Development Director

Position Summary

At one of the most exciting times in the organization’s history,
the Urban Peace Institute (UPI) is seeking a highly motivated
Development Director to lead strategic fundraising efforts. Over
the past five years, UPI has achieved significant fundraising and
organizational growth. The organization’s operating budget, Board
of Directors and staff members have all doubled in size. Moreover,
the organization has secured significant new sources of private and
public funding to expand the community violence intervention field
in Los Angeles.

At this pivotal moment in organizational growth, UPI seeks a
fundraising leader that is passionate about supporting efforts to
transform justice and create community safety. This position will
spearhead the organization’s growing Development Department and
provide strategic leadership to diversify fundraising efforts. The
Development Director will have a strong focus on implementing an
innovative fundraising strategy to create a pipeline of new and
potential donors, as well as cultivating major and annual gifts
from historical supporters. This will include planning and
executing a moves management approach to individual giving, leading
special and annual events, facilitating corporate partnerships, as
well as activating and growing the organization’s dedicated Board
of Directors.  

This position will also be responsible for leading complex grant
writing initiatives with foundations and public agencies, including
collaborative proposals with community organizations and academic
partners. The Development Director will be responsible for
stewarding and strengthening relationships with key regional
foundations, as well as growing support from emerging national
funders. Moreover, this position will oversee grant and contract
proposals to local, state, and federal government entities.

This is a highly collaborative role, partnering with the
organization’s Executive Director, Senior Team and the Board of
Directors to strengthen and improve overall fundraising capacity.
The Development Director will also oversee a Development Manager,
as well as Development and Communications Coordinator to support
fundraising initiatives. As funding permits, there is also the
opportunity to further expand the Development Department.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Lead, develop, and execute strategies for all of UPI’s
  fundraising initiatives to meet annual organization goals,
  currently set at $4M+
• Design and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan for
  general operating, capital and program needs that works to
  diversify sources of support and expands fundraising efforts.
• Spearhead fundraising initiatives including major gifts,
  individual giving, special events, campaigns, foundation relations,
  government funding, grant writing, corporate partnerships, and
  planned giving.
• Create and implement innovative strategies to create a new
  pipeline of donor support for the organization and increase major
  gifts and annual giving.
• Lead efforts to secure new national foundation support, as well
  as untapped public funding.
• Alongside the Executive Director, act as lead liaison with the
  Board of Directors and identify strategies to increase board
  membership.
• Work with the Executive Director, Senior Team, and Board of
  Directors to cultivate and request major contributions and support
  from individuals.
• Partner with the Senior Team and Program Leaders to plan and
  execute special events, as well as provide ongoing stewardship and
  cultivation opportunities.
• Manage a growing development team, including a Development
  Manager, as well as Communications Manager, and ensure future
  strategic hires are made to achieve development goals.

Donor Relations & Engagement

• Continue to build on efforts to build an individual giving
  program from the ground up, estimated to bring in $100,000+ this
  year.
• Cultivate an expanding base of existing donors ($2,000+),
  spending considerable time meeting with and stewarding donors to
  deepen relationships that will provide long term support for the
  organization.
• Establish strategies to create a new and continual pipeline of
  individual donor support and annual gifts.
• Plan and execute an expanded moves management approach to
  individual giving, expanding the organization’s usage of a
  Salesforce CRM platform.

• Integrate development and marketing/communications strategies
  to maximize UPI’s exposure and fundraising opportunities.
• Oversee the design and production of donor recognition
  materials, ongoing print and email updates, as well as funding
  solicitations.

Foundation, Corporate & Government Fundraising
 

• Lead the development of complex grant applications, serve as
  the chief grant writer for the organization, and oversee foundation
  reporting activities and stewardship.
• Manage a grants calendar for private foundations, family
  foundations and government agencies at the local, state, and
  federal level.
• Manage prospective and current funder relationships, ensuring
  all potential and current philanthropy partners are informed about
  our work on an ongoing basis and have increased opportunities to
  connect in-person with our organization.
• Ensure increased foundation stewardship and deepening of
  foundation relationships at the local and state level by hosting
  innovative events, including annual funders briefings.

Note: This is a hybrid position that currently requires at least
two days in the office each week and requires staff to live in the
Los Angeles region. The Development Director will also be expected
to meet with donors in-person on a regular basis across the region,
and occasionally in the Bay Area and nationally as needed.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to
perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed
below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability
required:

• Extensive and successful experience in nonprofit development,
  leading efforts at the $2M+ level, with demonstrated success in
  significantly growing an organization’s operating budget
• Experience growing an individual donor and major gift
  program
• Experience cultivating and securing major gifts at the $5,000
  level and up
• Superb grant writing skills and experience in writing
  multi-year proposals for $100,000+
• Professional experience or personal commitment to advancing
  social justice, ending gun violence, and transforming justice
• Proficiency in using CRM tools for moves management activities,
  Salesforce preferred
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience in non-profits and/or
  communications; equivalent work experience will be strongly
  considered
• At least seven years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with
  previous management or director experience
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse people
  across the spectrum of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity and
  gender orientation
• Flexibility to adjust and contribute to continually evolving
  work culture and changing priorities.

Annual Salary: 
$110,000-130,000: Includes health, dental and vision benefits.
Parking is also included.

Urban Peace Institute is an “at will” and equal opportunity
employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Women and people of color are encouraged to
apply.  In addition, the
organization will consider for employment qualified applicants with
criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of
the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Organization Mission & History:

UPI creates community safety and dismantles harmful systems to
ensure justice and freedom from violence. We work to end injustice,
violence and oppression of people who have been historically
criminalized and marginalized. By expanding evidence and
place-based community violence interventions, building power and
assisting new regions, we advance solutions that lead to urban
peace.

Since 2006, UPI has worked to develop and implement innovative
solutions to address gun violence and engage in ground-level
systems reform. In 2021, UPI separated from fiscal sponsorship as
its programs and impact continued to expand. UPI’s works to prevent
violence, achieve safety, and improve community health. Rooted in
the past and current struggles for justice and equity, the Urban
Peace Institute has successfully reduced gun and gang violence to
historic lows, trained over 5,000 peacemakers in public health
approaches to reduce violence, as well as championed justice
reforms to end youth incarceration.

To Apply:

Please send resume and cover letter stating interest in the
position specifically detailing your qualifications and
commitment to urban peace issues and/or social justice
to:

ATTN: Fernando Rejon, Executive Director

1910 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Or e‐mail to: careers@urbanpeaceinstitute.org

 

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled