About the Position We are seeking a dynamic, experienced Director of Development who is inspired by the opportunity to join our efforts to advance housingjustice at scale,leading to moreinclusive communities across the nation.This is a newly created position and an exciting opportunity for someone to help create and shape organizational fundraising culture. For the past year, we have been working with a consultant to assess our needs and create a strategic fundraising plan to sustain and grow an organization that currently raises $4 to $5 million in annual revenue. We are seeking a Director of Development, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, who will createand implement a comprehensive fundraising program to diversify and grow fundraising success. The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in non-profit fundraising operations, enjoy combining high-level strategy with hands-on proactive implementation,be willing to “roll up their sleeves” to achieve measurable goals and be energized by the opportunity to serve as a public-facing representative to the organization.
Building on Grounded Solutions Network’s history of securing six- and seven-figure support, the Directorwill focus on cultivating and expanding relationships with a diverse set of national and local foundations and corporations. The Director will also create a new program to grow revenue from individual donors by implementing an integrated path to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors at every level.This position closely collaborates with the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership Team to implement organization-wide and program-specific development strategies. The Director will also partner with the Board Chair, Board of Directors fundraising committee, and key stakeholders to help formulate overall strategy and direction for the organization.The candidate will join a highly collaborative team of 20+ colleagues who have a shared passion for the organization and its mission.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
Establish and achieve annual fundraising goals.
Lead the development of departmental fundraising strategies and play a key role in shaping organization-wide fundraising strategy making.
Work with the executive team to continually refine strategy, protocol, and procedures related to the fundraising program; communicate priorities internally to staff.
Serve as the liaison to the executive team and other leaders for all fundraising activities, reporting on fundraising status for current programs as well as encouraging the identification and support of emerging priorities.
Implement fund development plans in accordance with ethical fundraising principles.
Generate targeted external messages related to donor communications
Create content for fundraising materials and presentations
Resource Development
Identify, research, and evaluate prospective individual, corporate, and foundation donors to build upon the existing prospect pipeline.
Manage and coordinate a cultivation and stewardship program that includes one-on-one meetings, cultivation events, regular communications and reports, and other initiatives to engage and inform prospective donors.
Conduct in-person cultivation, briefing and solicitation meetings, independently and in partnership with Grounded Solutions' executive and volunteer leadership and senior staff.
Fundraising Operations
Oversee and coordinate the development of systems, policies, and procedures to support fundraising operations, including customization (as needed), and administration of a Salesforce donor database that respects the privacy and confidentiality of donor information.
Oversee and coordinate efforts to acknowledge, recognize, and record all gifts to Grounded Solutions in a consistent and timely manner.
Prepare regular reports on progress related to fundraising and the management of the fund development activities.
Monitor and analyze budget reports on fund development revenues and expenditures and recommend changes as necessary.
Other job-related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Eight to ten years of progressive development experience, preferably with an affordable housing, social justice, civil rights, policy, and/or membership association nonprofit.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university; graduate degree preferred.
Successful track record of soliciting and closing corporate, foundation, and/ or individual gifts at all levels with an emphasis on six- and seven-figure gifts.
Passionate about organization’s mission to advance housing solutions with lasting affordability.
Experience in growing and managing a portfolio of corporate, foundation, and individual donors.
Experience managing donor engagement, cultivation, and stewardship.
Familiarity with fundraising administration (best-practices, protocol, procedures, and record/ data management).
Strong supervisory skills and ability to work with staff located remotely across the country
Strong proficiency required inMS Office Suite; and experience with a CRM system, Salesforce preferred.
Excellent diplomacy, verbal and written communication skills, time management, and attention to detail.
Highly self-motivated and history of achieving results while working autonomously and remaining accountable.
Ability to implement an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising with the capacity to identify the best opportunities and the flexibility to maximize their potential.
Experience in fostering collaboration across a national decentralized organization preferred.
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification a plus.
Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends, as required.
Travel required
Occasional out-of-state travel approximately 5 to 10 trips per year, to attend meetings, conferences and fundraising events.
Location
This position is based in Washington, DC. All staff are working remotely until further notice, but applicants must be willing to transition to an office or co-working location when it is safe to do so. All staff are expected to demonstrate the ability to work remotely while maintaining high levels of efficiency and productivity and communicating effectively with their direct supervisor andcolleagues.
NOTES:
Telecommuting is allowed.
Additional Salary Information: Commensurate with experience.
About Grounded Solutions Network
About Us
Grounded Solutions Network is a national nonprofit dedicated to shaping communities to be inclusive and filled with opportunity for all. Where we live matters. It determines what opportunities we have and how our kids grow up. Everyone should be able to live in a place that offers opportunity: access to jobs, parks, public transit, quality schools and stable homes. Strong and inclusive communities provide the foundation that people and families need to thrive, both in the present and for future generations.
As a national membership organization, we partner with over 200 members in 45 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico to support and grow a shared equity housing sector serving nearly 255,000 families. Our work specifically targets creating and expanding the resources dedicated to community-led housing with lasting affordability, using a racial equity lens. Grounded Solutions defines lasting affordability as both rental housing with and extended or renewable period of compliance and shared equity homeownership models which restrict the resale pricing of homes. We are a well-recognized, national expert in advising local governments and nonprofits on inclusive hou...sing policies and programs that lead to access, equity, and inclusion by providing training, tools and resources for community land trusts, deed restricted housing and inclusionary affordable housing programs.
Over the next decade, we are strategically focused on building the technical capacity and collective power of our members and the local communities we serve to significantly multiply the impact of our proven models and outcomes. We seek to expand our membership, pursue new dedicated resources and recruit additional active partners who match our sense of urgency to assist some portion of the estimated 18 million families currently paying more than 50% of their income toward housing.
Grounded Solutions Network is committed to fostering an organizational culture rooted in critical thinking and consciousness about race and class. We seek candidates who are dedicated to achieving racial equity. We are committed to building a staff team that is as racially and culturally diverse as the communities that we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
