Associate Director / Director of Development

Constructive Dialogue Institute•New York, NY

1d•$101,000 - $147,000•Remote

About The Position

The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is seeking an Associate Director or Director of Development to manage its fundraising operations. This role reports to the Co-Founder and Executive Director, who will remain the primary fundraiser. The position's responsibilities include supporting the Executive Director's fundraising efforts through exceptional operational organization and managing grant writing and reporting. The role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to work with an experienced fundraiser. CDI is looking for a development generalist with strengths in operational excellence and writing/communication skills. The organization is open to candidates with varying levels of fundraising experience, with the Director level involving more direct relationship management and strategy from the outset, and the Associate Director level offering growth into these areas over time. A deep belief in CDI's mission and pride in the quality of work are essential.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in development or fundraising, including experience writing successful grants in the six- and seven-figure range.
Passionate about development operations, with experience building systems and processes that keep fundraising work running exceptionally smoothly, particularly in smaller or growing organizations.
An excellent writer and communicator who can make complex ideas clear and compelling for different audiences.
Exceptionally organized and self-directed; you keep work moving, stay ahead of deadlines, and require minimal oversight.
Exceptionally detail-oriented, with a very high bar for quality and accuracy.
Strong judgment; you notice nuance, anticipate issues before they happen, and can assess what requires attention or escalation.
Passionate about constructive dialogue and aligned with CDI’s values.
For the Director role, we’ll also look for: 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in development or fundraising, including 2+ years in management or leadership roles.
Experience owning funder relationships through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Experience building and executing fundraising strategies to achieve philanthropic revenue goals of $1 million or more.

Responsibilities

Lead development and submission of compelling grant proposals, reports, and donor materials.
Translate CDI’s work and impact into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with funders while staying true to CDI’s voice and strategy.
Collaborate closely with Finance, Marketing & Communications, and program teams across CDI to gather the content needed for grant proposals and reports.
Maintain an exceptionally high bar for both the quality of all grant materials and the efficiency of the processes behind them.
Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar; proactively manage all deadlines for grants and other funder commitments.
Own the systems and infrastructure behind CDI’s fundraising work, from HubSpot and funder records to internal workflows and documentation.
Maintain and refine core assets, including reusable grant content, case studies, pitch decks, templates, and annual reports.
Partner closely with Finance to process new contributions, track grant requirements, and maintain funder and grant documentation.
Keep CDI’s fundraising pipeline current and actionable; partner with Finance to translate that pipeline into revenue projections.
Build and continuously improve the workflows, tools, and systems that keep CDI’s fundraising function running smoothly.
Proactively manage the preparation and follow-through around the Executive Director’s funder relationships, enabling her to focus on relationship building.
Support the Executive Director in shaping fundraising strategy and priorities.
Conduct prospect and landscape research to identify new funding opportunities and inform fundraising strategy.
Depending on experience, directly manage and steward a portfolio of funder relationships.