Development Director

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ROCK THE VOTE

Rock the Vote is seeking a manager to oversee the organization’s fundraising activities. Rock the Vote’s Development Director provides administrative and strategic oversight for a comprehensive development program that generates individual donor contributions, foundation grants, and corporate support. The job includes strategy development, planning and reporting; fundraising; and systems and materials development. The Development Director reports directly to the Executive Director

KEY Responsibilities 

Planning and Strategy Development

• Prepares annual development plan outlining organizational revenue goals (both general operating and program support); monitors progress against goals and produces monthly reports.
• Develops specific strategies to identify, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, recognize and steward all Rock the Vote donors and prospects.
• With Executive Director and Administrative Director, develops multi-year budget projections that focus on building predictable, sustainable income streams in both election and non-election years.

 Fundraising

• Directs a fund development program that includes: an annual fund for major donors; foundation and corporate gifts; and special events, including political Conventions in presidential election years.
• In coordination with Executive Director and fundraising consultants, builds and sustains relationships with current and potential individuals donors, foundations and corporations. Accompanies Executive Director, fundraising consultants and Board members on solicitation calls as needed.  Ensures appropriate follow up on all cultivation meetings and fundraising events.
• Manages any individual donor campaigns, including mail and online appeals, and the marketing of Conventions packages to donors in presidential election years.
• Works with the marketing team to secure appropriate corporate sponsors for Rock the Vote programs, Conventions and music events.
• With program staff, responsible for generating all proposals needed for foundations and corporate sponsors, including requests for in-kind and cause-related marketing support.
• Assists Executive Director in working with Board of Directors to enhance development efforts.

Events

• Oversees the planning of Rock the Vote’s Convention programs, including coordinating staff and consultants responsible for production, artists relations, logistics, fundraising, corporate sponsor outreach, marketing, political outreach and communications.
• Oversees all special fundraising events, including managing fundraising consultants spearheading events.

Systems, Procedures, and Materials

• Maintains an accurate fundraising calendar and transmits monthly targets and deliverables to Executive Directors.
• With Administrative Director, develops system for recording and reporting on contributions received, and for tracking pledge payments, multi-year gifts, etc.
• Establishes and implements all gift policies, including corporate sponsorship policy and standards for donor recognition.
• Develops and implements systems and procedures for conducting continuous prospect research, institutes a prospect ratings system, and briefs Executive Director monthly on key prospects.
• Develops and manages a timely and relevant gift acknowledgement program, and coordinates standards for corporate and individual donor recognition with the communications team.
• Responsible for generating all general fundraising materials needed for cultivation and stewardship of donors.
• Responsible for oversight of donor database – creates profiles and tracks donors and prospects.
• With communications team, ensures that marketing materials and website include donor-focused content and appropriate donor recognition.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 4-5 years experience in fund development positions, either in a nonprofit or candidate campaign setting.
• Demonstrated success in securing major and annual gifts from individual donors, foundations and corporations.
• Deep appreciation of Rock the Vote’s mission.
• Proven ability to work well with high-powered donors and prospects.
• Goal-oriented, persistent and persuasive in the contact, follow-through and completion of acquiring donor gifts.
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to persuasively communicate Rock the Vote’s needs and priorities to all constituencies.
• Decisive, persistent, and resourceful, with the ability to anticipate and act on events and opportunities in an appropriate manner.Successful candidate will need to plan, prioritize and manage own work independently, and yet be an effective member of the senior management team.
• Understands the confidential nature of fundraising efforts and donor information, and maintains confidences.
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to inspire trust, credibility and enthusiasm with management, Board, and staff.
• A positive, easy-going, inquisitive, can-do attitude with a sense of humor.

COMPENSATION

• Commensurate on experience.  Excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance and a retirement plan.
• Available immediately.  No relocation allowance.

Location: Washington, DC.

TO APPLY

Please send resume, 3 references, and cover letter by June 13th to jobs(at)rockthevote.com Please include “Development Director” in the subject line.

Rock the Vote is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBT people and others are strongly encouraged to apply.