Job Description
OpenSecrets seeks an entrepreneurial fundraising professional to join us as our Development Director. The Director will spearhead fundraising initiatives so that we can continue to meet the critical need for unbiased, precise and publicly accessible research and reporting on the influence of money in politics in our democratic system.
The Development Director oversees the Foundations Manager and Individual Giving Manager positions at OpenSecrets and is directly responsible for expanding our emerging major donor program. This position works closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to direct the strategy of OS’s charitable fundraising programs to meet current and projected funding needs and oversee and manage OS’s day-to-day development operations while engaging OS’s staff and board in expanding revenue streams.
Responsibilities:
General Development Strategy and Implementation:
1. Develop annual revenue goals and plans to diversify and increase OS’s annual budget through a comprehensive development strategy to include foundation and individual donors.
2. Support and mentor Executive Director, Board, and staff in their development efforts.
3. Serve as a member of the senior management team.
Foundations:
1. Work with the Foundations Manager on OS’s efforts to identify and secure new foundations and with the Executive Director, to maintain and strengthen OS’s relationships with current foundation funders.
Individual Donor Program:
1. Work with the Individual Giving Manager on strategy to grow the donor program for gifts under $1,000 by building new audiences and converting these users to donors through social media, online and direct mail streams and informal communication.
Major Donor Program
1. Lead OS’s efforts in identifying and securing new donors at the $1,000+ level.
2. With the Executive Director, maintain and strengthen OS’s relationships with current donors to increase gift size, frequency and retention through donor events and other stewardship activities.Support Executive Director and Board’s efforts in building and strengthening donor and prospect relationships and soliciting gifts.
Board Relations:
1. Prepare development reports including plans, accomplishments and challenges for Executive Director in advance of board meetings.
2. Coach, support and encourage the Board’s development efforts.
3. Work with Executive Director to staff and advise a Board Development Committee.
Management and Administration:
1. Coordinate all development activities with OS staff and track progress against annual work plan.
2. Supervise and mentor the OpenSecrets development team..
3. Oversee OS’s current development tracking system and periodically review development software programs to ensure accurate record keeping.
4. Strengthen OS’s development processes and systems.
ABOUT OPENSECRETS
This dynamic organization was formed by the merger of the Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute for Money in State Politics in 2021.
Qualifications:
– Minimum of 7 years of development experience. Strong preference for hands-on fundraising in the policy, research, media or democracy building/citizen engagement arena.
– Demonstrated success in securing grants of six-figures and up.
– Demonstrated success with generating funds from individual donors; both major donors and annual appeals.
– Exceptional writing and presentation skills, especially for related fundraising materials.
– Ability to think creatively about OS’s work and how to engage new donor audiences.
– Strong oral communication, relationship building and “people” skills.
– Track record of taking initiative and working independently.
– Honed organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
– Experience working with nonprofit boards preferred.
– Commitment to OS’s nonpartisan mission and desire to learn the field.
– Hands-on experience with donor databases (EveryAction preferred) and Microsoft Office suite.