Director of Development and Partnerships (Individual and Business)

Title: Director of Development and Partnerships (Individual and Business)

Reports to: Senior VP, Strategic Partnerships

FLSA Status: Exempt

Posting Range: $83,640-$92,820

Location: New York, Oakland or Remote

Tentative Start Date: October 23rd or October 30th

This position will not accept applications after Sunday, September 20th.

About Race Forward

Race Forward's mission is to catalyze movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial democratic society free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.

Since 1981, Race Forward has brought a systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity.  In 2017 Race Forward united with the Center for Social Inclusion to become the new Race Forward. 

Position Summary

Director of Development and Partnerships is a critical position that will help advance donor-centric fundraising and execute the Major Gifts and Business Giving Plans for the sustenance and growth of Race Forward. The Director of Development and Partnerships’ role is to ensure the successful implementation of moves management and processes for development communications, solicitation, and stewardship and to elevate the role of stewardship and donor engagement throughout the organization. The position requires exceptional skills in written and verbal communication and keen understanding of donor needs and requirements. This person will understand the Race Forward mission and theory of change and will display a collaborative work style and ability to influence people across the organization and with external partners to drive results.

The Director of Development and Partnerships reports directly to the Sr. Vice President of Development and Partnerships and works closely with them and the Communications team to facilitate the creation of effective fundraising appeals, acknowledgement letters, donor briefing papers, cultivation events, and stewardship materials. They will partner closely with the entire Development team, as well as the Leadership, Program, and Finance teams.

A competitive applicant will possess a deep commitment to and understanding of current racial justice issues. This is a unique opportunity for a talented fundraiser to help put racial equity into practice.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and execute the Major Gifts and Business Giving programs for all donor levels, designed to enhance and strengthen Race Forward’s relationships with donors;
• Develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for a portfolio of individual donors and corporate partners;
• Develop and write proposals to individual donors and business partners;
• Build buy-in and collaboration across entire organization to collect, assess, and utilize stewardship assets and to repurpose them as needed to maximize donor satisfaction;
• Use sophisticated prospect research techniques to identify new prospective donors, prioritize donors for outreach and engagement, increase giving of current donors, and overall, help to sustainably grow funds;
• Collaborate on a successful digital fundraising strategy, partnering with the Colorlines and Communications teams;
• Supervise Development Associate

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in fundraising or a related role, preferably including experience working with major donors, with proven record of successful cultivation and solicitation of gifts;
• Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to racial justice funding and organizing. Direct racial justice organizing experience preferred;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication, with the ability to edit others’ work and to write and speak in clear and compelling ways. Ability to translate program language into powerful and persuasive cases for support;
• Demonstrated experience writing appeals, letters, emails, impact reports and other collateral that result in donations and donor retention;

• Experience with strategic and annual planning, budgeting, project management, and system creation;
• Skilled at establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, including the ability to communicate effectively and lead, influence, and collaborate with colleagues in a multi-racial, multi-generational work environment;
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality;
• Ability to produce high-quality work under tight, external deadlines and to set and manage own deadlines;
• Ability to self-start and multi-task effectively;
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office suite, and customer/supporter relationship management tools; knowledge of Salesforce a plus.

Additional Information

 This position requires long periods of time at a desk on a computer and may require time outside of normal business hours. This position will also require minimum travel anywhere from four to eight times a year.

How to Apply

 External Applicants should apply by completing an application here. The application will be available online beginning Monday, September 7, 2020.

EEO Statement

 Race Forward provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.