Director of Catalytic Capital

WHO WE ARE

Communities on the margins of opportunity deserve a trusted partner on their journey toward financial growth and stability. As a locally invested, collaborative partner in social justice and financial equity, Community Vision provides nonprofits, small businesses, and social enterprises with strategic investment and guidance to deepen work, scale impact, and strengthen our communities. 

 

We know that supporting community-owned and community-governed projects creates shared prosperity and builds collective and self-directed economic and political power. This position will put you at the forefront of exciting organizational growth and re-envisioning how we carry out our work, creating greater efficiency internally and deeper impact externally.

Community Vision is dedicated to anti-racist practices and to building an anti-racist organization. This includes treating colleagues with respect, supporting the vision of the organization, and acting as ambassadors of our values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a new position at Community Vision, building on our 20+ year history of providing Catalytic Capital, including forgivable loans, grants, and other catalytic resources to high-impact nonprofits and community-rooted small businesses. The Catalytic Capital team utilizes a restorative approach to deploy a spectrum of forms of community development capital to enterprises and projects that increase community ownership of community assets and support wealth creation and power building in communities of color. 

As the head of a new department, the Director of Catalytic Capital has a uniquely entrepreneurial role within the organization, charged with building programs, products, revenue, and assets related to Catalytic Capital activities. The Director of Catalytic Capital is responsible for building a revenue-neutral, high-impact program over an 18-month period. The position leads the development and implementation of Community Vision’s capital grantmaking and alternative capital deployment strategies by gathering community input on gaps in the market, creating new products and programs, managing the underwriting and disbursement of catalytic capital products, and ensuring Community Vision meets all program performance objectives. Additionally, the position collaborates with Community Vision’s Senior Vice President of Programs and External Relations department to cultivate new funding and capitalization opportunities and develop new, mission-aligned partnerships. This role requires an understanding of real estate and finance (both nonprofit and for-profit), a strong drive to build a thriving new capital practice, the ability to successfully manage multiple competing priorities, strong interpersonal and communication skills, a high degree of accuracy, and creative approaches to solving problems. This position reports to the Senior Vice President of Programs and collaborates closely with the Director of Capital Solutions and the Capital Solutions team, as well as the Real Estate Solutions team.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Program Development

• Under the direction of the SVP of Programs, build CV’s Catalytic Capital practice to be revenue and risk-neutral for the organization, with a suite of products that are high impact, meet community needs, and are complementary to CV’s existing lending and consulting, and program offerings, with clearly defined impact criteria.
• Cultivate trusted partnerships with community-based organizations in CV’s 46-County service area. 
• Engage with deeply-rooted members of these communities via calls, email, forums, surveys, etc., at various intervals to inform program design.
• Work with the SVP of Programs and other program staff as appropriate to develop new programs and products through a racial equity lens and in response to community needs that leverage CV’s other capital and technical resources.
• Direct the development of program materials based on community input, including email announcements, program guidelines, FAQs, applications, application checklists, reporting requirements, and grant agreements.
• Publicly present complex and detailed information and answer program questions via email, live web pages, and live and recorded videos.
• Collaborate with CV’s Director of Policy and Impact to create and implement impact measurement framework(s) for Catalytic Capital.

 

Cultivate and Manage Mission-Aligned Clients, Funding and Partnerships

• Work with the SVP of Programs and External Relations department to identify, cultivate and secure mission-aligned funding to support CV’s Catalytic Capital activities.
• Work with the SVP of Programs and External Relations department to identify, cultivate and secure mission-aligned capital resources that are tailored to CV’s Catalytic Capital activities.
• With direction from the SVP of Programs, successfully advance CV’s capitalization, funding, and development by partnering with the External Relations team to build a public presence for CV’s catalytic capital practice, including online assets. Regularly collaborate with the External Relations team to identify and implement opportunities to publish written pieces (articles, blogs, thought leadership) and create opportunities for public presentations.
• Develop partnerships with aligned organizations to amplify CV’s Catalytic Capital work, with direction from the SVP of Programs and in collaboration with CV’s other programs and external-facing staff. 
• Manage existing partnerships related to Catalytic Capital, including the Federal Home Loan Bank (related to grant programs), Foreclosure Intervention Housing Protection Program (FIHPP) capital partners, and others.
• Ensure that the Catalytic Capital department meets all of its contracted deliverables, compliance obligations, and reporting requirements.
• Serve as a thought leader in the broader community development and impact investing field and represents CV at industry conferences and events.
• Manage outreach efforts to develop new client funding opportunities for CV’s catalytic capital practice, ensuring coordination with business development staff in other departments.

