Director of Development (open to candidates based anywhere in PA)

CeaseFirePA leads a bold, statewide movement to end the gun violence epidemic—and we’re hiring a Director of Development to help fuel our plan to make Pennsylvania one of the safest states in the nation.

About CeaseFirePA Education Fund

CeaseFirePA is dedicated to ending the epidemic of gun violence in Pennsylvania. Our goal is simple: everyone in the Commonwealth should live in safe communities. Gun violence, in any form, makes that an impossible reality.

Description

Position Overview

Gun Violence shatters lives across Pennsylvania every day - from firearm suicides in rural communities to unintentional shootings and street violence in our cities. Behind each tragedy is a story, and too often, a policy failure that allowed it to happen. CeaseFirePA is leading a statewide movement to end this epidemic. We’re hiring a Director of Development to help fuel our bold plan to make Pennsylvania one of the 10 safest states in the nation.

Working closely with our Executive Director, you will further develop the vision and plans for our annual fundraising with a focus on building our individual giving programs. You lead our work to expand our major donor pipeline, building a scalable small-donor program, ensuring our campaigns have the resources they need to thrive. You will also be a member of our leadership team, contributing to the overall direction of CeaseFirePA’s life-saving work.

We’re looking for a mission-driven, creative leader who sees fundraising as movement-building. You know how to turn impact into investment, build lasting relationships, and invite donors into a shared story of change. You’ll work across the team to elevate our visibility, deepen engagement, and model our values in every interaction, serving as a culture ambassador across communities.

You’ll lead this work by:

• Crafting persuasive cases for giving that leverages CeaseFirePA’s brand as the state’s only gun violence prevention organization, aligning with its strategic priorities and campaign goals.
• Enhancing our major donor pipeline by recruiting, cultivating, stewarding and soliciting donors in the $1,000-$20,000 range.
• Expanding a small-donor program that delivers a return on investment, ultimately leading to a six-figure effort to expand our donor base to more than 5,000 givers across the Commonwealth.
• Collaborating with a team of organizers and advocates to amplify the story of their work to our financial backers, create a culture of fundraising within the organization, and convert activists into givers.
• Adapting quickly by managing multiple projects, rapidly synthesizing information to raise funds to support organizational needs.
• Designing effective fundraising systems and tools to track results, evaluate strategies, and identify potential opportunities for improvement.
• Assisting with foundation grants, as needed, by identifying potential opportunities, assisting with draft of proposals and meeting with potential funders.
• Partnering with the Gun Violence Prevention Cooperative, a shared service hub we helped found to support fundraising efforts across multiple states.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8+ years of experience in development, including mid level and/or major donor solicitation and crafting small dollar campaigns. Experience fundraising for advocacy and political campaigns is a plus.
• Proven success in developing and implementing donor appeals across channels (direct mail, digital programs, outreach).
• Self-starter who is able to work independently and enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Fluent in using data and CRM tools (e.g., Salsa or similar) to evaluate fundraising performance and drive donor engagement and retention.
• Experience managing staff, consultants, or board members on fundraising projects, and working cross-team to create a culture of fundraising
• Thrives on managing several projects at the same time

LOCATION: Candidates can be based anywhere in Pennsylvania, with a slight preference for candidates based in Philadelphia.

TRAVEL: The estimated travel requirement for candidates based in the Philadelphia area is 15% and for candidates based outside the Philadelphia region is 30%. The travel requirement for this role is primarily for donor meetings as well as some in-person internal meetings in Philadelphia. Access to a car is strongly preferred.

SALARY & BENEFITS: The salary range is $80,000-$110,000, depending on experience and location/ cost of living. This full-time role includes fully covered health care for the employee and one dependent, paid time off, retirement matching, and a training stipend.

CeaseFirePA is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and those with arrest or conviction records. Discrimination of any kind is prohibited by law and by our values.

This full-time role includes fully covered health care for the employee and one dependent, paid time off, retirement matching, and a training stipend.

English fluency is required.