Director of Development & Community Building

About EdVoice and EdVoice Institute

EdVoice is a 501(c)4 nonprofit education advocacy organization driving policy change to transform California’s public education system, so it effectively prepares all children for opportunities in college, career, and life. ​EdVoice engages in direct lobbying activities to influence the passage of key state legislation to combat the current system’s inequities. We lead grassroots advocacy and general awareness campaigns to raise up our policy priority areas each legislative cycle and provide strategic political funding through our EdVoice for the Kids PAC to leaders who prioritize the needs of students from low-income communities.

Our sister organization, EdVoice Institute, is a 501(c)3 research and coalition-building organization that uplifts scalable solutions to improve academic outcomes for children from low-income communities. EdVoice Institute provides evidence-based policy recommendations across our key pillars to reshape public education in California so that all students have futures filled with opportunity. These efforts help build the overall political will for change and aid in persuading legislators to prioritize our areas of focus and policy proposals.

The Opportunity

EdVoice is seeking an entrepreneurial and results-driven Director of Development & Community Building to drive the strategy and growth of our fundraising programs and advance the work of EdVoice and EdVoice Institute. The Director of Development & Community Building will oversee lead generation, fundraising campaigns, donor cultivation, stewardship plans, differentiated community outreach, and community engagement opportunities. They will work alongside our CEO to collectively raise $2.2 million annually for EdVoice and $2 million for EdVoice Institute with the aim of doubling our organizational budgets in the next two to three years.

The Director of Development & Community Building is also responsible for expanding, engaging, and sustaining our diverse community of supporters including staff, donors, partners, and advocates. They will develop and manage an engagement plan to deepen the influence of our community on the California legislature through their participation in direct political advocacy and financial contributions to EdVoice and EdVoice Institute.

The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of best practices in fundraising and have a proven track record of thinking outside the box to generate funds and promote organizational sustainability. They will be a self-starter, relationship and data-driven, skilled at building infrastructure, and excited about the opportunity to significantly impact the lives of California’s most underserved students.

Essential Responsibilities

Fundraising Leadership & Strategy (70%)

• Develop and implement a fundraising plan with clear goals, objectives, and strategies to raise $2.2 million for EdVoice and $2 million for its sister organization, EdVoice Institute
• Provide direction and thought partnership to the CEO to drive the exploration of new fundraising sources and initiatives and aid in the successful execution of solicitations
• Establish a system for identifying and attracting new potential donors with a focus on strengthening the pipeline of high-capacity, influential funders
• Create and execute a strong stewardship program including appeals, campaigns, special projects, and events to maximize existing donor engagement and cultivate annual giving commitments
• Research grants and work with the Director of Marketing & Communications to prepare proposals for submission including writing and organizing materials and monitoring applications
• Support the execution of individual giving strategies designed to grow and diversify our donor base
• Work closely with the CEO and Director of Financial Management & Operations to set and track revenue projections for annual and long-term budgeting
• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing & Communications to create fundraising collateral aimed at increasing donations including, annual reports, presentations, email communications, online advertising, social media, website content, and other marketing materials

Grassroots Network Activation & Donor Engagement (20%)

• Work closely with the Marketing and Policy teams to create and manage an engagement plan to activate, grow, and sustain EdVoice’s grassroots network of parents, community leaders, educators, and supporters
• Establish a strong stewardship program for supporters that keeps our community up to date on EdVoice’s key priorities and successes and opportunities to deepen their commitment to reshaping public education
• Support the implementation of org-wide programs, initiatives, and events that increase and maximize the participation of our grassroots network in our advocacy efforts
• Build relationships with other education advocacy organizations to collaborate on network engagement activities

Reporting, Analysis & Systems Building (10%)

• Design and manage an effective segmentation system for donors with clear strategies for consistent engagement and incentives based on prospect research and giving levels
• Oversee donor database management, gift processing, acknowledgments, and recognition; establish processes to improve data integrity and track and analyze fundraising results
• Ensure the timely submission of grant performance reports in adherence with funder requirements
• Partner with the Director of Marketing & Communications to measure community engagement and the success of online fundraising campaigns and use analysis to drive data-driven decision-making
• Lead research efforts on philanthropic trends and the latest tools (e.g., AI) to innovate fundraising plans, systems, and practices

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• 7+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, sales, or business development
• Bachelor’s degree required; preference for a degree in business, nonprofit management, marketing, or a related field
• Knowledge of trends in the shifting philanthropic landscape within the education, nonprofit, political, or advocacy sectors
• Ability to build strong cross-department relationships and actively collaborate in a dynamic team environment while managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Efficient and detail-oriented, with a strategic thinking mindset
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and meet deadlines
• Tech-savvy with experience utilizing donor management systems
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to track, analyze, and report on the performance of donor and community initiatives
• High level of ethics, integrity, and accountability with the ability to use discretion
• A strong commitment to EdVoice’s mission of reshaping public education in California so that children from low-income communities have a better chance at opportunity-filled lives

EdVoice is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all races, national origins, ages, religions, creeds, veteran or disabled statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities, or gender expressions. Please visit our website for more information at www.edvoice.org.