Development Director

Position Summary:

The Director of Development will have a passion for our mission—providing equal justice to vulnerable Texans, a track record of success with major donors, planned giving and annual campaign programs and events, and grant writing. The Director of Development will identify additional revenue sources, particularly from private foundations and donors, and will support a range of fundraising activities, including producing content for foundation and government applications, annual appeal letters, donor emails, and newsletters, and will provide cohesive leadership to communications, pro bono coordination, donor relations, and grant writing efforts throughout the organization.

This is a grant funded position.

Essential Functions:

• Manage all donor-related fundraising activities, including database management, gift processing and recognition, and donor correspondence.

• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and leadership team to set fundraising goals and implement strategic plans to enhance community relations and partnerships.

• Create and direct annual campaign and implement donor appeals including via direct mail, email, social media, and events.

• Supervise communications manager and outreach professionals to create and implement plans and materials for donor identification and retention, event planning, marketing/communications, and major gift solicitation.

• Oversee identification, cultivation, and stewardship of major donors and prospects.

• Research and develop funding prospects, including foundations, corporations, individuals, law firms, and other potential sources of funding.

• Develop and write grant proposals to foundations and other funders.

• Work closely with program staff to develop and transform ideas into successful proposals.

• Serve as a member of the leadership team to help guide organization’s funding, program, and staffing priorities.

• Monitor proposal deadlines and manage proposal submissions.

• Maintain a high quality stewardship process for foundations.

• Perform special projects as assigned.

Competencies:

• Knowledge of foundations, corporations, and government funding sources.

• Knowledgeable of the issues related to poverty and how it poses barriers to accessing justice.

• Passionate about removing barriers so access to justice is available to all.

• An ability to connect with new generations of philanthropists and a willingness to use social media campaigns for outreach efforts.

• High-level organizational and time management skills.

• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, strong interpersonal and public speaking sills

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and manage multiple deadlines.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

• Understanding of grant requirements and associated reporting needs.

Supervisor Responsibilities: Yes

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree

• 3-5 years of professional fundraising, marketing, or grant writing experience and private foundation knowledge preferred, with an emphasis on acquiring unrestricted funding

• Experience collaborating with board and leadership team members, diverse populations, and multiple constituencies

• Substantial experience in relationship cultivation within the areas of foundation, government, corporate, and individual giving

• Experience supervising development and communications professionals preferred

Licensure and/or Certification: None

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.

• Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.

• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force as needed, at times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.