Director of Development and Communications

About Groundwork RVA

Groundwork RVA is a youth development organization working to cultivate the next generation of urban conservationists in Richmond by connecting environmental action with youth leadership and economic opportunity. Through paid youth and workforce development programs, community engagement, and hands-on environmental projects, we work alongside residents to build greener, healthier, and more resilient neighborhoods.

Our work focuses on historically underinvested communities and addresses the connections between environmental justice, racial equity, and economic opportunity. From urban agriculture and sustainable transportation to tree planting and green infrastructure, we create opportunities for young people to develop skills, earn income, and lead meaningful change in their communities.

Position Summary

The Director of Development & Communications provides strategic leadership for Groundwork RVA's fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational communications. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive development strategy that strengthens and diversifies revenue, builds lasting relationships with supporters, and advances the organization's long-term sustainability.

The Director leads individual and institutional fundraising efforts, oversees the grants portfolio, guides donor cultivation and stewardship, and manages organizational communications, including the direct development of newsletters, press releases, and other key communications materials. A major priority of this position is leading the implementation of Groundwork RVA's capital campaign in close partnership with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Campaign Steering Committee.

The Director supervises the Development Associate, who manages grants from start to finish and maintains the donor database, and the Communications Intern, who supports content creation, social media, and other communications activities.

This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution and requires strong writing, relationship-building, organizational, and project management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Development Strategy & Fundraising

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports organizational priorities, strengthens financial sustainability, and diversifies revenue across foundation, corporate, government, and individual giving.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, work plans, and performance measures in collaboration with the Executive Director and Finance Director.
• Lead individual giving strategies, including annual appeals, major donor cultivation, recurring giving, and other opportunities to deepen donor engagement.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, institutional funders, corporate partners, and prospective supporters.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and long-term growth.
• Develop fundraising materials, proposals, presentations, and other resources to support donor engagement and solicitation.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to strengthen board engagement in fundraising and donor cultivation.
• Monitor fundraising performance and provide regular updates and analysis to organizational leadership and the Board.

Capital Campaign Leadership

• Lead the planning and implementation of Groundwork RVA's capital campaign, working closely with the Executive Director, Campaign Steering Committee, Board of Directors, and external consultants.
• Develop and manage campaign strategies, timelines, fundraising priorities, and donor engagement activities.
• Coordinate the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift prospects.
• Support campaign leadership and volunteers with donor research, meeting preparation, solicitation materials, and follow-up.
• Develop and oversee campaign communications, case statements, presentations, and donor recognition strategies.
• Track campaign progress, commitments, and fundraising activity, ensuring accurate reporting and coordination with organizational leadership.
• Help guide the transition from the campaign's quiet phase to its public phase and eventual completion.

Grants & Institutional Giving

• Provide strategic oversight of the organization's grants portfolio, ensuring that funding opportunities align with program priorities, organizational capacity, and long-term goals.
• Supervise the Development Associate, who is responsible for managing the full grant lifecycle, including prospect research, proposal development, submissions, award tracking, reporting, and grant closeout.
• Establish grant-seeking priorities and review major proposals, budgets, and reports for quality, accuracy, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Cultivate relationships with foundation, corporate, and government funders, including coordinating meetings, site visits, and other engagement opportunities.
• Work with program and finance staff to develop competitive proposals, realistic budgets, measurable outcomes, and effective reporting processes.
• Monitor the grants pipeline, funding projections, and reporting obligations to support organizational planning and compliance.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Lead strategies for donor cultivation, retention, recognition, and long-term engagement.
• Develop personalized stewardship approaches for major donors and other key supporters, including regular updates, site visits, and opportunities to engage with our work.
• Develop and oversee donor communications, acknowledgments, annual appeals, and stewardship activities, with administrative support from the Development Associate.
• Supervise the Development Associate's management of the donor database, including gift tracking, record maintenance, donor segmentation, and reporting.
• Ensure donor information is accurate, current, and used effectively to inform fundraising strategies.
• Plan and coordinate donor cultivation events, program tours, and other opportunities to build relationships with supporters.

