Director of Development

The Citizen Service is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building a citizen movement that empowers people across varied backgrounds and circumstances with the tools, confidence, and skills to solve community problems that matter most to them. Through our No-Blame, Pragmatic Problem-Solving approach, we work with community colleges, high schools, and community organizations to develop citizen leaders who go beyond the ballot to shape the future of the places they call home.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Metuchen, New Jersey, The Citizen Service has spent nearly three decades proving that everyday people, given the right training and infrastructure, have real power to drive change. We are now at an exciting inflection point, with new executive leadership in place, a national expansion underway, and a landmark 30th anniversary on the horizon. This is a rare opportunity to join an organization at a pivotal moment and help build a movement that will inspire change!

The Director of Development is a new role at The Citizen Service and a foundational hire for the organization's future. This is not a role for someone looking to maintain an existing development program. It is a role for someone who wants to build one.

The Director of Development will work closely with the Executive Director, the Founder and Board Chair, and organizational leadership to design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes a major individual donor fundraising, a foundation and institutional grants program, and a long-term development infrastructure that positions TCS for sustained financial health.

This role requires someone who is as comfortable working independently in an entrepreneurial environment as they are managing relationships with high-net-worth donors, foundation program officers, and organizational leadership. The right candidate brings campaign experience, development instincts, and the emotional intelligence to navigate a dynamic and hands-on organization with confidence and grace.

No-Blame Problem-Solving is not just the work we do in communities; it is how we operate internally. We are looking for someone who brings that same spirit to their work, focusing on solutions rather than blame, approaching challenges with pragmatism and good faith, and treating colleagues as partners in figuring things out together.

• Lead the day-to-day execution of a major fundraising campaign
• Develop and manage the campaign timeline, donor pipeline, and outreach strategy
• Coordinate campaign activity across the Executive Director, Founder, board members, and key stakeholders
• Develop campaign materials including the case for support, donor communications, and cultivation event collateral

• Build and manage a foundation grants program from the ground up, including prospect research, LOI and proposal writing, reporting, and relationship cultivation
• Develop and maintain a grants calendar tracking foundation deadlines
• Identify foundations and institutional funders whose priorities align with TCS's strategic plan.

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors in partnership with the Executive Director and Founder
• Develop stewardship practices that build long-term donor loyalty and recurring giving
• Support board members in their fundraising roles, including preparing talking points, briefing materials, and cultivation strategies
• Partner closely with the communications team to ensure email, social, and public-facing content is aligned with and actively supports development priorities, campaign messaging, and donor cultivation efforts

• Work closely with Operations to consolidate donor…