Director of Development

Overview

Climate Defiance, an organization working to fight climate change and end the era of fossil fuels, is seeking a Director of Development. Climate Defiance works to elevate climate change as a top political issue in the US through mass turnout, nonviolent direct action, and strategic communications, and the Director of Development is critical for building the capacity for our success.

This role is ideal for an experienced development professional who is fired up about the climate crisis and ready to build an organization which is bold, unapologetic, and strategic in holding decision-makers accountable.

As the Director of Development, you will build and deepen relationships with current and potential donors across the country who are fed up with the status quo and incremental change and inspired to support a cutting-edge climate organization. Climate Defiance has already seen much success with our event model, where we regularly feature high-profile speakers, including celebrities, climate leaders and lawyers, and progressive politicians and VIPs.

We’re looking for a seasoned fundraiser who can carry a portfolio of current donors, build relationships with event attendees, and find new avenues to identify prospects to support this work.

As the Director of Development, you will build plans for the program, build the systems for our major donor program, build a pipeline of mid-level and major donors, and regularly meet with current and prospective donors. You will help grow our base of individual donors, help increase support from current donors, and deepen relationships with individual donors. You will manage a development team member who is currently focused on event planning and also manages a small portfolio.

You will also coordinate with our Executive Director to support his fundraising efforts. Your work will be critical in building the individual donor program, helping to expand Climate Defiance’s work, reach, and impact.

Specifically, your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and leading plans to build our individual donor program, with an emphasis on four and five-figure gifts;
• Managing a portfolio of 75+ current and prospective donors, regularly meeting with donors through in-person, phone, video and through email updates;
• Identifying new donors through Climate Defiances events, our database of activists and supporters, as well new avenues;
• Managing our development team member and their event planning and major gifts responsibilities, providing training and ongoing support;
• Supporting our Executive Director with his fundraising responsibilities and relationships, including preparing the ED for high value donor conversations and asks.
• Developing systems to effectively cultivate, steward, and track door relationships;
• Developing strategies for high-capacity prospects;
• Engaging with attendees from VIP events, setting up meetings, facilitating introductions, and more.
• Maintaining our database, driving a strong donor management system, and tracking and analyzing trends;
• Playing a role in driving our small donor fundraising strategies;
• Providing support as needed around other organizational initiatives, such as staff recruitment.
• Participating and actively engaging in Climate Defiance’s leadership team, providing strategic input into the direction of the work.
• Regularly traveling to cities for donor meetings and events (estimated at 35-50% time on the road, depending on where you are based).

• You have at least 11 years of work experience with a significant background in development and individual giving programs, preferably in a nonprofit setting.
• You are passionate about addressing the climate crisis.
• You have carried a portfolio of individual donors and had success in managing and growing a portfolio.
• You have successfully secured gifts up to and including 5-figures.
• You have an understanding of cultivating and nurturing meaningful relationships with donors.
• You have played a role in scaling up a major donor program.
• You have had success identifying new high-capacity prospects, including related research.
• You are comfortable and excited to travel for…