Development Manager

Position Description

El Puente seeks an experienced Development professional who will be responsible for the stewardship and oversight of the organization’s growing and diverse funding portfolio. This position reports directly to the Executive Director and works closely with the leadership team and Board of Directors. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, flexible, team-oriented environment and is motivated by challenges. They will be able to manage multiple priorities and create systems to improve the organization's development process. They will be able to build relationships and create collaborations, and they have a passion for social justice and will understand how movement and community building work is served by diverse funding sources.

Who we are:

Founded in 1982, El Puente is a youth-centered organization that uses the arts and education to advance social and environmental justice. Its mission is to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice, working as a human rights institution in NYC and Puerto Rico with national and international impact. El Puente creates community-led movements of self-determination through a holistic leadership and membership program model, as a high-impact youth and community development organization. As a staff member of El Puente, the Development Manager is expected to uphold and work within the mission, philosophy, and principles of the organization.

Responsibilities:

The Development Manager’s responsibilities will include:

Planning and Strategy:

• Implementing El Puente’s short- and long-term fundraising planning, including new strategies and approaches to be developed in collaboration with the Executive Director and leadership team.

Foundations:

• Maintaining and expanding the current grants portfolio, including identifying new funders, strengthening current relationships, grant writing, and reporting.

Individual Donors:

• Identifying, cultivating, and directing the solicitation of major donors;
• Developing and implementing donor recognition and cultivation mechanisms at all levels;
• Institutionalizing annual appeals and newsletters in collaboration with the Communications Manager;

Government:

• Supporting the Deputy Director of Programs and Director of Administration in maintaining and expanding a diverse array of government grants, including identifying new opportunities and strengthening and enhancing relationships, especially for discretionary grants.

Corporations:

• Developing and maintaining relationships with socially responsible corporate funders and friends, including events-based corporate funding as well as grants-based support;
• Researching and developing a roster of potential corporate sources.

Systems Development:

• Managing donor tracking database and other fundraising systems;
• Supporting processes for identifying and evaluating project and program priorities and impact.

Communications:

• Working closely with the Communications Manager to develop and coordinate expansive and consistent program and impact communications across audiences and platforms.

Capital Campaign:

• Supporting the Executive Director and Board of Directors’ fundraising efforts for capital projects in Brooklyn and Puerto Rico.

Other:

• Participate in professional development and organizational training
• Support programs and campaigns aligned with the organization's mission as requested
• Attend professional development and organizational training, including the annual El Puente all-staff retreat in September.
• Other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Qualities of the Successful Candidate:

• Strategic thinker: ability to set priorities and balance short- and long-term objectives
• Relationship builder: Organize contacts and nurture long-term external and internal relationships
• Discernment: the ability to choose the right fundraising opportunities in alignment with program priorities
• Leadership and patience are marked by the ability to balance competing interests and ideas among essential constituencies, including other staff, board members, and funders
• Impeccable follow-through
• The ability to work independently as well as collectively
• Capacity to work with others to generate new ideas, with a sense of humor and perspective
• Comfortable working within and for Latine communities

Experience:

• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Experience in fundraising for issues involving the arts, public health, and/or education focused on community/youth development preferred
• Understanding of fundraising within the social justice community
• Demonstrated experience in donor cultivation
• Demonstrated experience in foundation and corporate grantsmanship
• Demonstrated experience in motivating board members involvement in fundraising
• Experience in project management and the skill of working with others to attain development goals
• Spanish-speaking preferred but not required.

COVID-19 considerations:

All new hires must submit proof of vaccination.

Location:

This is a full-time position based in Brooklyn, NY.

Salary and Benefits:

$80,000 annual salary and benefits package, including health and retirement.

El Puente is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a staff that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, DREAMers, as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ communities.