Development Director

ABOUT UPSTANDER PROJECT

Our Mission:

Upstander Project uses storytelling to amplify silenced narratives, develop upstander skills to challenge systemic injustice, and nurture compassionate, courageous relationships that honor the interconnection of all beings and the Earth.

Our Vision:

We envision a world rooted in responsibility and respect for all where upstanders confront injustice and repair harm to ensure all beings thrive together.

What We Do:

Upstander Project produces Emmy® Award-winning documentary films, creates learning resources, facilitates educator workshops and impact campaigns.

Built around our films and learning resources, our educational programming aims to create opportunities for deep engagement for K-12 classroom teachers, museum professionals, faith leaders, public sector workers and officials, and community educators.

We hope to inspire and guide them to create more inclusive curricula, schools, public spaces and conversations, so that in turn, they influence others to become truth-tellers and upstanders.

POSITION SUMMARY

Upstander Project seeks a development director to focus on our ongoing fundraising needs, support our mission, and bring a collaborative spirit. As a small remote team, we are seeking a candidate with strong interpersonal skills who can effectively and openly communicate between and among our vibrant, close-knit team of dynamic educators, filmmakers, and administrators.

Our ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of development and/or fundraising experience, preferably in the nonprofit or education field. We are ideally looking for someone to work full time at 40 hours a week, but are open to part-time applicants who can work a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Indigenous, Black, Latine, Asian and other people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Development Director will report to the Operations Director and work collaboratively with the senior leadership team to create and implement Upstander Project’s fundraising strategy. Our expected 2025 revenue consists of grants (40%), earned revenue (40%), and individual donations (20%). We plan to maintain current revenue sources and seek to expand our donor base, cultivate new major gifts, and explore new mission-aligned opportunities to support sustainable, long-term growth.

Development

• In close partnership with the senior leadership team, foster and maintain a healthy fundraising portfolio.
• Create and manage a master development calendar for the organization.
• Grants management, including:
  • Identify relevant grant opportunities.
  • Lead a collaborative process of developing grant proposals internally and, when appropriate, with outside partners and/or contributors.
  • Take lead in writing drafts, getting input, and finalizing all content,
  • Track fulfillment of grant requirements and deliverables.
  • Prepare and submit grant reports.
• Individual Donations
  • Work with the leadership team to execute a fundraising strategy that expands our donor base and maintains, deepens, and grows our relationships with current donors.
  • Ensure that the donor database is up to date and pull reports as needed.
  • Generate and send acknowledgement letters to individual donors.
  • Collaborate with the operations team to manage email lists, data collection, and data upkeep.
• Major Gifts
  • Support the copresidents in cultivating, managing, and stewarding relationships with donors and prospects for major gift opportunities.
  • Manage activities for donors for whom a copresident or a board member is the relationship holder, ensuring that there is regular communication and meaningful engagement.
  • Support the preparation and follow-up of the leadership team’s donor meetings.
• Events
  • Provide leadership and vision for events that engage new stakeholders and supporters, and deepen points of contact.
  • Coordinate and manage logistics for fundraising events.

Communications

• Develop and implement annual communications plan
• Oversee development campaigns (including Back to School, End of Year Appeal, etc.)
• Write draft of annual report

Operations Support

• Contribute to the annual budget process, resource development strategy, and strategic planning process for the organization.
• Support the operations team with content for newsletters, social media, and other public engagement materials.

CANDIDATE

Preferred skills and experience

• 3+ years experience with fostering individual donor relations preferred
• 5+ years work experience in grant writing preferred
• 5+ years work experience in development preferred

Additional Details:

• Must be available for up to four weeks annually of national travel for donor relations, events, fundraising initiatives, staff retreats and training, or other organizational needs.

COMPENSATION

Upstander Project employees work from home and maintain flexible schedules that meet their needs. We are a family-friendly organization that supports a healthy work-life balance.

Salary range: $78,000 to $88,000. Commensurate with experience.

Benefits include unlimited paid time off, 4% employer contribution to 401k after one year of employment, monthly Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA), technology support, paid federal and MA state holidays, paid winter break Dec 25th - Jan 1st, and 12 weeks paid medical and family leave.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send application materials to team@upstanderproject.org

Include a cover letter, resume, and three professional references (including two supervisors and one direct report if applicable).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.