance-related performance to leadership.
• Identify patterns and trends in issues arising and proposes changes to systems, processes and service offerings.
• Support and work with the Director of Fiscal Sponsorships to build and maintain constructive relationships with donors.
• Oversee development and submission of funding proposals and reporting.
• Draft and/or review budgets for proposals and reports.
• Manage the financial aspects of assigned projects, including budgeting, financial reporting, and submission of grant proposals to donors.
• Ensure projects spend within intended budgets by monitoring fund availability, producing, analyzing, and sharing monthly financial reports to Project leads, and preparing financial reports to donors. Monitor financial activity against approved budget.
• Manage monthly Expensify reconciliation process for assigned projects. Onboard new users, field questions, and troubleshoot for assigned project staff.
• Oversee assigned Grants Coordinators’ work processing post-award receivables in Salesforce.
• Coordinate with Fiscal Sponsorships staff, the Deputy Director of Fiscal Sponsorships, Director of Grants Management, and other philanthropic staff to implement grant making activities and to ensure philanthropic policies and procedures are followed consistently.
• Engage with project staff, grantees, or contractors to provide timely and consistent information. Coordinate with colleagues to ensure communication protocols are developed and implemented that reflect the professionalism, expertise, and respectful approach to RLF.
• Assist with the creation of board and internal reporting materials as needed. Review write ups, contracts, grant agreements, reports, and proposals. Review financial due diligence on potential grantee organizations.
• Provide administrative and financial oversight by ensuring invoices conform to grant or contract terms, and are reviewed, processed, and paid in a timely manner.
• Use organizational technology systems and consistently meet administrative and operational deadlines.
• Coordinate assignments with fiscal sponsorships team to ensure timely completion.
• Provide back-up coverage for the Director of Fiscal Sponsorships and Deputy Director of Fiscal Sponsorships.
• Supervises other team members as needed, coaching and mentoring staff by providing guidance and direction. Serves as a resource on challenging or complex issues.
• Special projects and duties as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

Note: These qualifications are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, so if you have 75% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply.  Experience can include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work and lived experiences that helped you to build the competencies, knowledge, and skills needed for this position. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

• At least 5 years of experience in nonprofit management, fiscal sponsorship, or a closely related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, nonprofit management, or a related area; equivalent experience may substitute. Master’s degree is a plus.
• Strong understanding of legal and regulatory requirements for nonprofit organizations is required. Familiarity with Model A fiscal sponsorship is preferred.
• Interest in the missions of Resources Legacy Fund, Shared Ascent Fund, and Fund for a Better Future and willingness to support all three.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with keen attention to detail and the ability to anticipate informational needs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex information to various audiences and coordinate across teams.
• Highly collaborative with a track record of successful teamwork.
• Professional, composed, and solution-oriented even under pressure or in challenging situations.
• Flexible and responsive to shifting priorities; demonstratives initiative and sound judgement.
• Strong aptitude for technology and a willingness to learn new tools and systems.

Commitment to Nondiscrimination

We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination, where all team members feel valued, respected, and included. We know that our work is enriched by the varied voices and perspectives of every staff and board member, so we are committed to making an earnest effort to recruit, welcome, train, develop, and retain talented individuals from all backgrounds. We believe that a welcoming culture expands our creative capacity to do our work and achieve greater outcomes for people and the natural world.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary of $115,000 to $125,000. We have an alternate Fridays off work schedule (employees work 40 hours one week, 32 hours the next week) and offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k plan with a 5% match, and generous paid time off. RLF also offers a technology allowance, student loan repayment assistance, the Calm app, mental health benefits and approximately 17 paid holidays per year.

To Apply

Please provide a resume and cover letter explaining how your skills fit this position.

Recruitment Schedule:

October 1st – Recruitment Launches

October 15th – Application deadline (applications received after this date may still be considered)

RLF participates in E-Verify. Potential candidates can review the information and here and here.