Director of Development

Justice North•Duluth, MN

9d•$120,000 - $145,000

About The Position

Justice North seeks a strategic, experienced, and collaborative Director of Development to lead grants management, fundraising, and revenue development. This newly created senior leadership position will help shape organizational strategy, financial sustainability, and future growth. The Director will oversee approximately 30–40 active grants from federal, state, local government, private foundation, and other funding sources; diversify revenue; expand individual giving; strengthen donor and funder relationships; and establish effective development systems and processes. Reporting to a Co-Executive Director, the Director will supervise the Data and Compliance Manager and Fundraising and Communications Lead. The position will work closely with Finance, legal services leadership, and staff across the organization to align funding strategies with organizational priorities and ensure grant accountability. The role is hybrid or remote, preferably within Justice North's service area, and involves travel throughout northern Minnesota as needed.

Requirements

At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit development, grants management, fundraising, or a related field, including leadership and supervisory experience.
Experience managing federal, state, and local government grants with complex reporting and compliance requirements.
Experience working in legal aid, public interest, human services, or similarly complex nonprofit organizations.
Demonstrated success managing complex grant portfolios and securing institutional funding.
Exceptional writing skills, including significant experience developing competitive grant proposals, reports, and compelling funding narratives.
Strong strategic planning, financial analysis, budgeting, and organizational management skills.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with funders, donors, community partners, and internal stakeholders.
Experience supervising professional staff and leading collaborative, cross-departmental initiatives.
Strong technological proficiency, including experience with grant management systems, donor databases, spreadsheets, and data analysis tools.
Ability to use program data, financial information, and measurable outcomes to inform strategy and communicate organizational impact.
Excellent judgment, organization, and ability to manage competing priorities.
Commitment to Justice North's mission and the communities it serves.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated success growing individual giving or other philanthropic revenue.
Experience implementing or improving grant management and development systems.
Knowledge of Minnesota's nonprofit, philanthropic, and public funding landscape.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

Serve on Justice North's Director Team and contribute to organizational strategy, budgeting, planning, and decision-making.
Develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy to sustain existing funding, diversify revenue, and support long-term financial stability.
Partner with executive leadership, Finance, and legal services teams to identify funding priorities, assess organizational capacity, and pursue strategic opportunities.
Develop multiyear revenue projections and funding strategies, identifying renewal opportunities, potential funding gaps, and financial risks.
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including collaborative grants and partnerships with organizations and government entities.
Oversee the full grant lifecycle for approximately 30–40 active grants, including prospecting, proposal development, writing, budgeting, reporting, renewals, and funder relationships.
Personally lead the development and writing of significant grant proposals, reports, and other funding requests.
Collaborate with the Director of Finance on grant budgets, financial reporting, revenue forecasting, and funding restrictions.
Develop and maintain grant management systems to track deadlines, deliverables, expenditures, and compliance requirements.
Establish expectations and accountability for grant-funded activities and partner with legal services leadership and staff to meet grant commitments.
Train and support staff in understanding grant requirements, documenting outcomes, and taking ownership of grant-funded projects.
Lead strategies to expand individual giving, strengthen donor retention, cultivate major gifts, and grow unrestricted revenue.
Oversee fundraising initiatives, including the annual fundraising event, smaller events, sponsorships, and giving campaigns.
Develop and maintain relationships with institutional funders, individual donors, community partners, and other supporters.
Oversee effective use of Justice North's donor management system for fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and performance tracking.
Collaborate with staff to turn organizational data, client outcomes, and impact stories into grant proposals, donor communications, and funding presentations.
Partner with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to support board involvement in fundraising and donor cultivation.
Supervise and support the Data and Compliance Manager and Fundraising and Communications Lead, establishing priorities, expectations, and performance measures.
Build cross-departmental relationships and strengthen coordination among Development, Finance, and legal services teams.
Promote shared accountability, proactive communication, and continuous improvement.
Evaluate and improve development processes, technology, and reporting systems to increase efficiency and organizational effectiveness.