Development Director
Job Description:
The Development Director reports to the CEO and oversees the organization’s strategic fundraising efforts. The Development Director is responsible for executing our strategy to identify and secure Foundation, Individual, Corporate, and Government funding opportunities towards an annual fundraising target of $15M+.
The Development Director will sustain and elevate the philanthropic support of current donors and develop a network of new prospects who share the organization’s commitment to end mass incarceration. You think about fundraising as a system and hold our team accountable to this system.
Reasons why you should not apply:
We don’t do galas and rarely do in-person fundraising events. If you are most effective as an in-person fundraiser, we will not be a good fit. We primarily raise capital over Zoom.
Our fundraising team today consists of 2 people (Jason, the CEO, and Alissa, our Grants Manager). Our organizational philosophy is to keep our headcount as low as possible and to automate the majority of our repeatable tasks using technology. If your desire is to build a big fundraising team, we will not be a good fit.
We move and jump on opportunities quickly. Decisions will change based on new information. There are frequent bursts of urgency and activity. You will need to be really organized, a strong communicator, and execute quickly. If you prefer a more steady-paced environment, we won’t be a good fit.
Mission:
To end the era of mass incarceration and generational poverty by:
Placing returning citizens into high-wage careers at scale.
Developing a self-sustaining revenue model to accelerate our growth.
Creating systemic change by leveraging our incredibly deep layers of graduate data in partnership with the Criminal Justice System to become the Gold Standard for re-entry.
What you’ll do:
Development Planning
Expertly craft and execute a fundraising plan that outlines strategies to identify needed funds, strategic approaches, and preferred funding opportunities for individuals, foundations, government, and corporate opportunities. You develop materials that can be used for each of these funding streams.
Proactively develop and implement strategies to ensure that fundraising targets are realistically set and met.
Focus on maintaining existing funding streams to ensure that fundraising opportunities are realistically set and met.
Focus on maintaining existing funding streams with a particular focus on growing successful programs and identifying new/bolstering existing opportunities.
Collaborate with the Executive team to develop messaging that engages donors and new audiences to support our mission and vision.
Ensure that we are managing our time well, getting meetings, following up quickly, and not getting stuck in the process. You are an Air Traffic Controller making sure everything is moving smoothly.
Fundraising and Stewardship
Lead and inspire our team to establish and achieve their fundraising goals.
Ensure continued discovery of prospective new donors and evaluate opportunities to deepen relationships with existing donors.
Brief and prepare leadership to participate in meetings, and execute meetings, presentations, proposals, and communications with current and prospective donors.
Develop and execute a calendar of cultivation and stewardship activities.
Oversee all foundation and institutional giving as well as a major gifts program, including research, proposal writing, and reporting requirements.
Oversee the management of the donor pipeline and reporting through the database and other tools. Provide regular reports to funders with updates on current status of funding activities.
Ensure the necessary systems, structures, and processes are in place to support the fundraising life cycle and guarantee a positive donor experience.
Ensure we maintain high-quality, individualized, and thoughtful stewardship of donors.
Organizational Development and Administration
Actively develop members of our team to elevate their professional development. Mentor and motivate team members and ensure they have clarity around roles and responsibilities, consistent feedback, and regular evaluations.
Consult and collaborate with our Program and Finance teams to make sure we’re all on the same page.
Collaborate with the CEO and assist in the development of organizational and geographical budgets.
What you’ll have:
8+ years of fundraising experience, including the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts from major donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders.
Proven track record of overseeing annual giving in excess of $15M+ and evidenced proficiency in budget planning and management.
5+ years of management experience. Passionate about developing our team to reach their professional goals.
Track record of maintaining a fundraising code of ethics, fundraising best practices, clear goals, and shared accountability across an organization.
Demonstrated success in developing creative, compelling cases for support that align with organizational needs, vision, and mission.
Experience driving Development strategy and execution in a senior role with high integrity.
Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure gifts from a variety of audiences.
Demonstrated results in expanding major donor pipelines, identifying diverse revenue streams, and managing donors at multi-million dollar giving levels.
Demonstrated team orientation and commitment to developing and maintaining collaborative relationships in a fast-paced work environment.
A criminal record (not required, but preferred).
Where you’ll work
FreeWorld is a 100% US-based remote company. You may work anywhere in the U.S. that offers a great internet connection that is quiet and free from distractions!
Board of Directors
Jason Green - Founder - Emergence Capital, Endeavor, Kauffman Fellows
Andy Bromberg - CEO - Eco
Jason Wang - Founder/CEO - FreeWorld
Kumar Garg - VP - Schmidt Futures
Hiring Process
Read our FreeWorld Culture FAQ and our FreeWorld Company Values and if you still think you are a fit…
Submit an application and cover letter. Please be specific in your cover letter. Include details such as how much you have raised in your career, the most you have raised annually, and how you raised that capital. If your qualifications are a match…
We have a 15-minute introductory call. If we love each other, then…
You complete a brief task related to the role (such as submitting a work sample).
You meet 1:1 with a member of management for one hour to discuss your previous experiences and career goals
You meet with a few additional team members for a 30-45 min (each) focused interview.
Last but not least, we talk to a few of the folks that you worked with, and if all goes well, we agree on terms.
Compensation and Benefits
The compensation for this position is based on experience, but we are targeting $90k - 130k.
FreeWorld believes if we take care of our team, our team can better care for our program participants. For an up-to-date list of employee benefits, view our 2023 FreeWorld Benefits. A few key benefits are listed below:
Remote work
Team-centric culture
Health insurance (medical, dental, vision, mental health)
401k Employee Contribution Plan
Employee Success Plan (Flex benefit for wellness, professional development, and more)
12 paid holidays and Unlimited PTO (4 weeks paid vacation recommended)
Creating tremendous impact at scale
