Development Director

Who we are:

Arizona Center for Empowerment (ACE), and its sister organization, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), are progressive, grassroots, community-based organizations engaged in and committed to building power throughout communities in Arizona. At ACE, we work to ensure that everyone has access to the American Dream by amplifying the voices of low- and moderate-income communities, communities of color, and immigrant communities through collective action.

We work to hold the government and corporations accountable, improve the health of our families, economy and environment, reform our public schools, workplaces and financial institutions.

About the Position:

We are looking for an energetic, creative and driven issue advocate/director to help develop and report on our programs inside of Arizona. A talented, visionary, and accomplished strategist to assume a leadership role on our Development team.

Candidates must be passionate about the organization’s mission, and be able to articulately advocate for donations, large and small. Candidates must have excellent writing and reading skills. Preference will be made for those who have experience in fundraising and working with donors.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Ability to develop a fundraising strategy for ACE and LUCHA

   1. Develop a funder target list

   2. Build a funder maintenance strategy

2. Fundraising and Grant-writing management

   1. Identify and apply for statewide and nationwide grants

      1. Assist in directing finance team to ensure adherence to grant parameters

   2. Research, develop and write annual plan for direct personal and corporate contributions

      1. Assist in directing finance team to plan for funding

   3. Maintain ongoing formal list of funding sources - for direct fundraising, grants and membership for monthly review

   4. Maintain and grow relationships with development directors for potential and ongoing donors

   5. Work with Executive Director(s) and Board on leveraging personal contacts for increased funding

   6. Steward membership relations and ongoing membership drives

   7. Plan and evaluate direct fundraising opportunities

   8. Evaluate trends in fundraising and non-profit fund management

   9. Communicate in a timely fashion with donors, staff and board

   10. Create and manage solicitation message for donors and grant-writing institutions

   11. Oversee grants and foundation relations, track application information, lead on grant writing, and effectively steward partners and manage reporting

   12. Personally manage a portfolio of donors and prospective donors

3. Team Development

   1. Recruit and train fundraising volunteers and staff

   2. Assist Communications team with writing, editing any inward and outward-facing documents per request of executive director and/or Communications leader

   3. Advise Communications team on public relations and public affairs opportunities

   4. Host weekly meeting and develop Marketing/Communications team

   5. Direct Marketing/Communications efforts for both inward and outward-facing programs

   6. Contribute to personnel development on an as-needed basis for all staff members

4. Personal Development

   1. Join and attend social development organization meetings to raise profile of organization

   2. Attend any conferences for fundraising and grant-writing experience at the discretion of executive director(s)

5. Administrative

   1. Report Directly to Co-Executive Director(s)

   2. Conduct weekly 1:1 with executive director(s) to map out weekly, monthly and yearly goals

      1. Appraise executive director(s) of funding sources and progress

      2. Advise executive director(s) of team development goals and progress

      3. Advise executive director(s) of personal development goals and progress

   3. Contribute progress reports on an as-needed basis for outside groups with input from executive director(s)

   4. Work with Board of Directors per request from executive director(s)

   5. Cultivate development goals related to governance as the program builds 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) boards, and work to integrate and advance those goals in partnership with staff