Social Investment Officer, Detroit Program; TKF

Posted on September 02, 2020

The Kresge Foundation has an opening for a Social Investment Officer, Detroit Program.

The Kresge Foundation is one of the top 20 private foundations in the United States and the only one focused exclusively on expanding opportunities for people with low income in American Cities. With a $3.8 billion endowment and a staff of over 100 employees, the foundation deploys grants and social investments across arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development.

The foundation’s state-of-the-art headquarters maintains an array of energy-efficient, water-conserving and health-promoting systems. The foundation also operates an office in Detroit’s Midtown district.

The Kresge Foundation has been utilizing social investments to complement its grant making activities for about 12 years. Since inception, the Foundation has invested over $300MM through the practice and there is strong executive and Board support to accelerate the Foundation’s use of non-grant forms of capital (debt, equity, guarantees, deposits).

The Social Investment Officer will work closely with Social Investment staff and the Managing Directors of several Program areas to identify sector level issues that lend themselves to investment, develop a capital strategy, identify or create impactful transactions and assist in the ongoing learning, evaluation and asset management of transactions.

This position works with multiple stakeholders and the candidate must have the right blend of hard and soft skills. The ideal candidate will have a finance or banking background, evidence of sustained idea generation, an understanding of the social/impact investing sector and a passion to use capital to make a difference. The candidate will also have a deep understanding of place-based investments, specifically in Detroit but with a working knowledge of other place-based social investment strategies.

The candidate must have strong written and oral presentation skills and understanding of how to present to and work with an Investment Committee, Executive Team, and other key stakeholders.

Externally, this position works with grantees, borrowers, investors, consultants, and legal counsel.

• Maintain primary responsibility for the Detroit portfolio but also lead transactions in support of national programs
• Work with Program staff and Social Investment Staff to develop a pipeline of investment opportunities that addresses a critical capital barrier in a sector
• Participate in assigned program team meetings, working closely with program team Managing Directors and Program Officers, to maintain an understanding of programmatic strategy and serve as an expert in pairing social investment solutions with grantmaking opportunities to further team strategy
• Provide flexible social investment support across teams, when necessary
• Underwrite transactions for risk and impact, present to Investment Committee, lead the closing process and, over time, coordinate with the Portfolio Manager on capital calls and ongoing asset management
• Work with colleagues in finance and grants management to ensure all necessary information is available to meet internal communication needs
• Partner with Social Investment Managing Director on significant place-based initiatives
• Establish relationships with key external partners – including within the market-rate and social capital markets – to leverage Kresge’s investments with funds from other aligned investors
• Represent Kresge at external gatherings, on panels etc.

• Minimum B.A. in finance, urban planning, or related field. Advanced degree in related field preferred.
• Five to seven years’ experience in banking, finance, real estate, private equity, or community development finance.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills necessary to interact as a team member with diverse Foundation colleagues.
• Demonstrated skills and knowledge of systems and approaches to analyze programmatic objectives and further them through social investment opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective and constructive…