Development Manager

Summary:

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is seeking an independent and entrepreneurial candidate to jump-start a fundraising program in a start-up environment. The Development Manager will capitalize on existing opportunities for foundation funding and expand support from this constituency over the next several years. In addition, a successful Development Manager would help establish a long-term funding strategy that would move beyond foundation support to individuals and major gifts. The Development Manager will work closely with the Managing Director and Executive Director and in-house research staff to identify funding needs and opportunities, and be an active liaison with the parent organization’s development, legal and finance staff.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement and manage a multi-year fundraising plan that begins by expanding Equitable Growth’s foundation funder base and pipeline of foundation prospects.
• Manage foundation relations by building on existing relationships, identifying new funding opportunities, collaborating on strategies for approaching foundation prospects, and tracking all foundation activity and deadlines.
• Research new prospective donors, analyze their giving history and potential, and write donor briefings.
• Steward donors and manage grants. Includes maintaining appropriate communications with funders and prospects, pro-actively updating donors and prospects on activities and successes, extending invitations when necessary, identifying possible partnerships and collaborations, and managing grant reporting obligations.
• Generate written material related to fundraising, including compelling proposal narratives, letters of intent, program descriptions, emails and other correspondence, and website material, working with Equitable Growth development staff.
• Establish and maintain foundation fundraising files and systems for keeping records, tracking obligations, meeting deadlines, and sustaining outreach to and relationships with institutional funders. This may expand to similar systems for support beyond foundations.
• As part of orchestrating approaches and follow-up with funders, deploy and support Equitable Growth development staff in the solicitation process or in stewardship activities, including arranging meetings and providing prep material.
• Track solicitation amounts, anticipated gifts, pledges, and income, and provide regular revenue and cash flow updates on projections versus actuals.
• Maintain communications with parent organization, in particular development, finance and legal staff.

Requirements:

• Pro-active, independent, and productive absent direct supervision or hard deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Experience with the basic tenets of fundraising and the workings of a foundation fundraising operation.
• Exceptional organizational skills; ability to create and manage organizational and tracking systems.
• Working knowledge and/or ability to learn fundraising database Salesforce.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to think strategically, and to anticipate and orchestrate next steps.
• Ability to balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail.
• Good judgment and confidentiality a must.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• A minimum of three years’ experience in a development department, preferably at an advocacy or policy-oriented nonprofit organization.
• Grant writing experience.
• Experience researching and/or administering grants.
• Familiarity with 501 (c)(3) regulations desired.
• Computer literacy: proficiency in Word, Excel, and donor databases.
• Knowledge of current affairs.
• Knowledge or background in economics or sociology a plus.
• To apply please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@equitablegrowth.org with the subject line “Development Manager.”

Or you may write to:

Washington Center for Equitable Growth
1333 H Street, NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

In your correspondence, please reference the exact title of the job you are applying for in the subject line. This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled. No phone calls please. Please note that only those individuals whose qualifications match the current needs of this position will be considered applicants and will receive responses from Equitable Growth.