Development Consultant

Scope of Work

Location: US (virtual) - 100% remote; optional travel to events per consultant’s discretion

Type of role: Freelance, Part-time (Estimated 8-12 hours/week; flexible) Contractor

Monthly rate: $3,800; as this is a contractor role, no benefits or paid time off

Timeline: We are seeking a 9-month commitment, ideally starting in January 2025.

The Better Food Policy Fund

The Better Food Policy Fund (BFPF), established in 2022, is a Tides-managed collective action fund supporting food policy councils across the United States. The Fund provides unrestricted operating grants to local, regional, and tribal groups working to improve food policy through civic collaboration. Governed by an Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) of food policy council advocates, the Fund prioritizes shifting decision-making power to those closest to the work. The IAC, which is self-governing and accountable to a broad network of 700+ stakeholders, does not include donors.

Project Overview

We seek a development consultant to lead fundraising efforts and develop sustained funding streams for the BFPF. The role involves cultivating new donor relationships and managing three existing ones. Supported by a small team of three and guided by the IAC, the consultant will work independently (75%) and collaboratively (25%) with a Fundraising Team, which includes IAC members, Tides staff, and the Fund’s seed donor. This initial 9-month contract may be extended based on fundraising success and performance, reviewed in June 2025.

The Challenge

The Better Food Policy Fund currently has three existing donors supporting our efforts. In 2024, we awarded $30K unrestricted grants to 10 grantees, with renewals planned for April 2025. We aim to repeat this grant cycle every two years, expanding the number of grantees over time. We have funds to cover current commitments and the first year of the 2026-27 cycle. To plan for that next cycle, we need at least $500K in new donor commitments by October 2025. While food policy work often lacks the immediate appeal of programmatic efforts, we believe the civic engagement space—where food systems can be linked to democracy and leadership—offers untapped funding potential, though we’re unsure how to bridge into it effectively.

Contract Deliverables

Development Consultant will lead us in co-creating and implementing an inaugural strategy for fundraising, building capacity for us to achieve sustained, stable funding streams. All work must be performed in alignment with the BFPF’s mission and values. The role involves:

• Lead the Development of a Fundraising Strategy
  • Evaluate what’s possible based on our past efforts, resources, and current funding scene.
  • Create a fundraising plan with input from the team to secure at least $500K per year.
  • Establish clear steps, timelines, and responsibilities, ensuring we’re all on the same page.
• Implement Fundraising Strategy
  • Take the lead in executing the fundraising strategy, helping us procure $250K+ in new commitments and get on track to reach additional $250K+ by end of this contract.
  • Offer ongoing reflections and problem-solving, making adjustments as needed.
• Identify Donors and Secure Commitments
  • Proactively research and build a list of donors that align with BFPF, carefully avoiding money already allocated for food policy councils through other channels.
  • Lead efforts to connect with prospects, through outreach and relationship-building.
  • Drive donor cultivation and stewardship, keeping everyone engaged and motivated.
• Develop Fundraising Tools and Processes
  • Co-create all necessary materials, like pitch decks and templates, to respond quickly to fundraising opportunities.
  • Co-create reporting tools so we can easily track and share fundraising progress.
• Equip the Team to Support Fundraising
  • Train and guide our team on how to support the fundraising process.
  • Offer practical advice on how the team can best support donor relations and outreach.

Position Specifications

• Track record of nurturing and managing donor relationships, particularly those interested in civic engagement, community development, or localized food policy
• Experience in growing a sustainable donor base with individual annual donations of $60K+
• Track record of fundraising for movements, community-led work, or systems of change
• Competent with Google Suite, Zoom, MailChimp, LinkedIn
• Experience working with fundraising projections and budgets
• Experience working in a small team, flexibility with holding a variety of different roles
• Experience in working with or for community-led organizations
• Ability to align with our Fund values

The Better Food Policy Fund actively invites and encourages a diversity of candidates.

How to Apply

Please send your resume, along with an email answering these questions (approximately 3-5 sentences each) to foodpolicyfund@gmail.com by October 11th, 2024.

1. Which of the Better Food Policy Fund values resonates most with you?
2. Tell us about your fundraising experience to date.
3. What skills and experience will you bring to this role?
4. What is your approach for working with diverse groups?
5. What do you think is the main reason funders will want to fund the Better Food Policy Fund?

Timeline

We plan to review applications in October, conduct a virtual interview with each selected candidate in November, and decide on a finalist by early December. Our goal is to initiate a contract through Tides Foundation with the selected consultant and begin work by January 1, 2025.