CURRENT JOB OPENINGS AT VPC

Director of Development, Major Gifts
Director of Development, Major Gifts

Department: Development

Reports to: Vice President of Development

FLSA Status: Exempt / Full-time 

About Us:

The Voter Participation Center (VPC) is the nation’s largest non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to registering and mobilizing voters from the New American Majority (NAM) – people of color, unmarried women, and young people – who make up the majority of the potential electorate, but have been historically underrepresented in political participation and power. Using direct mail, digital and social media outreach, guided by rigorous data science and experimentation, and working closely with many partner organizations, VPC connects with millions of voters each year, building the foundation for a more representative democracy.

The Center for Voter Information (CVI) is VPC’s partner organization and is a separate but affiliated 501(c)(4) non-profit that works to engage both the NAM as well as members of the broader electorate who share their values.

The Role:

Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director of Development will manage a robust portfolio of current and prospective donors, with a focus on identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors with the capacity to make five-figure and six-figure gifts. Working within the highly collaborative environment of our fundraising team, this person will play an integral role in achieving annual and cyclical fundraising objectives. They will build an understanding of program plans and priorities to understand financial objectives and deploy that knowledge in building strong donor relationships. This is a full-time position with a hybrid work schedule. The Director of Development is expected to be at our Washington, D.C. office two days per week, including every Wednesday. 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Independently manages a portfolio of individual prospects and donors through all phases of the cultivation and solicitation process. Meets and exceeds fundraising goals through successful gift closings.
  • Enthusiastically and accurately represents VPC and CVI’s program plans, priorities, and mission in all external and internal communications.
  • Keeps well informed of program plans, changes, and funding needs, becoming deeply familiar with the research-oriented, data-driven nature of VPC and CVI’s work and communicating complex information with fluency and ease.
  • Evaluate prospects and donors to help identify which people are best suited for cultivation by the Vice President of Development or the CEO, or which donors may benefit from more in-depth program briefs.
  • Collaborates with the Vice President of Development on specific strategies to close significant gifts and helps to identify and strengthen donor cultivation opportunities.
  • Prepares the Vice President of Development and/or CEO for fundraising meetings, ensuring that briefing materials are accurate and comprehensive, and that donor collateral is compelling, accurate, and on-message.
  • Ensures all donor and prospect communications are stored within the donor database in a timely manner, according to VPC/CVI policy.

Must-have skills/qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience personally soliciting and closing five and six-figure gifts. 
  • Ability to prioritize multiple time-sensitive projects at one time.
  • CRM experience (EveryAction, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, etc.)
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to distill complex concepts into donor-facing materials. 
  • Superior analytical skills, interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and discretion.
  • Self-motivated and driven while being an excellent departmental collaborator.

Nice to haves:

  • Direct experience working with issue-oriented organizations, on campaigns, or with political committees or non-profit organizations. 
  • Previous 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) fundraising experience. 
  • Experience with Asana (or other project management software) and Slack.
  • Previous experience working in a hybrid work environment.

Work environment

  • This is a full-time position with a hybrid work schedule. The Director of Development is expected to be at our Washington, D.C. office two days per week, including Wednesdays.
  • As needed, this person may travel to attend fundraising meetings. Expected travel is less than 20% of time.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $118,250 – $139,750 annually, commensurate with experience. This is a full-time position. This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay. Our comprehensive benefits plan includes 100% employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance for employees, spouses and dependents as well as 100% employer-paid short and long-term disability and life insurance for employees; generous paid time off; access to retirement plan with 3% employer match, and more.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume, a brief response on why you would be a good fit, and at least three professional references. Interested candidates can APPLY HERE. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified. However, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by November 15, 2023, for early consideration. References are only contacted once you are notified. 

VPC-CVI does not sponsor work visas for potential or hired employees under any circumstances.

VPC-CVI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes people from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply. We strongly value the leadership of people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and other traditionally marginalized communities and encourage candidates from these communities to apply.

We strive to create and maintain a working environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. At VPC-CVI, diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly aligned with the fundamental belief that people are inherently capable but often lack opportunity. We know that a diverse workforce allows us to see problems in more nuanced ways, creating the thought leadership needed to fulfill our mission and reach our goals.