Director of Development and External Affairs

Public Knowledge•Washington, DC

8d•$100,000 - $121,000

About The Position

The Director of Development and External Affairs will lead Public Knowledge’s day-to-day fundraising and engagement work, including spearheading an overall strategy; building external funder relationships; and identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, advanced degree, or equivalent lived experience
Examples could include nonprofit management, public administration, business administration, communications, finance, accounting, or philanthropic studies
Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage, inspire, and connect with diverse stakeholders
Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, about Public Knowledge’s fundraising goals and its policy priorities
Significant writing experience sufficient to produce compelling funding proposals, reports, and donor communications
Experience with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems, with a willingness to learn new technologies as needed
Ability to conceive, plan, and execute a major gifts program, including annual giving, special events, and special projects/campaigns.
Experience in developing and operationalizing fundraising strategies to take an organization to a new stage of growth and impact
Commitment to Public Knowledge’s public interest mission
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously
Ability to produce high-quality results on tight deadlines
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Nice To Haves

Experience with technology policy preferred

Responsibilities

Create, implement, and monitor a comprehensive fundraising strategy
Translate the Public Knowledge mission and programs into fundraising initiatives that garner financial support
Increase the organization’s annual revenue by over $2 million in 3-4 years, through revenue from foundations, corporations, and individuals
Lead and coordinate the development of innovative concepts, grant proposals, and reports. Manage the entire process to ensure high-quality writing and a consistent organizational voice.
Ensure that all fundraising is conducted in a consistent manner according to the organization’s values and funding policies.
Communicate with donors and supporters on a continual basis to establish effective stewardship
Provide training to empower the Board and Public Knowledge staff to identify funding opportunities and transfer conversations accordingly
Coordinate virtual and in-person meetings to cultivate donor and prospect relationships
Cultivate multiple modes of giving, with a focus on Board giving that appropriately optimizes the Board’s networks
Coordinate external networks to strengthen participants’ engagement with the organization
Create a transparent workflow that allows for greater collaboration and education across departments
Maintain a portfolio of Major Giving donors and prospects, while assisting in the identification and qualification of new donors and prospects
Ensure proper donor recognition in all publications and oversee accurate donor lists for those publications
Work with Finance team to prepare annual revenue budgets and track progress towards goals
Ensure the organization’s fundraising practices comply with all financial and fiduciary best practices
Other duties as assigned.