Vice President, Development

ROLE:​ Vice President, Development

LOCATION:​ Presently Remote, ~30% travel required

POSITION TYPE: Exempt, Full-time

REPORTS TO: Chief of Staff and Strategy

START DATE:  ASAP

ROLE OVERVIEW

DFER is seeking a Vice President of Development, a critical executive level position responsible for devising and implementing a fundraising program for all of DFER’s entities and partner organizations, encompassing both non-profit fundraising and advocacy/political fundraising.

This includes:

• Planning and executing a comprehensive fundraising plan to secure 501c3 revenue, 501c4 revenue, contributions to a Federal PAC, and bundling contributions for candidates running for elected office.
• Managing a team of two full-time fundraising professionals and additional external consultants to achieve ambitious revenue goals, including supporting DFER State Chapters in meeting fundraising targets.
• Growing revenue year over year from both existing donors and new funding sources in order to meet ambitious 5-year organizational growth and impact targets.
• Collaborating with, and advising, the CEO on overarching organizational vision, strategy, and execution, with an eye towards maximizing fundraising opportunities.
• Along with the CEO, co-managing the Board of Directors, including the process to identify, recruit, and select new board members.
• Maintaining a donor portfolio and meeting with top-level foundation leadership, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Managing special events, representing DFER at external conferences, and coordinating with the Communications Department on marketing, communications, and branding.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the United States and will be required to submit proof of eligibility. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

WHO WE ARE 

Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a national political organization that supports elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies and practices that work well for America’s students and confront those that do not. We are education progressives who prioritize students and families, especially low-income students and students of color who should be better served by our country’s public education system.   

DFER partner Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA) is an advocacy group that advances education reform measures through empowering community leaders to support our legislative and political advocacy work. ERNA keeps constant pressure on legislators to champion high-quality public education. 

DFER partner Education Reform Now (ERN) is a nonpartisan think tank that promotes increased resources and innovative reforms in K-16 public education, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families. 

WHAT WE DO 

1. Support for Progressive Education Leaders — In an approach that is markedly different from our peers and partners in the field, DFER engages directly with candidates and elected officials to empower them to advocate for education policies that focus foremost on serving students. Our partner organization, Education Reform Now, does work that involves policy research, analysis and education that helps policy makers at all levels understand complex education issues and make informed decisions. 

2. Informing the Education Debate — Our coalition work reflects the breadth of our policy priorities. We work collaboratively with organizations and our community networks to create an education system that is held accountable to all kids and families.

3. Targeted Interventions and Rapid Response — DFER’s reach from the most local district relationships to state and federal policymakers, enables us to respond quickly to the changing landscape and policy trends. Activities vary significantly from project to project and may include training, policy analysis, public engagement, electoral and issue advocacy, and policy guidance for elected officials and local advocates.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic fundraising plan to increase total revenue   from diverse sources to support DFER’s political and policy goals. Those sources include foundations, allied organizations, and individual donors. 
• This includes driving separate, but interconnected, strategies for 501c3 revenue, 501c4 revenue, Federal PAC contributions, and bundling for candidates running for elected office.  Requires collaborating with the CEO and Chief of Staff and Strategy and coordinating with others  from the senior management team and state chapters to align fundraising activities with organizational goals. 
• Effectively manage a development team of highly skilled professionals, including supervising annual goal-setting, performance management, professional development, and setting and maintaining positive team culture.
• Advise CEO and Chief of Staff on overall organizational strategy and maximizing fundraising opportunities.
• Identify, research, prospect, and cultivate a robust portfolio of donors for individual programs and general support, with a specific goal of growing total organizational revenue over the next 5 years.
• Manage and cultivate current donor relationships with high-level foundation staff and high-net-worth individuals. 
• Oversee the development and execution of special events, including multiple annual high-profile fundraising galas, and fundraisers for candidates running for elected office.
• Maintain a process to track organizational metrics and outcomes used in grant proposals and reports.
• Write and/or oversee highly effective, well-crafted grant proposals and reports to grant-making institutions, ensuring that appropriate staff members are involved in a timely and organized manner and that all deadlines are met. Oversee the creation of timely grant reports. 
• Oversee process to prepare accurate, concise, well-written, and thoughtful meeting briefs for donor meetings and cultivation events.
• Train staff in development policies and practices in compliance with legal and organizational requirements, including the team’s CRM, Salesforce.
• Oversee the infrastructure for smooth development operations.
• Partner with the CEO,  Chief of Staff and Strategy, and Director of Finance to ensure strong organizational cash flow, timely financial reports to donors, and proper restriction of funds to donor guidelines.
• Co-manage Board of Directors including process to identify and onboard new board members, and assume responsibility for all development reports to the board.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and skills:

• 10-15 years of experience and success in managing both 501c3 and political fundraising strategies and growing diverse funder relationships, with a verifiable proven track record of results.
• Significant experience in the political fundraising space is a plus.
• Direct experience with donor solicitations from both foundations and individuals including initial communications, presentations, proposal development, and relationship management.
• Exemplary oral and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple cross-departmental projects with high-level stakeholder buy-in including department leads, the CEO and Chief of Staff and Strategy, and the Board of Directors.
• Strong ability to build and manage a diverse team of fundraising professionals that may include both staff and external consultants. 
• A professional or volunteer background that includes a strong orientation to issues affecting educational opportunity for children, and/or a passion for social change with the ability to convey enthusiastically the work of the organization.
• Entrepreneurial, innovative mindset, high level of integrity, and excellent judgment and discretion.
• Expertise in current fundraising techniques and major gifts fundraising, including use of donor and client management databases.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively to grow a fundraising base and develop new materials.
• Ability to adapt in light of organizational and donor needs.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality related to donors, staff, and other organizational information.
• Flexibility to travel as required in performance of duties.
• Evening and weekend hours required at certain times of the year.
• Experience using Salesforce and Asana a plus.

Benefits

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $220,000. DFER is proud to offer excellent benefits: health, vision, and dental coverage; flexible spending plan; life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; 401K plan with a match plan; flexible spending/benefits plan; paid family leave; paid time off (vacation, sick time, and all National holidays).

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Democrats for Education Reform welcomes applications from all, and strongly encourages women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees & LGBTQ people to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization and recruiting a team that reflects the diversity of the students we serve.