Director​/Assistant Director of Development

Solidarity Center seeks an experienced and enthusiastic fundraiser with experience in international philanthropy related to human rights, labor, democracy, or social justice to lead and expand our private and non-U.S. government fundraising portfolio.

Location: Washington, DC*
Final date to receive applications
:
March 31, 2026

* Please Note:

Solidarity Center staff enjoy a hybrid telework schedule. All candidates applying for this role will be expected to work in the Washington, D.C. office a minimum of three days per week unless an ADA or health-related exemption is approved.

Solidarity Center seeks an experienced and enthusiastic fundraiser with experience in international philanthropy related to human rights, labor, democracy, or social justice to lead and expand our private and non-U.S. government fundraising portfolio. This position will lead and expand the organization’s private and non-U.S. government fundraising portfolio. Experience with European and other international donors is particularly helpful. The selected candidate will be responsible for setting and achieving ambitious revenue goals, cultivating high-level institutional partnerships, and strengthening long-term revenue diversification.

Working closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership, this position will shape and execute a focused, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with Solidarity Center’s global mission and strategy: a strong belief in the power of labor movements to transform societies.

In addition to advancing external revenue growth, this role will foster an organization-wide culture of fundraising by partnering with program and leadership teams to integrate donor engagement into planning, program design, and external representation. The Director / Assistant Director will strengthen shared ownership of fundraising across the organization.

The decision of whether to hire at a Director of Assistant Director level will be based on the applicant's qualifications and level of experience.

• Demonstrated success securing significant funding from foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and/or international public donor agencies
• Demonstrated success creating and meeting fundraising goals and budgets
• Deep knowledge of European and other non-U.S. funding landscapes, including philanthropic and governmental institutions
• Strong relationships within international philanthropy, democracy, labor, or human rights funding communities
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and institutional funders
• Experience developing and executing multi-year fundraising strategies
• Experience building a culture of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations
• Demonstrated ability to engage program staff and leadership in donor cultivation and stewardship
• Exceptional writing and public speaking skills, with the ability to represent complex international programs to sophisticated donors
• Strategic thinker with strong judgment, initiative, and ability to prioritize high-value opportunities
• Knowledge of international political and socio-economic contexts relevant to labor and democracy work
• Experience in trade unions, worker movements, or social justice organizations strongly preferred
• Fluency in a foreign language desirable but not required
• Ten or more years of relevant professional experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with donor management systems

First three to six months

• Develop a clear, prioritized fundraising strategy focused on high-potential international and private funding opportunities
• Assess and strengthen the current donor portfolio and pipeline
• Establish short- and medium-term revenue projections with pathways to achieve them
• Partner with the Executive Team to align fundraising priorities with organizational strategy

Ongoing

• Lead the organization’s private and non-U.S. fundraising strategy
• Cultivate and manage relationships with foundations, international public funders, and major individual donors
• Identify, pursue, and secure new funding opportunities
• Represent Solidarity Center in donor meetings, conferences, and external briefings
• Advise senior…