Justin Douglas

Résumé

Experience & Background

Professional Summary

I've spent 17 years building cross-sector partnerships and fundraising at the intersection of K-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems. Every role has been a version of the same mission: create and fund opportunities that give underrepresented students a chance at economic mobility. I have worked across sectors with corporate philanthropy and employers, foundations and program officers, K-12 school leaders and educators, and higher education and workforce organizations. I facilitate systems change by leveraging my connections to create tangible opportunities for learners: mentorship, scholarships, credentials, internships, and jobs.

Experience & Leadership

Vice President of Partnerships

Making Waves Education Foundation · Richmond, CA · 2025 to present

Lead organization-wide partnerships, overseeing corporate, foundation, and earned revenue initiatives aligned to our career pathways strategy with K-12, postsecondary, and industry
Co-create multi-year revenue vision and strategy integrating institutional fundraising, corporate partnerships, and a new earned revenue model pilot to support a new intermediary organization, career pathways programming, and employer network building
Strategically leverage the CEO, Chief External Affairs Officer, COO, and Chief Program Officer in external stakeholder cultivation and stewardship, including upward managing senior leader participation in high-stakes funder and partner interactions
Collaborate cross-functionally with Making Waves Academy to engage corporate and foundation partners in K-12 programming, strengthening alignment between external partner metrics and student outcomes

Director, Corporate and Foundation Partnerships

Making Waves Education Foundation · Richmond, CA · 2024 to 2025

Developed and negotiated multiyear corporate partnerships connecting high school and college students to internships, mentorship, and early-career opportunities
Sourced, cultivated, and stewarded a portfolio of institutional funders (70+ companies and 30+ foundations) by developing tailored engagement plans, grant narratives, proposals, and reports
Designed and implemented employee engagement initiatives through collaboration with corporate partners, benefiting middle and high school students, college students, and young program alumni
Hosted events for institutional partners and employers, including a high school career fair for 500 students and industry-focused panels for college students

Managing Director, Foundation & Corporate Partnerships

Teach For America, Northern California · CA · 2021 to 2024

Successfully managed a portfolio that raised over $7.3 million to support career-connected teacher pipeline and workforce preparation programming across the SF Bay Area, Sacramento, and Stockton communities
Coached and developed a direct report, leading to their promotion and role expansion
Led cross-functional team meetings to develop internal resources and improve stakeholder communication
Managed and maintained relationships with over 110 stakeholders representing over 70 foundations, corporations, and public funders through ongoing funding requests and strategic touchpoints

Leadership Team Member

Teach For America, Bay Area · CA · 2020 to 2022

Advised and influenced decisions on budget allocations, staffing, and teacher and alumni resource allocation

Director, Partnerships

Teach For America, Bay Area · CA · 2018 to 2021

Managed school and district partnerships for 200 educators in our teacher pipeline program
Developed placement strategy and held stakeholder communications with 40+ district and network administrators

Director of Development & Outreach

Next Generation Scholars · San Rafael, CA · 2016 to 2018

Increased organization's fundraising by 63%; secured multiple, multi-year six-figure grants through institutional development partnerships with foundations, corporate funders, and government sources
Supervised a cross-functional team supporting part-time staff and volunteers; managed day-to-day operations
Managed relationships and communications with the board; led special events and programming for external stakeholders
Collaborated with the board on developing budgets, financial reports, and program assessment tools

Project Coordinator

San Diego Youth Development Office · San Diego, CA · 2013 to 2015

Supported cross-sector coalition work under an Aspen Institute Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund grant, brokering partnerships between San Diego Unified School District, the Workforce Investment Board, community college, and philanthropic funders to connect disconnected youth to employment and educational pathways
Coordinated workgroups in support of citywide marketing and communications strategy, youth advocacy, and youth policy and data

Educational Research Analyst

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt · New York, NY · 2010 to 2011

Collected test data from school districts to inform marketing strategies; managed records within the online CRM system
Led meetings and made presentations on school districts that provided sales data for use within the organization

Assistant Director of Research & Development

The Boys' Club of New York · New York, NY · 2008 to 2009

Updated donor information and ran data queries; prospected foundations and individuals, supporting fundraising efforts
Wrote and edited articles for the annual report; managed volunteers and board members at fundraising events

Volunteer & Community Involvement

Director, Board of Directors

Narrative Magazine · San Francisco, CA · 2021 to present

Advise organization leadership on fundraising, strategy, and hiring
Interview and vet candidates for leadership positions

Co-facilitator

NYU Intergroup Dialogue · New York, NY · 2012

Developed curriculum and taught a discussion-based, nationally-recognized course on diversity and social justice issues
Advised students in the analysis of societal norms and public policies as they relate to systemic racism; fostered an environment for dynamic intergroup relations within a higher education setting

Skills

Key Competencies: Career Pathways Strategy, Workforce Development, Cross-Sector Coalitions, K-12 to Career Pipeline, Employer Engagement, Systems Change, Institutional Development & Fundraising

Fundraising Software: Salesforce, The Raiser's Edge, Network for Good

Microsoft: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, PowerBI

Other Tools: Canva, Zoom, Asana, Trello, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude