Florida’s housing affordability crisis is the worst in the nation, and it is being driven first and foremost by runaway rent increases. So a coalition of advocacy organizations in Florida is working to pass a rent control ballot initiative in the November, 2028 election.
This campaign is being supported by organizations who have played important roles in major ballot initiative campaigns in Florida, including initiatives on felon enfranchisement in 2018 and abortion rights in 2024 that received national attention.
We know this is a winnable fight, but it won’t be easy. Our initial polling shows Floridians overwhelmingly support rent control and want aggressive action to address the larger affordability crisis. But we’ll face well-funded attacks and disinformation from a consortium of corporate landlords, realtor associations, major developers, and the politicians they have in their pocket.
The campaign will require a diversified funding strategy, including a robust small-dollar program, along with a significant major-donor program targeting high net-worth individuals, institutional funders, and national allies.
There will be two phases of the campaign. During the initial qualification phase, we anticipate needing to raise $12-15M by the end of 2027 to get the initiative on the ballot. Once the initiative qualifies, we’ll then need to raise however many millions of dollars it’ll take to secure a victory at the ballot box.
Reporting to the Campaign Manager, the Finance Director will lead the campaign’s fundraising program, including designing the campaign's fundraising plan and ensuring the campaign is meeting and exceeding fundraising goals through both the qualification phase of the campaign in 2027 and the electoral campaign in 2028.
We have engaged major-donor fundraising consultants to provide some short-term capacity as our fundraising program ramps up.
In the first months, you will be a hands-on generalist who raises money personally across every channel, whether that’s writing a $20 email fundraising appeal, making a $50,000 in-person ask, or writing a seven-figure proposal to a national union or foundation.
As the campaign grows, you will shift into more of a managerial role, building and leading a team of 2–4 full-time staff and 2–4 consulting firms.
Throughout the campaign, you will work closely with the Executive Committee, the leaders of major coalition partner organizations who will serve as principals and validators. A big part of your job will be to leverage their relationships and credibility to raise money for the campaign.
Responsibilities
Build and lead the fundraising program
Working with the Campaign Manager, Executive Team and fundraising consultants, create an ambitious but realistic finance plan and budget that will take us through qualification and the election.
Hire, manage, and support fundraising staff and fundraising consultants.
Directly solicit contributions at all levels, as necessary and appropriate.
Create and lead an eight-figure major-donor program (including individual donors and institutional funders).
Help create and then oversee the implementation of strong grassroots and mid-level fundraising programs. This will include managing the digital consultants doing our online fundraising.
Provide high-level support and fundraising collateral for community fundraising events put on by the field and organizing staff to engage the base and build momentum for the campaign.
Managing principals and the prospect pipeline
Manage the major donor pipeline, executing and overseeing the work required to move prospects from identification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Build and maintain the prospect list with the Executive Committee, identifying which of their relationships to activate and making clear who is responsible for what.
Manage and prepare principals for donor meetings with briefings, talking points, and materials – and staffing these meetings as appropriate.
Continually refining the donor messaging and talking points based on the campaign’s public messaging and the changing campaign landscape.
Keep the principals on the Executive Committee on track to reach their fundraising goals and deliver on their commitments to the campaign.
Budget, compliance, and coordination
Track revenue against the campaign budget, and work with the Campaign Manager and the finance team to update projections as the campaign changes.
Keep all fundraising compliant with Florida election law, in coordination with the campaign's compliance and finance consultants.
Meet regularly with the communications team to align donor messaging with the public campaign.
Maintain a clear fundraising roadmap with benchmarks for institutional and individual donors, and regularly report progress to leadership.
Required
5+ years of relevant fundraising experience, including major donor experience and experience raising toward a $1M+ budget. Political and advocacy fundraising experience is highly desirable.
Excellent communication and relational skills.
A high degree of initiative and a bias toward action, married with the ability to work well in teams.
A working understanding of Florida's political landscape and its many communities.
An ability to adapt a fundraising program to different audiences, including labor leaders, national foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and grassroots donors.
An approach to fundraising in terms of long-term relationships and partnerships, not as short-term transactions.
The ability to remain calm, poised and hopeful in fast, high-pressure environments.
The ability to work well with multiple principals.
Experience with NGP VAN, ActBlue, and Excel or Google Sheets
A demonstrated commitment to economic justice, and a desire to join an ambitious fight to take on powerful corporate interests on behalf of everyday Floridians.
Available for evenings, weekends, and in-state travel
What would make you stand out
A proven record of raising significant money for justice-focused issue campaigns, especially experience personally closing $100,000+ gifts and/or raising $1M+ in a single year or for a single electoral campaign.
At least one cycle as a Finance Director, or two as a Deputy Finance Director, on a statewide or major campaign
Florida roots, or experience asking Florida donors and institutions for money
Experience on a Florida statewide campaign
Ballot initiative experience in any state, especially experience that covers both ballot qualification and the electoral campaign.
Housing justice campaign experience
A record of taking on and winning hard fights.
Experience managing full-time staff and consultant teams on a time-limited campaign
Questions about this position or the application process (including any requests for reasonable accommodations) can be sent to: FL.Rent.Control.Campaign@gmail.com