Development Director

About Cornerstone:

The Cornerstone Project is a dynamic and rapidly growing nonprofit organization focused on increasing youth civic participation and cultivating new civic talent. We are seeking hardworking and ambitious candidates to help support our youth voter registration and leadership development efforts focused on young Texans. This role is ideal for candidates who are excited to grow with the organization and help build up the next generation of Texas leaders.

The Role:

Cornerstone seeks a strategic and experienced Development Director to lead and significantly expand our institutional fundraising portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Director and working collaboratively across the organization, this individual will be responsible for developing and executing a multi-pronged strategy to secure funding from institutional funders and major individual donors. This role is critical to achieving our ambitious growth targets and requires a proven ability to manage the full grant cycle, build strong relationships with institutional funders, and drive revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Finance Plan Development & Execution:
  • Develop, implement, and manage a multi-faceted finance plan to achieve the organization’s overall fundraising targets.
  • Set fundraising goals, track progress, and adapt strategies as needed.
  • Oversee all fundraising activities, including major donor cultivation, call time management, and major institutional outreach.
• Institutional Fundraising Strategy & Execution:
  • Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive institutional giving strategy aligned with organizational priorities and financial goals.
  • Proactively identify, research, and evaluate foundation grant prospects with strong mission alignment.
  • Lead the development and writing of compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and reports, ensuring high-quality submissions tailored to the intersection of Cornerstone’s priorities and specific funder interests.
  • Manage a robust pipeline of institutional prospects and active grants, overseeing all stages from cultivation and solicitation to stewardship and reporting.
  • Develop and maintain a grants calendar, ensuring timely submission of all proposals and reports.
• Relationship Management:
  • Cultivate and steward strong, long-term relationships with program officers, foundation staff, and corporate giving contacts.
  • Strategically engage the Executive Director, board members, and program staff in institutional funder relationship building and solicitation efforts.
  • Represent the organization effectively at funder briefings, site visits, and relevant sector events.
• Planning, Tracking & Collaboration:
  • Establish ambitious yet achievable annual institutional fundraising goals and benchmarks.
  • Monitor and analyze fundraising progress, providing regular reports to the Executive Director and Board on pipeline status, successes, and challenges.
  • Utilize fundraising databases/CRM systems effectively for tracking interactions, deadlines, and reporting requirements related to institutional funders.
  • Work closely with the Executive Director and program leadership to understand funding needs and develop compelling cases for support.
  • Collaborate with the Data & Operations Director to ensure accurate financial tracking, reporting, and data management for institutional gifts.

Qualifications:

• Experience:
  • At least 2 years of experience working with major granting institutions, grant applications, and/or major individual donors.
  • Proven ability to secure 6-figure+ grants is highly desirable.
  • Experience developing and managing multi-year institutional fundraising strategies and meeting ambitious revenue targets.
  • Demonstrated success in managing the full grant lifecycle, from prospect research and proposal writing to grant management and reporting.
• Skills & Abilities:
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, persuasive, and tailored narratives for diverse institutional audiences.
  • Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify opportunities, analyze data, and adapt strategies effectively.
  • Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills, demonstrating tact, diplomacy, and the ability to engage high-level stakeholders.
  • Superior organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the proven ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing deadlines simultaneously.
  • Deep understanding of the non-profit institutional funding landscape.
  • Collaborative spirit and ability to work effectively with leadership, staff, and board members.
  • Passion for organizing work.

This position requires reliable access to a car.