Director of Development

Location: Remote (work from home), based anywhere in the United States

Reports to: Executive Director

About The Praxis Project

The Praxis Project is a values-driven, national nonprofit organization that seeks to improve health justice through partnerships to that build community power, improve cross sector authentic collaboration and engagement, and increase support for base-building and power-building organizations. Praxis believes strongly that organized communities are critical partners in the struggle to create healthy communities. Praxis works with over 200 diverse grassroots groups across the United States that influence local policy, mobilize communities, and strengthen programs and organizations to improve health, justice and racial equity. Praxis works to enable local efforts to build community power through training, technical assistance, and capacity building services, as well as comprehensive fiscal sponsorship. Our capacity-building programming is focused on partnerships that actively advance Praxis’ mission to build healthy communities by transforming the power relationships and structures that affect our lives. For more information, please visit www.thepraxisproject.org.

The work environment at The Praxis Project is faced-paced, creative, and fun, and our team is hardworking and extremely passionate about our mission. We aim to define the new “best practices” of operational excellence for justice and equity, and to be a place where people love to work. Join us!

Position summary

The Director of Development (DD) is broadly responsible for Praxis’ fund development including crafting and submitting proposals for funding for both private foundations and public agencies, donor and funder cultivation and stewardship, funder relationship management, prospect and landscape research, and close coordination with programmatic and communications staff in service of raising funds and with finance staff to create realistic budgets and develop accurate and timely reports. Additionally, the DD will spend an allocation of their time supporting Praxis’ fiscally sponsored projects (FSPs) with the same functions. Praxis seeks an experienced development professional for this role with a demonstrated track record of success in raising unrestricted or minimally restricted funding at scale. 

The DD position is permanently remote (works from home) and reports to the Executive Director (ED).

This is a full-time (40 hours per week), benefits eligible, exempt position. Some schedule flexibility during the week is possible as long as there is close coordination with the ED and other key staff. Overnight travel is required up to 8x per year. 

The salary range for this position is $115,000-$125,000 per year and the final salary will be based on experience, qualifications, and fair market compensation. We use Nonprofit Compensation Associates compensation survey data for the San Francisco Bay Area and Bureau of Labor Statistics and other reputable indices to adjust for cost of living. Praxis provides regular cost-of-living pay changes and substantial employee benefits beyond salary, taking a holistic approach to setting compensation.

Praxis works overwhelmingly with communities of color and constituent-led organizations. Candidates whose lived experiences reflect those of the partners we work with are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duties and responsibilities

Fund development for Praxis (75%)

• Lead the creation and execution of a strategic fundraising plan for Praxis.
• Build a major gifts program including identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major donors. Bring and build relationships with donor advisors and philanthropic consultants working with clients to support social justice and racial equity through their giving. 
• Coordinate closely with communications staff on fundraising efforts and marketing the organization. 
• Coordinate closely with finance staff to produce financial projections and reports for funders and to appropriately budget work proposed for funding. 
• Research, write, edit, and submit compelling proposals for funding from private foundations, corporations, and government agencies. 

Fund development or FSPs (25%)

·       Meeting regularly with project directors to identify fund development needs.

·       Research and route funding opportunities to FSPs.

·       Track all opportunities across the entity to prevent incidental competition between projects. 

·       Coordinate closely with the Senior Program Manager and Program Associate for Fiscal Sponsorship on fundraising operations by FSPs. 

Board engagement

·       Engage and motivate the board of directors, working with the board of directors on development-related projects and staff and resource the fundraising committee of the board. 

·       Prepare reports, projections, and dashboards for board meetings and committee calls. 

Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

General roles 

• Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among partners and staff. 
• Understands Praxis’ mission, values and principles and applies them in work responsibilities. 
• Works collaboratively with administrative and programmatic staff and external partners to achieve overall Praxis goals.  

Required experience 

• Minimum eight years’ progressively responsible experience in fund development working with social justice organizations. 
• Demonstrated track record of diversifying funding streams and raising minimally restricted funding at a substantial scale. 
• Experience partnering with internal and external communications teams to meet fund development goals. 

Required qualifications: skills, knowledge, and abilities

• Fluency with Google Workspace applications.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel for data tracking and reporting.
• Enthusiasm and aptitude for learning and adopting new technology. 
• Ability to communicate knowledgably and confidently about Praxis areas of work. 
• Demonstrated ability to keep confidential and sensitive information in the highest confidence.
• High degree of professional integrity and dedication to ethical work practices.
• Excellent, culturally competent communication skills.

·       Superior organization and time management skills with ability to manage and prioritize own workload.

• Exceptional customer service and diplomacy skills.
• Precise attention to detail.
• Comfortable and capable of working with constant change and on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to remain calm and composed under pressure, and to communicate courteously and professionally during tense situations.

·       Ability to work well cross-functionally and with multiple members of a team. 

·       High degree of emotional intelligence, curiosity, and openness.

·       Deep commitment to and understanding of Praxis’ mission and approach. 

Desired qualifications: skills, knowledge, and abilities

·       Experience using Salesforce for fundraising and funder contact management. 

·       Experience leading major capital campaigns. 

·       Expert content knowledge of Praxis’ areas of work. 

Mental and physical demands

• Fast-paced work environment.
• High level of concentration and attention to detail required.
• Time speaking and listening: (range 25–50%).
• Occasional travel (up to about two trips per quarter) including overnight travel is required.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours are required. 
• Praxis currently works remotely both as an internal team and with our partners based across the United States. Leading and participating in remote video and telephone conferences is required.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and insurance is required for employees driving on Praxis business; driving record checks may be required as well.
• Due to the in-person and travel-required nature of this role, full and current vaccination against COVID-19 is required, including all recommended and available booster shots. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Praxis Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

The Praxis Project will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on Praxis operations. Please advise of any accommodation needed at the time of application.

Required training

Praxis is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming work environment. All Praxis employees are required to complete training on preventing harassment and discrimination, managing bias, and creating an inclusive workplace on an at least annual basis.