Director of Development

Moms First•New York, NY

21h

About The Position

Moms First is a national nonprofit leading the fight for America's moms. We are driven by our belief that motherhood is the unfinished business of gender equality. Founded by Reshma Saujani in 2021 at the height of the pandemic, our community of moms and supporters is 1.5 million strong and committed to fighting for a world where moms are valued and supported in our workplaces, communities, and culture. Fueling that fight requires bold, strategic fundraising — and we're looking for the leader to drive it. This is a builder's role: you will own and scale Moms First's fundraising program across foundations, corporate partners, high net worth individuals (HNWI), and grassroots donors. Reporting to the CEO, you will lead the full development function as part of a lean, high-impact two-person development shop — working alongside a Development Manager and in close partnership with the CEO, who serves as the organization's lead fundraiser. Together, you will set strategy, manage the pipeline, and drive the cultivation and closure of major philanthropic gifts that fuel our most ambitious growth goals. You have a track record of securing six and seven figure gifts by building and relentlessly working a robust, data-informed pipeline. You bring particular sophistication to HNWI engagement, including 1:1 relationship management, advisory boards, giving circles, and other tailored approaches. You also know how to manage institutional funders against clear objectives, including corporate sponsorships tied to events and campaigns. You are a compelling communicator who can make the case for our mission to diverse audiences — from C-suite executives to major foundations to individual supporters — and you close. You lead with humility, roll up your sleeves, and bring a low-ego approach to a collaborative environment where everyone — including the CEO — is in the work alongside you. You thrive in blue sky space, build the systems and processes that move prospects through the pipeline, and hold yourself and your team accountable for results. As a senior leader at Moms First, you will help shape how we live out our team values — daring, high impact, relentless, equitable, and above all else, putting moms first. Due to the premiere of our documentary, No Country for Mothers, we will review and respond to applications after June 18. We appreciate your patience and look forward to connecting with you soon.

Requirements

Minimum 12–15 years of progressive fundraising experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role within a high-growth nonprofit, advocacy organization, or campaign environment
Demonstrated success securing six and seven figure gifts and building transformative philanthropic partnerships
Experience shaping and executing a multi-year development strategic plan, including building and managing a team
The humility and low-ego orientation to thrive in a lean, collaborative environment — a genuine willingness to roll up your sleeves and do the work, not just direct it
High level of adaptability in an environment with evolving team structures, with a penchant for embracing change and navigating ambiguity
Strong communication and presentation skills; a compelling storyteller who can win hearts and minds, influence, and negotiate across diverse audiences
Familiarity with Salesforce or a comparable CRM; comfort working in a data-informed environment
Highly organized with a proven ability to manage multiple deadline-driven priorities while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
Experience managing and developing direct reports
Deep commitment to Moms First's mission and to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the CEO, set overall fundraising goals, manage revenue forecasts, and a multi-year development strategic plan
Build and own a clear, data-informed pipeline across all donor types — foundations, corporate partners, HNWI, and grassroots — mapping opportunities by type, stage, and certainty, with Salesforce as the primary system of record
Develop and manage an annual development budget, tracking progress against goals and reporting regularly to leadership
Analyze philanthropic trends and funding landscapes to identify emerging opportunities aligned with Moms First's mission and growth goals
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and deepen relationships with a pool of key funders, Board members, and Advisory Council stakeholders
Own relationships across all donor types with distinct strategies to grow and sustain each
Pitch partnership and funding opportunities to C-level executives and foundation leaders; facilitate discovery and pitch meetings for the CEO
Drive corporate partnership strategy, including securing and stewarding sponsorships tied to events and campaigns
Lead the individual giving program with particular focus on HNWI as a growth opportunity, deploying tailored approaches including giving circles and 1:1 relationship management
Review and approve grant proposals, reports, and foundation communications before submission, and oversee grant reporting with support from Development Manager
Drive donor communications that keep supporters informed and connected to the impact of their investments
Optimize the systems, processes, and materials that enable the development function to prospect, cultivate, and close major gifts at scale
Establish clear goals, metrics, and accountability structures for development performance, delivering regular reviews to the CEO and senior leadership
Frequently analyze fundraising targets and mark-to-market progress, operationalizing insights to keep the team on track
Review and continuously improve external pitch materials, presentations, grant proposals, contracts, and reports
Manage and mentor the Development Manager, setting clear goals and supporting their growth and effectiveness
Serve as a player-coach for the development function — providing executive leadership while remaining hands-on in execution alongside the team
Collaborate across functions to align development strategy with organizational narrative and programmatic priorities