Deputy Director, Catalyze479 Fund
As Deputy Director, Catalyze479 Fund, at Renaissance Philanthropy, you will play a key role in helping build and execute the Catalyze479 Fund in Northwest Arkansas. This is a rare opportunity to help source and diligence investments, support portfolio companies, strengthen local ecosystem relationships, and contribute to the growth of a philanthropic investment fund focused on early-stage companies and community-embedded businesses. The ideal candidate is someone who is equal parts investor, relationship builder, and operator.
This position is based Northwest Arkansas (within 30 miles of Bentonville) — on-site required. At least 2-3 days of in-office time is required per week.
Compensation
$135,000–$150,000 base salary range, plus a comprehensive benefits package, 401(k) contribution match, $550 / month in additional fringe benefits, unlimited PTO, and performance-based bonus. This role does not come with carried interest, given the investments are coming from a philanthropic fund.
Reports to:
Director, Catalyze479 Fund
Employment Type:
Full-time
About the Catalyze479 Strategy of the Northwest Arkansas Innovation Fund
Northwest Arkansas (NWA) is one of America’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions — home to Fortune 500 firms Walmart, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt; an extraordinary outdoor lifestyle that includes one of the top mountain bike networks in the world; and an emerging startup ecosystem.
With support from the Walton Family Foundation, Renaissance Philanthropy has launched the Catalyze479 Fund to bridge the earliest stage capital gap for Northwest Arkansas-based enterprises. This revolving, nonprofit philanthropic fund will provide capital to validation-stage companies at the most critical stages of development and help prime these companies to grow, create high-quality local jobs, and receive future private sector angel and venture capital. Any return from the investments will be re-invested into the Fund to sustain future investments with the same parameters (Northwest Arkansas-based companies).
The Fund will invest via two main strategies, with a maximum initial check size of $500,000:
A Venture Validation strategy targeting idea-stage through validation-stage / pre-seed companies in Northwest Arkansas that are building scalable, technology-forward businesses that are too early-stage or high-risk for traditional venture capital investment. These companies should have the potential to create positive change, diversify the economic base of Northwest Arkansas, and generate high-quality local jobs.
A Main Street strategy investing in scalable community-embedded businesses—the bookstores, restaurants, and neighborhood anchors that provide local character and jobs.
Our goal is to deploy capital across both fund strategies, build a portfolio of companies generating follow-on investment, create quality jobs in the region, and become part of the connective tissue of a robust, inclusive, and ambitious startup community.
The fund’s theory of change is that place-based equity investment from a philanthropic fund paired with deep founder support and a robust ecosystem of co-investors and community partners can diversify NWA’s economy, create quality jobs for Arkansans, and ultimately improve the local community.
Catalyze479 will deploy capital as Mission-Related Investments (MRIs). Financial return and mission impact are both objectives.
The Role
Renaissance Philanthropy is seeking a Deputy Director for Catalyze479 — someone who is equal parts investor, relationship builder, and operator. This is a rare opportunity to help build and scale an early-stage philanthropic investment fund by supporting sourcing, due diligence, portfolio management, ecosystem engagement, and fund operations across two distinct strategies.
You will be a senior local member of the Catalyze479 team, working directly with the Fund Director to help execute the fund’s strategy, build trusted relationships across Northwest Arkansas, and ensure strong investment and portfolio management processes. You will operate with meaningful responsibility while partnering closely with the Director on priorities, external positioning, and fund-level decisions.
If the fund is successful in its first 30 months, Catalyze479 will have deployed capital across both fund strategies, built a portfolio of companies generating follow-on investment, supported quality job creation in the region, and established the NWA Innovation Fund as an important part of a more robust, inclusive, and ambitious startup community in Northwest Arkansas. As Deputy Director, you will play a central role in helping achieve those outcomes.
