Director of Development and Partnerships

Job Description

CAI is looking for a dynamic Director of Development and Partnerships, to set strategy and execute its resource mobilization to secure roughly one million dollars annually. With a strong foundation of long-term committed funding partners, the goal will be to expand our individual and major gifts, corporate and foundation support, and consulting contracts to create a sustainable funding pipeline. This is a key position that will report directly to the Executive Director and collaborate closely with the Executive Director, staff, Development Committee, and Board of Directors to promote the organization’s mission and values and grow the base of donor support.

About Creative Action Institute

At Creative Action Institute, we catalyze community-driven solutions because we believe those closest to the problems are best positioned to address them. Using our groundbreaking creative approaches, we build transformative leadership, create fertile spaces for networks and movements to form and grow, and support creative advocacy to advance gender equality and build a sustainable planet. Creative Action Institute’s unique methodology is rooted in popular education and learner-centered approaches and is infused with experiential, participatory, and creative activities. We have trained hundreds of teachers, community leaders, and youth to leverage the skills and knowledge to advance leadership development, gender equality, education, health, climate justice, and community resilience in East Africa, West Africa, and Central America. These approaches have been readily replicated and adapted in a variety of contexts including under-resourced and remote locales. Creative Action Institute operates its own annual programs; and it is also a consultant to other like-minded organizations, providing services in instructional design and capacity building with emphasis on leadership, advocacy, education, and community resilience. As a small global team with a big mission, we benefit from a rich, supportive culture of excellence, creativity, and flexibility.

Responsibilities

Creative Action Institute is rapidly growing and seeks to bring in an experienced (5-7 years) and energic Director of Development and Partnerships to expand its fundraising and business development. Responsibilities include:

Fundraising and Donor Stewardship

• Leading fundraising strategy and infrastructure development including the creation of an annual fundraising plan designed to grow charitable giving and foster relationships with individual, foundation, and corporate donors.
• Stewarding relationships with existing and new donors by providing opportunities for engagement throughout the year, including a potential donor trip and/or site visit to witness the power of current programs, virtual programming, non-ask communications, and meetings.
• Identifying and bringing on new individual donors.
• Leading fundraising events with support from the Board Development Committee, the Communications Associate, and Program and Operations Assistant.
• Stewarding existing foundation and corporate relationships, funder reports, and submitting proposals for renewed support.
• Conducting grant and corporate sponsorship research, developing proposals and building relationships with new foundation funders.
• Provide quarterly fundraising updates to the board.
• Oversee donor database management in SalesForce, tax receipts, and thank you’s with support from the Program and Operations Assistant.
• Lead all donor communications (newsletters, appeal content, annual report, donor-specific pages on the website) with support from the Communications Associate, and Program and Operations Assistant.

Business Development

• Seek out and develop proposals for business development work, working closely with the Director of Programs and Executive Director to ensure fit and adequate staffing to support new work.
• Elevate the profile of the organization by developing relationships within our global community (donors, corporations, affiliate groups, media) and tapping into Candidates’ existing network

Education, Requirements, and Competencies

Education and Requirements

• Candidates must be located in the US, with a preference near Boston.
• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in fundraising and business development, including leadership experience in individual giving, foundations, corporations, and contract development with an international non-profit organization.
• Must have a strong understanding of international development and current issues, ideally in gender equality and climate justice.
• Highly skilled in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and G Suite
• Skilled in using SalesForce as a donor database
• Non-profit finance experience preferred
• An existing network of relationships with a relevant global community of donors, corporations, affiliate groups, media, etc. is strongly preferred.
• English fluency is required (additional competency in Spanish and/or French is a bonus)
• The location will be remote until COVID safe. Once safe, the role would be in Ipswich, MA, with flex time or part-remote options available.
• Must be able to travel internationally occasionally

Competencies

Cutting edge knowledge and experience in all aspects of fundraising including:

• Moves management
• Major gift cultivation
• Managing the creation and execution of donor events
• Donor-centric communications and appeals
• Online fundraising
• Grant research
• Proposal writing – grants and responding to RFPs
• Excellent and expansive networker
• Values individual relationships and is able to connect their interests with mission-driven work.
• Effective and professional verbal and written communicator
• Experienced presenter
• Excellent writer
• Strong researcher
• Strategic thinker who is both skilled at big-picture thinking and managing details
• Pays close attention to detail and shows demonstrated capacity for follow-through
• Highly collaborative and creative – this role will work closely with all staff members, particularly the US-based team.

Salary and Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience.

Creative Action Institute offers a competitive benefits package that includes generous PTO, option for health and dental or a stipend, 401(k).

We invite those with appropriate qualifications to send a thoughtful, well-crafted cover letter, a resume that highlights your relevant experience and why this role and Creative Action Institute is a fit, sample successful grant proposals, and one additional writing sample to info@creativeactioninstitute.org.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly by the team using the email address provided in their resumes.