The Appellate Project (TAP) is expanding its team with the addition of a Development Director. As the organization’s fifth full-time staff member, this individual will set the vision and strategy to secure funding from public and private philanthropic sources towards a $1M+ annual budget. This newly-created position will work closely with the Founder/Executive Director and Program Director, an active and engaged Board of Directors, and a Board-led Development Committee. The ideal Development Director will be a high-performing professional who thrives on the innovation, creativity, and collaboration required in a start-up nonprofit environment.
The Development Director is integral to TAP’s success, particularly over the next 3-5 years as the leadership team sets an ambitious growth and expansion plan into action. If you are excited to support programming that aims to redefine how we think about racial equity in our highest courts, we encourage you to apply!
Responsibilities
The Development Director reports to the Founder/Executive Director. Primary duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Organizational Growth and Administration
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Create, develop, and implement a comprehensive strategic development plan to maximize funding streams and reach annual goals through a varied portfolio of public, private, and corporate philanthropic support.
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Create and oversee the annual department budget, building metrics to measure progress towards established goals.
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Play a key role in the development of the organizational budget and specific program budgets.
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Serve as staff liaison for the Board-led Development Committee.
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Stay abreast of nonprofit fundraising trends and best practices.
Individual Donors
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Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward all prospects and donors, providing an exceptional experience that attracts new supporters and regularly engages donors in TAP’s mission.
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Organize fundraising, cultivation, stewardship events, and campaigns.
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Maintain donor database, ensuring the timely and accurate acknowledgement of all gifts and pledges.
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Collaborate with the Founder/Executive Director and Board of Directors to build on and support TAP’s major gifts program.
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Develop and implement communication strategies and materials to increase visibility, reach new and diverse donors and audiences, and enhance understanding of and financial support for TAP’s mission.
Grants and Institutional Support
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Actively work with the Founder/Executive Director to develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy to include corporate, foundation, and government grants.
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Develop and monitor grants calendar to ensure that all proposal and reporting deadlines are met.
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Prepare and submit letters of inquiry, proposals, and reports in collaboration with the Program Director and with the Founder/Executive Director.
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Monitor donor information, providing and presenting statistical analysis and reports to board and senior leaders.
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Staying abreast of fundraising and philanthropic trends to help position TAP ahead of major funding changes and new developments.
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Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate gifts and grants, in partnership with the leadership team and Development Committee.
We recognize that an individual’s experience is gained through a wide and diverse range of personal, professional, and educational opportunities. When reviewing applications we take a broad look at the combined experiences of each candidate. These are the skills and values we prioritize:
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A demonstrated commitment to racial equity, which is the heart of our work.
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Extensive knowledge of fundraising strategy and principles, with a demonstrated track record of identifying, cultivating, securing, and expanding donor relationships over time.
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Demonstrated expertise in diversifying revenue sources, including fee for service models.
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Eagerness to learn, take initiative, anticipate problems, and develop creative solutions as a vital member of a small but powerful team.
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A proven background in soliciting and closing large gifts, in addition to developing, implementing, and managing annual giving campaigns.
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Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to build relationships and represent TAP to funders, external partners, and the general public.
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Excellent organizational and time management skills; demonstrated attention to detail, including financial oversight and strategic planning capabilities.
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Strong technical skills, including experience with database/CRM tools (e.g., Bloomerang), website editors (e.g., Squarespace or WordPress), email communication platforms (e.g., MailChimp), and design platforms (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
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A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and amplifying and centering the voices and experiences of our students.
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Familiarity and experience with the legal system, and in particular the appellate system, or a willingness to learn.
This is a full-time exempt salaried position. The salary range is $85,000 - $95,000 and is commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, paid holidays, generous stipends for technology and a home office, and robust professional development resources. A company-wide health care plan is not currently in place, but we are committed to providing this if/when staff needs it.
Please submit your cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to [email protected] with “Development Director Position” in the subject line. We will review applications on a rolling basis, with priority to applications received by February 17, 2023.
For more information, visit: https://theappellateproject.org/careers
If you require a disability-related accommodation to submit your application, please email [email protected]. Otherwise, due to high volume we are unable to respond to queries about application status.
The position is located in Washington, DC. It is currently remote but may transition to an office-based environment. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required, as well as willingness to travel approximately 15-20% of the time (in accordance with health and safety advisements).