Core Responsibilities
Fund Build-Out & Investment Strategy
Support the Fund Director in refining the fund’s investment thesis, criteria, and operating model in partnership with Renaissance Philanthropy leadership and stakeholders
Help define, track, and communicate the fund’s theory of impact — how equity investment translates to regional economic development, job creation, and founder success
Ensure all fund activities comply with Renaissance Philanthropy's Investment Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, and applicable IRS requirements governing mission-related investments by 501(c)(3) organizations, including documentation standards for mission nexus at the time of each investment
Sourcing, Due Diligence & Portfolio Management
Build and support an active deal pipeline across both fund strategies — Venture Validation and Main Street
Support end-to-end investment processes, including sourcing, founder assessment, due diligence, investment memo creation, Investment Committee preparation, and coordination with the Fund Director on investment recommendations and terms
Work closely with portfolio founders post-investment as a thought partner, advisor, and connector — helping them access follow-on capital, key hires, and customers
Track and report on both financial performance and community impact metrics, including jobs created, capital leverage, and founder outcome
Ecosystem Building & External Relations
Represent Catalyze479 at regional events, founder and investor convenings, and community gatherings
Cultivate deep relationships with regional anchors (Walmart, Tyson, JB Hunt, and others), universities, economic development organizations, and civic leaders
Build co-investment pipelines with national and regional VC firms, angel networks, and philanthropic partners
Identify and engage complementary ecosystem players — understanding where to partner, where to lead, and how to build collective momentum toward a more inclusive and dynamic startup community in NWA
Fundraising & Stakeholder Reporting
Contribute to regular reporting on fund performance, portfolio developments, and strategic priorities, including drafting updates, preparing materials, and synthesizing portfolio and impact data for the Fund Director and Renaissance Philanthropy leadership
Identify and cultivate additional philanthropic and impact investors to invest in the
companies in the portfolio to grow the portfolio’s investor base over time
Develop compelling, data-driven impact narratives that demonstrate the fund’s value to the region
Team & Operations
Support onboarding, coordination, and day-to-day collaboration with future Catalyze479 team members, interns, contractors, or shared-service partners as the fund grows
Build internal systems and operational processes that allow the fund to scale, with support from Renaissance Philanthropy’s shared services
Leverage AI tools in day-to-day operations — from deal sourcing and due diligence to communications and reporting
Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a builder with a genuine love for startups, people, and community. You understand the mechanics of early-stage businesses across very different environments — from venture-backed tech to main street retail — and you have the judgment to recognize exceptional founders and differentiated ideas. You are a hyper-connector who forges relationships that outlast your involvement, and you are energized, not paralyzed, by the opportunity to design something new.
Required:
5–8+ years of experience in venture capital, early-stage investing, startup operations, entrepreneurship, economic development, or related fields — ideally a combination
Track record of making or supporting equity investments, including sourcing, diligence, and portfolio management
Familiarity with pre-seed and seed-stage investment structures: cap table math, term sheets, and early-stage KPIs
Demonstrated ability to mentor and advise founders, both pre- and post-investment
Experience building or launching new organizations, funds, or programs from scratch
Strong relationships in the startup and investor community, with the ability to attract co-investors and credible deal flow
Deep commitment to Northwest Arkansas — through existing roots in the region or a genuine, specific enthusiasm for relocating and embedding in the community
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex investment themes for diverse audiences
AI-enabled: you actively use AI tools in your work
Preferred:
Experience at the intersection of philanthropy and investing: impact investing, program-related investments, or catalytic capital
Existing networks in NWA or the broader Arkansas and Midwest startup ecosystem
Experience collaborating with early-career investment professionals, analysts, interns, or cross-functional partners
Comfort with quantitative analytics, including Excel modeling and financial analysis
Values
You will thrive within our team if you:
You believe in the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to create economic opportunity — and you see NWA as one of the most exciting places in America to prove it. You have strong mission and vision alignment.
You can build from scratch, make decisions with incomplete information, and move mountains when you need to. You exhibit high agency.
You can recruit co-investors, win over founders, and bring skeptics along — because you are genuinely compelling and you care about the people around you. You inspire others and are highly collaborative.
You know that the best investments often come from the deepest relationships. You are a hyper-connector who gets to know everybody and understands who should meet whom. You value exceptional talent and the power of networks.
You are not afraid of ambiguity. You ask tons of questions. Intellectual curiosity is your default operating mode. You are comfortable working in fast-moving and ambitious environments.
You are as excited about being part of building Northwest Arkansas into a destination for entrepreneurs and young professionals as you are about deploying capital. You love building community.
Diversity
We encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply, regardless of whether you feel you meet 100% of the qualifications. The top candidates will bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds from a variety of industries along with many but not necessarily all the skills listed above.
Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce is critical to our success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Renaissance Philanthropy is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Next Steps
Apply here.
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