Position: Development Director
Department: Development
Location: In-person, Washington, DC; LWD office
Reports to: Executive Director
Classification: Full-time, exempt employee
Term: Permanent
Applications for this role will be reviewed and considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Development Director Overview:
Leaders We Deserve is looking for a strategic and highly motivated Development Director to expand on the fundraising success of the organization. This role will collaborate with the Executive Director and President closely in all aspects of their work. The Development Director will cultivate and expand the Leaders We Deserve donor base, use creative and strategic thinking to creatively problem solve, and constantly search for new ways to maximize donor engagement with Leaders We Deserve.
A successful Leaders We Deserve employee will:
Think outside the box: This person will have a high level of creativity and constantly questions conventional knowledge. This person knows that just because it was done one way in the past, doesn't mean it has to continue to be done that way.
Be a self-starter: This person possesses a can-do attitude and constantly thinks about how we can exceed what seems possible. This person will be an independent worker and collaborate across departments.
Be detail-oriented and thoughtful: This person understands that working in a small organization means that the details and precision matter, but also doesn’t become a prisoner to them and let perfection stand in the way of action.
Be highly communicative: This person will be a proactive communicator towards management and co-workers when issues arise in carrying out their projects and duties. This person can give feedback in a direct, but respectful way. We’re looking for radical candor, not “brutal honesty”.
Extremely dedicated to electing young progressives: This person sees the virtue in electing progressive young people and believes they have a critical role to play in our party and in advancing the progressive agenda.
Development Director Responsibilities:
Strategy Development and Implementation (20%)
Build, craft, and implement a comprehensive multi-year fundraising strategy that meets and exceeds fundraising goals through meetings, events, call time, foundations, grants, organic and paid social, email, texting, PAC, member, labor, and direct mail.
Provide regular updates to the Executive Director and President on fundraising progress and challenges and make recommendations for course correction as needed.
Continuously evaluate and innovate on fundraising strategies and tactics; support fundraising literacy across the organization.
Donor Relations (35%)
Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with current and prospective individual donors, donor advisors, corporate supporters, and foundations from various geographies and sectors.
Work closely with the President and Executive Director to cultivate prospects with the potential for high-level gifts. Continuously steward donors to ensure ongoing giving.
Draft proposals, pitch decks, reports, and other relevant materials to pitch, close, and steward fundraising opportunities.
Collaborate with President and Executive Director on major donor engagement, including providing materials, talking points, and briefings for donor meetings.
Internal Collaboration and Leadership (20%)
Work closely with the Executive Director and President, along with other Leaders We Deserve staff, to ensure that all messaging and fundraising efforts are aligned with the long- and short-term strategic planning and goals of the organization.
Share information internally in an effort to capitalize on new and innovative fundraising opportunities that may originate in other departments within the organization.
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning within the Development department and across the organization.
Oversee the growth of the Development team. This will include providing leadership, guidance, and mentorship to development staff.
Data Management (15%)
Maintain meticulous donor records, including but not limited to contacts, pledges, event hosts and more.
Iterate on fundraising forecasting to ensure that long- and short-term fundraising goals are met on a rolling basis.
Ensure all databases are closely managed and data is kept to the highest standard of cleanliness (NGP, Numero, etc.)
Compliance (10%)
Work hand-in-glove with the compliance vendor to ensure all necessary and relevant information is shared with the compliance team well ahead of reporting deadlines.
Ensure that all fundraising activities comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Development Director Qualifications:
Have at least one cycle as a Finance Director at the congressional level or higher, and have at least 2 cycles of experience working in the development space. Statewide and non-profit experience is preferred but not required.
Highly skilled in written and verbal communication, along with an inclusive and collaborative energy. Strong critical thinking skills.
Detail-oriented, organized, and a thoughtful contributor to strategic planning and implementation.
A track record of successful collaboration inside and outside of an organization that is in a growth stage.
A demonstrated record of fundraising success, especially with major gifts, events, and high net-worth donors. Prior experience creating multi-year fundraising plans.
Ability to distill and present complex information effectively, tailored to donor interests.
Demonstrated success in thinking strategically about revenue diversification and revenue growth
Willingness to question the status quo of fundraising in the progressive space and think outside of the box to solve problems creatively.
Demonstrated proficiency in using NGP-VAN for fundraising.
This role is dynamic and can be time intensive. Leaders We Deserve is looking for a candidate who is comfortable with late-night work sessions and weekend projects when there are important events, deadlines are pressing, or urgent development needs arise. Additional responsibilities are likely to arise given the growth stage of the organization and the current political environment. Additionally, this role includes extensive travel across the country, which could be a few days a month or up to two consecutive weeks of travel.
Development Director Compensation & Benefits:
Salary: $100,000 - $120,000 annually
Employer sponsored healthcare, including platinum health, dental, and vision options.
Retirement benefits, up to a 5% employer match.
Cell phone stipend, moving stipend, transportation stipend, professional development stipend and more.
Professional development program
Opportunity for year end bonus
Paid time off policies include vacation, sick, bereavement, and voting time off.
Parental leave policy, with a service qualification.
We value diversity, equity and inclusion. Leaders We Deserve is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community.
Salary range$100,000 - $120,000 per year
Please submit application through the Gusto link provided. Only applications received through Gusto will be considered.