Director of Institutional Development

Position Summary

The Director of Institutional Development is a seasoned fundraising strategist and entrepreneurial leader with deep expertise in institutional philanthropy and grant management. Working closely with the Executive Director and reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this role is responsible for advancing Galvanize USA and Galvanize Action’s institutional funding portfolio, encompassing major foundations and private philanthropies. The Director provides strategic vision and oversight of annual institutional development goals, cultivates and sustains relationships with existing funders, identifies and engages new institutional prospects, and secures financial commitments that strengthen and expand the organizations’ impact. In addition, the Director will design and launch a corporate sponsorship program to further diversify and grow institutional revenue streams.

The Director of Institutional Development is a leader in the Development department, serving as a key thought partner and helping align organizational strategies and goals with annual fundraising plans. The Director of Institutional Development will oversee the Grants Manager and other key development staff responsible for the implementation of institutional fundraising efforts.

The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment, be motivated by advancing equity and strengthening democracy, be capable of distilling complex, nuanced programmatic goals into tangible narratives for external audiences, and bring strategic vision to the role.

Responsibilities & Tasks

Strategy & Department Leadership

• Demonstrated ability to design and manage a comprehensive, multi-channel institutional fundraising strategy encompassing large national foundations, regional and family foundations, corporate sponsorships, and mission-aligned partnerships, with a preference for candidates experienced in securing general operating support and possessing a nuanced understanding of project-based grants.
• Provide strategic oversight of institutional fundraising activities and staff, including but not limited to proposal and report development, prospecting, and donor outreach and stewardship.
• Plan and assist in the execution of special events for institutional funders in partnership with the Grants Manager and other Development staff as relevant.
• In conjunction with the Grants Manager, establish, track, and report progress toward annual institutional revenue goals.
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer and Director of Integration & Capacity Building to maximize development opportunities across the organization.

Donor Engagement & Thought Partnership

• Develop a tailored engagement plan for current and prospective institutional funders.
• Set the strategy and serve as key fundraiser for all institutional funder meetings and briefings, including those involving the Executive Director, Chief Development Officer, and additional staff as needed.
• Applying the same relationship-centered approach used by Individual Giving Officers, the Director will steward institutional donors through proactive engagement, strategic communication, and meaningful relationship-building—ensuring continued investment and cultivating partnerships that drive deeper, higher-impact funding.
• Provide strategic guidance to the Prospect Research Specialist in the development of background research and strategy briefings for all institutional funder meetings, briefings, and additional events.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure all fundraising activities adhere to c3 and c4 compliance requirements, with clear distinctions in budgets, narratives, and deliverables.
• In conjunction with the Grants Manager, oversee reporting processes, ensuring accurate, timely, and compelling communication of outcomes and impact to funders.
• Serve as a trusted steward to institutional partners through transparent communication and accountability.

Collaboration & Systems Leadership

• Partner cross-functionally with directors in other departments to align on organizational goals, strategies, and timelines to inform fundraising plans and ensure funding deadlines are met.
• Work cross-departmentally to optimize Development processes and systems to support growth and efficiency.
• Use Asana to track workflows and deadlines, EveryAction for grant management and donor engagement, and Google Suite for collaboration, reporting, and other tasks as needed.

Miscellaneous

• All employees of Hopewell Fund are required to complete timesheets every two weeks.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Requirements

• 8–10 years of experience in institutional fundraising and nonprofit development, with proven success securing support from major foundations, private funders, and corporate sponsors.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute forward-looking institutional funding strategies and develop compelling proposals and reports aligned with organizational priorities.
• Strong understanding of compliance and distinctions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) fundraising.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage teams, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture,
• Exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills, with excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication abilities.
• Proficiency with—or ability to quickly learn—Asana, EveryAction, and Google Suite to support project management, donor engagement, and collaboration.
• Adept at cultivating authentic, trust-based relationships with funders and colleagues; exercises diplomacy, emotional intelligence, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Strong, direct communicator who is comfortable leading with clarity, giving and receiving feedback, and aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goals.
• Strategic thinker who uses data and insight to inform decisions, set priorities, and identify growth opportunities.
• Demonstrates behaviors that reflect our core values—Innovation, Compassion & Care, Continuous Learning, Community, Teamwork, and Equity—in daily work, decision-making, and collaboration.
• Deep commitment to equity and understanding of how race, class, and gender shape philanthropy and workplace culture.
• Creative, solutions-oriented, and proactive in identifying new opportunities that advance Galvanize USA’s mission and revenue goals.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (typically 4–6 times per year).

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $125,000-138,000. Placement within this band will be determined based on years of prior experience and relevant skills. Galvanize USA also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in the 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• A current resume.
• A cover letter describing your interest in the role and alignment with Galvanize USA’s mission. Please include explicit mention of your experience fundraising for c3 and c4 entities.
• A writing sample, preferably a past grant proposal, report, or concept note you authored (redacted as needed to protect confidential information).

Applications without these materials will not be considered complete or considered.

About Galvanize USA

Galvanize USA is a nonpartisan civic empowerment program for women who want to help build an America that works for everyone - white, Black, and brown. Women who participate in Galvanize USA programming gain confidence, knowledge, and skills to more fully and authentically engage in civic life. We believe in unlocking the power of every woman to advance progress for all.

The person holding this position will also work part-time for a coordinated project, Galvanize Action, in the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization, under a resource sharing agreement between the Hopewell Fund and Sixteen Thirty Fund. The responsibilities under that position will be overseen by Sixteen Thirty Fund. Galvanize Action identifies, engages, and moves moderate women in rural, small town, and suburban America to reliably support progress. To learn more visit galvanizeaction.org.

Hiring Statement

Galvanize USA is a project of Hopewell Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Hopewell Fund is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. Hopewell Fund’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

E-Verify

Hopewell participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.

Galvanize USA also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in the 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.