Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship

Location: Fully Remote

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

The Center for Election Science is a completely virtual 501(c)3
nonprofit that empowers voters through voting methods that
strengthen democracy. Our organization does research and works
directly with communities to bring approval voting to cities and
states across the country. We aim to enhance the voting process in
U.S. elections to ensure we achieve the responsive government we
deserve. We are a high-impact organization seeking talented
employees to advance progress on this challenging mission.

The Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship will lead CES’s
fundraising initiatives, developing and implementing strategies to
secure financial support from individuals, foundations, and
corporations. This role requires a strategic thinker with a proven
track record in philanthropy, excellent relationship-building
skills, and a passion for electoral reform. This person reports to
the Chief Executive Officer who also provides support for major
gifts and key relationships.

Responsibilities as follows:

Strategic Management

Manage contractors supporting donor
relationships and grants.
Identify and manage additional
contractors as they arise.
Prioritize automation and delegation
wherever possible.
Manage data assets to maintain
accurate records of donor interactions and
contributions. 

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

Ensure prompt and appropriate
stewardship of all 300+ donors.
Set and evaluate philanthropic
strategy for the organization. 
Develop and manage relationship plans
for key donors.
Coordinate large direct solicitations
with support from contractor and Chief Executive Officer.
Maintain and regularly update our
donor database.
Support  board members in their
personal fundraising (each has committed to a specific give/get for
the year). Use wealth screening software to identify larger
donors.

Communications & Outreach

Arrange and execute frequent donor
communications via email. social media and in-person.
Develop and execute strategies for
cultivating, stewarding, and engaging foundation, corporate, and
individual donors through outreach events and activities.
Create and manage bi-annual direct
response fundraising campaigns and other smaller campaigns
throughout the year.
Lead the development of the CES’s
annual report. 

Grants Portfolio Management

Organize, identify and collaborate on
submission of grants.
Cultivate relationships with
prospective funders.
Lead the granting enterprise for the
organization including drafting and submitting identified grants
and submitting reports for acquired grants

Experience/Skills

Bachelor’s degree and professional
experience in philanthropy required. 
Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in
fundraising for nonprofit organizations or for political action
committees. 
Demonstrated ability to build,
maintain a culture of innovation and philanthropy, and successfully
engaged in one-on-one solicitation from large capacity
donors. 
Experienced and proficient in various
aspects of philanthropic work, including soliciting and managing
relationships with individual, foundation, and corporate donors;
cultivating and researching potential donors; writing grants; and
organizing special events.
Knowledge of and interest in
political advocacy. 
Feels comfortable working remotely
and have experience with or be willing and able to learn new
systems including Google Docs, Salesforce, fundraising CRMs, and
email marketing platforms.
Ability to solve problems,
prioritize, and minimize multitasking.
Excellent verbal and written
communication and interpersonal skills.
A team player that is collaborative,
has a high degree of professionalism, thrives in a fast paced
environment and contributes to the success of the team. 

Salary & Benefits

Starting salary is $80,000-
$90,000.
Up to $6,150 individual or $12,450
family QSEHRA (maximum allowed) reimbursement for health, vision,
and dental insurance and claims
401K with 9% employer contribution
and immediate vesting* 
Unlimited PTO with 21 days annual
minimum 
Up to $5,250 annual student loan
repayment benefit or educational assistance*
Two week year-end office closure
$50K group term life
insurance* 
Short and long-term disability
insurance*
Annual continuing education
allotment* 
$40/month reimbursement for
phone
$50/month reimbursement for
high-speed internet 
$1,500/year home office
reimbursement
Laptop and office supply
allowance
Flexible hours
Work remotely (always unless
traveling at an event or meeting with a donor; we have no physical
location)
Integrated severance package*
Parental leave (6-weeks fully paid,
then staggered for remaining 10 weeks)*

*indicates waiting period required

Additional Information

Some moderate travel: ~4+ weeks/
year, including international travel
Occasional night and weekend
availability
Opportunity to interact with leaders
in the field of political science and policymakers. 

How You Can Be A Competitive Applicant

Get to know our work: Explore our
blog, read our articles, and follow us on social media to stay
updated. 
Be passionate about what we do: Our
work demands significant effort, and your passion will help you
sustain and enjoy that effort.

The Center for Election Science is an equal opportunity
employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an
inclusive environment for all employees.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less
likely to apply for positions in which they do not meet all of the
qualifications listed. CES is committed to finding the best
candidate for this position. Therefore, we strongly encourage you
to apply if you are interested in the position even if you do not
meet every qualification listed.

Requests for reasonable accommodation can be made via email to
[email protected]

This job description outlines the responsibilities and
qualifications for the Director of Philanthropy role at the Center
for Election Science, aimed at attracting candidates who are
passionate about improving U.S. election processes through
strategic and effective fundraising.

How To Apply

Send your tailored CV/resume and cover letter in a single PDF
file to [email protected] no later than August 30,
2024. All applications received prior to the deadline will be
reviewed. After the deadline, applications will be reviewed on a
rolling basis and the position will remain open until
filled. 

Please limit your cover letter to no more than two pages and
your CV/resume to be as tailored as possible.