Communications & Marketing

• Develop and implement an organizational communications strategy that strengthens public awareness, supports fundraising, and shares the impact of our programs.
• Lead the writing, editing, production, and distribution of organizational newsletters, press releases, and other major communications.
• Develop content for annual reports, impact reports, fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and other organizational publications.
• Manage organizational messaging, storytelling, and branding to ensure consistency across communications platforms and audiences.
• Oversee website content and updates, ensuring information is accurate, current, and engaging.
• Supervise the Communications Intern, who supports social media management, content creation, photography, storytelling, and communications scheduling.
• Manage relationships with external communications vendors, designers, and website contractors as needed.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for media coverage, community visibility, and strategic partnerships.
• Collaborate with program staff to collect stories, photographs, participant perspectives, and program outcomes that communicate the impact of our work.
• Monitor communications performance and use engagement data to inform future strategies.

Leadership, Supervision & Collaboration

• Supervise and support the Development Associate and Communications Intern, establishing clear priorities, providing feedback, and supporting professional growth.
• Manage departmental work plans, workflows, and deadlines to ensure effective coordination across fundraising and communications activities.
• Serve as a member of the organizational leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational development, and cross-departmental decision-making.
• Work closely with the Executive Director on fundraising strategy, major donor relationships, board development, and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with the Finance Director to monitor revenue, track fundraising performance, and support accurate financial reporting.
• Partner with program staff to align fundraising and communications with program needs, outcomes, and community priorities.
• Staff the Board Development Committee, preparing meeting materials, reporting on fundraising progress, and supporting committee engagement.
• Coordinate communications with the Board of Directors, including preparing, compiling, and distributing meeting packets and supporting materials in advance of quarterly board meetings.
• Represent Groundwork RVA at donor meetings, community events, partner convenings, and other external engagements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, communications, or related work, including experience with strategic planning and project management.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing fundraising strategies, cultivating donor relationships, and securing financial support.
• Experience with grant development, institutional fundraising, and grant management.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated experience producing newsletters, press releases, fundraising appeals, and other communications for diverse audiences.
• Experience developing and implementing organizational communications and marketing strategies.
• Proficiency with donor management software, CRM systems, and common digital communications tools.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Experience supervising staff, coordinating teams, or managing collaborative projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with major gifts, capital campaigns, or board fundraising is strongly preferred.

Additional Qualifications

• A strong commitment to our mission and youth development, environmental justice, racial equity, and community-led change.
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to work effectively across teams.
• Strategic and creative thinking, with the ability to translate big-picture goals into actionable plans.
• Initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to work independently while keeping colleagues informed and engaged.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, accountability, and follow-through.
• An understanding of racial equity and a commitment to continued learning around issues of race, gender, sexuality, and class equity.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and enthusiasm for contributing to a growing organization.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Onsite/ hybrid work available upon approval by Executive Director.
• Ability to perform primarily office-based work, including extended periods of working at a computer, attending meetings, and communicating by phone or video.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to 20 pounds, such as event supplies, printed materials, and equipment.
• Ability to attend meetings, fundraising events, community activities, and program site visits at various locations throughout the Richmond area.
• Occasional outdoor work or site visits may involve walking or standing on uneven terrain and exposure to varying weather conditions.
• Availability to attend occasional evening and weekend meetings or events, as required.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary of $80,000.

Benefits include health insurance (75% employer-paid), vision and dental coverage, generous vacation, sick, and holiday leave, short- and long-term disability (100% employer-paid), base life insurance (100% employer-paid), and retirement benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Groundwork RVA is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We are committed to fostering a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment where all individuals are valued and treated with dignity. Our work and organizational practices are guided by our core values of relevance, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Benefits include health insurance (75% employer-paid), vision and dental coverage, generous vacation, sick, and holiday leave, short- and long-term disability (100% employer-paid), base life insurance (100% employer-paid), and retirement benefits.