About Village Capital

Village Capital, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is reinventing the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Known for its groundbreaking approaches to supporting founders who are building solutions to emergent social, economic, and environmental challenges, VilCap unlocks critical social and financial capital for early-stage companies to maximize business and impact growth. Since 2009, Village Capital has supported over 170+ ESOs, and 1,600 startups that have raised over $5 billion in investment capital.

Role Overview

Over the past two years, Village Capital has been working on an innovative investment fund model, Resource Invests US, designed to address capital gaps for startups led by underrepresented and underserved founders. The Resource Invests fund is designed to leverage the untapped expertise of community-led entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), building on Village Capital’s nearly decade-long work with locally-led ESOs, including the Resource Initiative. The fund will leverage the following design features:

ESO Venture Partner Driven: Community-led ESOs will function as Fund “Venture Partners” (“ESO VPs”). Each ESO VP will source, collaborate on due diligence, and provide support to startups, receiving appropriate compensation to align incentives, contribute to ESO sustainability, and promote local reinforcement to boost ecosystem growth.
Hybrid Governance Structure: Fund management is centralized in one institutional manager who oversees fiduciary responsibility and fund operations, and contractually engages ESOs as “venture partners.” Investment decision making is decentralized into an Investment Committee composed of the fund manager and representatives from each ESO VP.

This innovative investment fund model addresses capital gaps and access challenges for both community-led ESOs and startups and aims to rectify inequities in the startup ecosystem.

After completing a feasibility study on this concept, which included market research, ESO focus groups, and extensive stakeholder research to validate and refine the concept and design of the fund, we are seeking a US-based fund manager to launch a pilot of the fund, with a goal of demonstrating a proof of concept to inform a larger fund.

We are looking for a Fund Manager who is passionate about driving systems-level change in access to capital for under-represented entrepreneurs and strengthening the capacity of community-led ESOs. The Fund Manager will play a key role in building, raising, and managing a pilot fund to address the capital gaps and access challenges faced by startups led by founders who have been historically underrepresented/excluded from the early stage investment ecosystem.

This US-based role is initially a one-year fixed-term position, with the possibility of extension based on the success of the fund’s fundraising efforts.

Responsibilities

• Fund development and oversight: In collaboration with the Impact Investments team, you will finalize the design of the fund, leveraging the insights from the feasibility study and overarching fund objectives to address capital gaps for under-represented entrepreneurs, leveraging the Village Capital’s existing assets and networks, including the Abaca platform and network of ESOs in the U.S.
• Fundraising: As part of the development of the fund, you will drive the fundraising process by leading conversations and building relationships with prospective funders, and preparing fundraising materials to secure the targeted $5M capital for the pilot fund.
• Brand development and management: Together with the Communications team, you will build the brand, visibility and leadership of the fund. This will include sharing updates on progress and learning with communities involved in, and representing the fund in key networks and events.
• Building and Supporting the Venture Partners Community: In collaboration with the Village Capital’s Resource manager, you will be responsible for engaging a collaborative of community-led ESOs that are eligible to act as venture partners. This includes sourcing and selecting community-led ESOs that fit the fund’s mission and providing the necessary onboarding and support to ensure their success as key contributors to the fund’s impact.

Upon successfully raising the investment capital for the Resource Invests US pilot, the Fund Manager will be responsible for the following in collaboration with the Impact Investments team:

• Investment Sourcing & Due Diligence: In collaboration with the selected ESO venture partners, you will identify and evaluate investment opportunities, conduct thorough due diligence, provide recommendations for potential deals, and lead investment committees.
• Deal Execution: You will oversee and manage the investment process from start to finish, ensuring smooth execution and adherence to strategic goals. This includes developing and negotiating deal terms that align with fund objectives, conducting and managing comprehensive legal due diligence, and coordinating with all relevant parties to ensure a smooth and timely closing process.
• Portfolio management and support: You will lead post-investment support to portfolio companies, focused on helping organizations maximize their growth and success. This will include developing partnerships with other funds, family offices, and corporations that align with our mission to catalyze co-investment and follow-on investment into the portfolio.
• Fund Operations: You will lead the financial operations of the fund, including cash management and compliance with legal, regulatory and tax requirements.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including investors, portfolio companies, and strategic partners, ensuring long-term engagement and support for the fund’s success.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is passionate about the vision for the fund and driven by the ecosystem-building nature of the role, with a deep appreciation for the critical leadership role ESOs play in their communities and the focus to strengthen their capacity to amplify impact and drive positive change. The ideal candidate is also energized by the opportunity to build and lead a growing fund aimed at addressing capital gaps for underrepresented entrepreneurs, making a real impact in the investment landscape.

With many unknowns and challenges along the way, the candidate must be adaptable, proactive, and ready to navigate new territory. The ideal candidate will embody the following qualities and meet the listed qualifications:

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: You are motivated by the chance to take bold steps and build something lasting. You tackle the challenge of growing a fund with enthusiasm and vision, driven by a desire to see it thrive and make an impact.
• Community-Driven Relationship Builder: You believe in the value of strong networks. You excel at developing and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders—investors, partners, and entrepreneurs—to ensure the fund remains well-connected and supported at every stage.
• Fundraiser: You are passionate about spearheading the fundraising process, proactively building new and nurturing existing relationships to secure the capital essential for the fund’s success. You understand the intricacies of investor partnerships and excel at securing resources to fuel growth.
• Transaction Expertise: With hands-on experience, you’re skilled in sourcing investment opportunities, conducting comprehensive due diligence, and closing deals successfully. Your expertise enables the fund to make informed, high-impact investments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or other relevant fields, or a combination of related experience and skill-sets
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in entrepreneurial ecosystems, with at least 3 years in direct investment roles within early-stage venture capital or angel investing.
• Proven success in building long-term relationships with investors, funders, and/or other stakeholders (demonstrated success in raising capital for a business, investment or similar is a plus).
• Proficiency in financial modeling, market analysis, and the ability to evaluate potential investments based on risk, return, and impact.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present prospective investors, negotiate terms, and clearly convey the fund’s mission and value proposition.