Democracy Takes Work Initiative Director
Summary
We are in a historic moment for workers’ rights, with public support for unions at its highest point in decades, a deeply pro-labor administration in office, and workers organizing at companies big and small. This is also a historic moment for our country, as growing authoritarianism threatens our core democratic principles. Research and history show that organized workers are a powerful counterforce to authoritarian leaders, but funders have not invested heavily at the intersection of labor and democracy. There is untapped opportunity for philanthropy—especially individual funders and political funders—to leverage the momentum and excitement of this worker power moment to dramatically expand workplace democracy, increase civic participation, drive forward a progressive agenda, and move towards the just, feminist, multiracial democracy that our country needs.
The Democracy Alliance seeks to hire a Director for the Democracy Takes Work initiative to lead fundraising and donor education to meet this moment, with a goal of building support for worker organizing within the donor class and securing new resources for a portfolio of Democracy Takes Work investment recommendations. The successful candidate for this role will be an experienced fundraiser or donor organizer who is also entrepreneurial, collaborative, and eager to create something new in partnership with leaders from across philanthropy—a creative community-builder who believes passionately that this moment needs all of us to be “all in.”
Scope of work
Resource development:
Organize Democracy Takes Work inaugural partners to build prospect list; add to list based on own knowledge of funders in this area
Develop and implement fundraising strategy for prospects, engaging directly in outreach and solicitation in coordination with Democracy Takes Work inaugural partners and DA staff
By December 2024, raise significant new funding commitments to organizations/ worker organizing campaigns included in the Democracy Takes Work investment recommendation portfolio
Recruit new DA partners who can act as peer champions for this work within the DA community
Donor organizing and education:
Collaborate with DA program and events staff in support of an annual program of in person events, virtual events, written communications, and other materials to engage and educate funders (especially individual and c4 funders) about the role of worker organizing in strengthening democracy.
Collaborate with DA communications staff/consultants, inaugural partners, and others in the ecosystem on op-eds and other public-facing communications to raise the profile of worker organizing as a democracy strategy and encourage broader investment.
Support the workers’ rights advocacy and mobilization agenda developed by the Worker Power Coalition project of Democracy Takes Work.
Program strategy and management:
With DA team members and inaugural partners, craft Democracy Takes Work investment recommendations list in alignment with Democracy Takes Work investment strategy developed with inaugural partners
May supervise consultants and/or DA staff (for example: project management, communications, prospect research, and/or coalition management)
Ideal candidate profile
A recognized leader that Democracy Takes Work partners, donors, and movement will have confidence in, be excited to work with, and be eager to introduce to others in their networks
Demonstrated track record of making 6-figure asks and closing gifts
Established network/rolodex in the progressive individual philanthropy sector
Programmatic experience within the progressive community, respected and trusted by movement and funders alike
Compensation and benefits
The Democracy Alliance offers a competitive compensation and generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement and life insurance benefits, four weeks/20 days of PTO, paid sick leave, and holidays (+ two annual week-long office closures). The salary for the Director is $150,000 - $170,000.
To apply
This position will remain open until filled. The preferred deadline to submit an application is March 27th, 2024. To apply, please upload your resume and respond to the application questions listed on this page. NRG Consulting Group is supporting this search; contact jobs@nrgconsultinggroup.org with any questions.
The DA believes that a diverse workplace is critical to achieving our goals. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.
Frequently cited statistics show that applicants from structurally marginalized and/or underrepresented groups apply for jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. The Democracy Alliance encourages you to break that statistic and apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to your application!