 

Transaction Management

• Manage the full transaction cycle, including pipeline development, due diligence, preparation of underwriting/grant memos, presentation to approving committee(s)/officers, and business point-related legal negotiations for approved transactions.
• Collaborate with the Director of Capital Solutions and Loan Administration team to close transactions.

• Ensure Catalytic Capital staff are in regular communication with CV’s clients and grantees, gathering required documentation and appropriately managing project timelines.
• Ensure Catalytic Capital staff regularly communicate and collaborate with their peers in the Capital Solutions and Real Estate Solutions departments.
• Resolve transaction challenges creatively and flexibly in accordance with CV’s program guidelines and risk management practices.
• Provide guidance and accountability to ensure CV successfully manages complex projects and deadline-driven disbursements.
• Continually update policies and practices based on compliance research and reporting best practices.
• Ensure the department keeps excellent written records and thoroughly documents its processes and procedures.
• Ensure that CV’s commitment to advancing racial equity is built into the full transaction lifecycle.

 

Process Improvement

• Implement trust-based capital deployment strategies wherever possible.
• Think creatively about new ways of working and raise them to the SVP of Programs and other appropriate parties for consideration. 
• Analyze the efficiency of current program operations and business processes and make detailed recommendations for improvement.
• Participate in program and policy development, providing feedback and workflow analysis.
• Pursue professional development opportunities and maintain needed job knowledge, skills, and competencies by participating in educational programs and learning networks

 

Staff Management and Program Team Collaboration

• Manage Catalytic Capital staff. Provide guidance and accountability for daily activities. Create opportunities for learning and professional development.
• Prioritize opportunities for staff to cross-train, assist, and collaborate with the Capital Solutions department.
• Under the direction of the SVP of Programs, work in collaboration with the Director of Capital Solutions and Director of Real Estate Solutions to identify creative opportunities for Community Vision to increase its community impact.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Ideal qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in one of the following fields: nonprofit finance, nonprofit real estate, community research and engagement, community-based lending, or capital grantmaking
• Prior experience managing $2M+ government contracts and/or philanthropic grants and associated reports and deliverables. Experience with regranting for capital projects is a plus
• Familiarity with commercial real estate underwriting practices and principals
• Prior experience with lending or grantmaking program development and implementation
• Prior staff management experience in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment
• Excellent quantitative analysis skills
• Strong verbal and writing skills
• Superior attention to detail
• Creative problem-solver who can balance innovation and compliance 
• Excellent community engagement skills
• Ability to produce professional quality work that meets agreed-upon deadlines
• Strong team player and ability to work in a cooperative and diverse environment
• Understanding of and ability to work with a range of nonprofit clients, which reflect the diversity of the Bay Area, Central and Northern California

MORE ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director of Catalytic Capital is a full-time non-exempt position. This position reports to the Senior Vice President of Programs. The salary for this position is between $123,000- $167,000 annually, depending on experience. Benefits include: 100% health insurance premium coverage for employees and a contribution towards dependent coverage, dental insurance, long-term disability and life insurance, transportation and cell phone subsidies, employer contributions towards retirement savings, three weeks’ vacation, and a commitment to work/life balance. Occasional evenings and out of area travel may be necessary. The position involves regular computer and telephone use plus some minimal lifting. The position can be based at either of Community Vision’s offices in San Francisco or Oakland. We are working in a hybrid environment.