Director of Development and Communications

ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION:
The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice works for social, racial and economic justice in the U.S. and internationally. Our grantmaking, capacity-building and philanthropic advocacy programs promote and support the work of Lesbian, Trans and LGBTI social change organizations in the U.S.,  Africa, Asia/Pacific, the Caribbean, Latin America, Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Middle East.

POSITION: Director of Development and Communications

Reports to: Executive Director

Astraea seeks a Director for Development and Communications, who will ensure that Astraea meets its financial goals by providing strategic oversight, vision, innovation and leadership. Reporting to the Executive Director, this individual will lead our four-person team to support the foundation’s current fundraising needs as well as future programmatic and structural growth. The ideal candidate will be a highly capable leader and seasoned manager. They will provide strategic leadership in all of Astraea’s outreach, including creating and managing a comprehensive annual development plan; identifying and cultivating donors; coordinating special events; managing the organization's major and house giving programs; and upgrading online and planned giving programs for long-term stability.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and implement comprehensive, goal-based, strategic and operating plans for the Development and Communications Team.
• Monitor progress toward yearly individual, institutional and special events fundraising goals.
• Research, identify and cultivate prospective donors, including individual donors and corporations, foundations and government for priority programs and projects.
• Expand the base of support for Astraea’s grantmaking and advocacy programs.
• Plan, supervise and implement donor cultivation, stewardship and recognition events.
• Effectively manage and execute the day-to-day operation of the Development and Communications Team. Write, edit and oversee the writing, as required, of proposals, reports, evaluations, acknowledgments, letters of inquiry, concept papers, briefing materials, internal memos, cultivation letters, pledge reminder letters, stewardship reports, and other documents.
• Work closely with the Board Development Committee And other Board members to identify, cultivate and solicit contacts.
• Support the Executive Director’s and Board members’ involvement in major gift solicitation.
• Develop and expand the major gifts program.  Help design giving opportunities for major donors.
• Function as a member of the Astraea’s Management Team, working cooperatively with other senior staff on organization-wide management issues.
• Work closely with Grants Team to gain the necessary knowledge of programs and services to effectively communicate to funders through proposals, reports, meetings, and site visits.
• Draft, review and advise on fundraising and general communication materials for internal and external use, ensuring that materials are consistent with organizational strategy;
• Oversees development of content, communication strategies, management of the organization’s brand and marketing plan, and Web and social media.
• Develop public relations initiatives, including development of press releases and outreach to media.

Qualifications:

• At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, preferred.  Comparable experience in other sectors, including sales or business development will be considered.  At least three years supervising the activities of staff professionals.
• Ability to develop fundraising and budgeting plans, think creatively and strategically, and to manage multiple areas of activity simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience writing successful proposals, good computer skills, and working knowledge of The Raiser's Edge.
• Ability to develop and manage your own portfolio of donors and prospects with experience in asking for gifts and positioning others to ask.
• Experience building individual donor programs and taking them to scale.
• Recruit, manage, inspire, motivate, train and mentor development and communications staff to work as a team and to perform to their greatest potential.
• Experience in public relations, media and/or communications.
• Ability to work collaboratively, independently, proactively, creatively and respectfully with multiple constituencies and audiences.
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• A demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of the Astraea Foundation and confidence in ability to enhance that mission.
• Experience working in or volunteering with a social justice organization.
• Sense of humor required.

Salary: Competitive and Commensurate with experience.  Competitive benefits package.

How to apply:

Please send résumé, cover letter, and salary requirements to sfilipovic@astraeafoundation.org

No phone calls, please – only applicants being considered for interviews will be contacted

Astraea is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, multicultural work environment. People of color, people with disabilities and people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities are encouraged to apply. For more information visit www.astraeafoundation.org