Development Director

The Alliance for Youth
Action (along with our sister 501(c)(3) organization the Alliance
for Youth Organizing) is searching for a Development Director who
will be a leader in the Alliance’s Development Department and work
alongside the Vice President of Development to both develop and
maintain a well-functioning development plan. The Development
Director will lead a growing development team and help raise
national resources so that our network of progressive youth-led
organizations is able to throw down and win in 2024 and beyond.
This role reports to the Chief Development Officer (once hired;
currently reports to the Executive Director), and is a full-time
position based in the United States (see Logistics, below).
Alliance for Youth Organizing is a unionized workplace, and staff
are represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local
32035; this is a management position and is not part of the
bargaining unit.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH
ACTION
The Alliance convenes,
supports, and scales a national network of youth-led, locally
rooted organizations growing civic engagement and social justice
coast to coast. We truly are a multiracial network “of young
people, by young people, for all people.” Our Affiliates and
Partners run massive voter registration and get-out-the-vote
drives, train new young leaders and run powerful campaigns to win
on the progressive issues our generation cares about most. Our
national team empowers this work by tracking down national
resources for the network, building capacity for local groups,
seeding new efforts, and coordinating national issue
campaigns. 
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities of
this position include:

Development Planning & Management (50%)

• Oversee management of effective grant and revenue tracking
  systems to ensure systems are accessible for staff across teams and
  institutional knowledge is retained.
• Own, manage, and grow a select portfolio of individual donors,
  institutional funders, and prospects.
• Serve as the liaison from the Development Department to the
  Finance Department, ensuring grant proposal budgets and financial
  reports are accurate and meet funder deadlines.
• Oversee the management of and assist with writing, editing, and
  reviewing donor and funder communications, grant reports, and
  proposals to ensure they effectively communicate the Alliance’s and
  Network’s mission, work, and impact.
• As needed, represent the Alliance at conferences, donor
  meetings, and other philanthropic events/meetings.

People Management (50%)

Oversee three staff members develop and reach goals outlined in
the strategic plan, annual work plan, and budgeting process to
support the capacity of local network organizations to design,
launch, and scale successful campaigns.

Support and coach Alliance staff to help build sustainable
solutions for issues facing network organizations, including
creating pathways for network organizations to implement those
solutions.

Guide the professional development of team members by
identifying opportunities to grow their individual skills and
abilities.

Work with the Chief Development Officer & Executive
Director to create and implement management processes that maximize
our capacity and streamline our development processes.

Accountable for team members’ results, performance, standards,
and goals and supporting an environment of creativity and
innovation that ultimately impact organization-wide
initiatives.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS
We’re looking for
candidates with particular strengths in the following areas:

Fundraising Experience

• 3-5 years of experience of leading a robust and complex
  fundraising operation. Direct experience with and knowledge of the
  full development spectrum, including planned giving, major gifts,
  institutional fundraising, stewardship, online fundraising, and
  partnerships.
• Experience in securing support for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)
  organizations
• Proven ability to personally cultivate, solicit, and steward
  individual and foundation donors at five- to seven-figure
  levels
• Excellent writing and presentation skills and experience with
  framing concepts for a philanthropic audience.
• Demonstrated excellence in organizational, communication, and
  managerial skills, working across several teams to source
  information, juggling competing deadlines, and being able to
  reprioritize tasks when needed quickly.

Critical Thinking & Strategy

• A self-starter with a strong initiative who – beyond directing
  current systems – has the willingness to identify additional
  processes that could be streamlined and the skills to realize that
  vision.
• Willingness and excitement to think outside the box to ensure
  organizational values – especially those related to diversity,
  equity, and inclusion – are reflected in Development work.
• Know when to answer the question someone meant to ask rather
  than the one they did.

Baseline Expectations

• Belief in youth organizing as a vehicle for change
• Understanding of power, and racial, LGBTQ+, economic, and
  gender justice and how they intersect
• Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice
  and culture
• Excellent interpersonal skills and patience
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Comfort with technology and virtual communication systems,
  including Zoom, Google Hangouts, Slack, Asana, etc.
• Proficiency in Excel and/or Google Sheets, including the
  ability to create and manage complex financial formulas, models,
  and data analysis tools crucial for effective fundraising and
  financial workbook management.

Nice to Haves

• Electoral campaign experience
• Experience working in and raising money in an organization with
  an affiliated network structure

LOGISTICS

Compensation: $95,000-$110,000 per year
commensurate with experience.

Benefits: The Alliance offers a
competitive benefits package covering:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance covering
  • 100% of employee premiums
  • 75% of premiums for employee dependents
• Employer retirement contributions (SEP IRA) of 5% of
  salary
• Employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability
  income protection insurance
• Cell phone and internet stipends of $100 per month
• WMATA transportation Smartbenefits for staff located in the DMV
  area
• Professional development opportunities and funds
• Generous paid time off policy through which staff accrue 10
  hours of PTO per month
• Unlimited sick leave
• Paid family and medical leave up to 16 weeks
• Paid Sabbatical (after 4 years of service)
• 15 paid holidays
• Potential for end of year or other bonuses

Location: This is a full-time position
based in the United States. All Alliance staff are required to live
within about an hour from major airports in most US states; more
detail will be provided to finalists as relevant. Moving
reimbursements are offered to employees who need to move for this
position.

COVID-19: The Alliance currently requires
employees to be fully vaccinated and boosted in order to travel on
behalf of the Alliance. Additionally there may be vaccine
requirements for attendees at Alliance, Network, or partner
events.

Travel: Domestic travel for this role may
be up to 30% of this position. Must be willing to work long,
irregular hours periodically and travel as needed.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
At the Alliance for Youth
Action, we want to create a world where our democracy works for
everyone and where all people – no matter where they come from,
what they look like, or how they identify – live in loving, safe,
and thriving communities. As such, we value diversity and equity as
central to our work. The Alliance for Youth Action is an equal
opportunity employer and an inclusive workplace for people of all
backgrounds and walks of life. People of color, immigrants, people
with disabilities, people of diverse sexual orientations, gender
expressions, and identities are encouraged to apply.  Some
candidates may feel discouraged from applying if they don’t match
every job requirement – we encourage you to apply anyway.
TO APPLY

Please submit the following through the application portal:

• Two paragraphs or less explaining why you want this position
  and what makes you a strong candidate. Please prioritize content
  over formality.
• Resume