Director of Development & Communications

About SHF: Founded in 1969, Settlement Housing Fund is a nonprofit affordable housing organization. We own and operate 3,147 affordable apartments across New York City and are currently creating and preserving an additional 3,031 apartments. We provide social services through on-site support to ensure housing stability for tenants who have transitioned from shelters into permanent housing at our buildings and those of other owners. We serve as an HDFC nominee to provide private developers with access to City financing to expand the supply of affordable housing. We are a leader in tenant selection and affirmative fair housing, leasing hundreds of units annually for other affordable housing owners.

Position Overview: Settlement Housing Fund (SHF) is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Development & Communications to lead and elevate the organization’s fundraising and communication efforts during a period of significant growth for the organization.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Development & Communications is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy. This role will cultivate and oversee all philanthropic revenue streams including support from foundations, corporations, and individuals, as well as sponsorship and support for our signature annual gala. The Director of Development & Communications also leads organizational communications, ensuring consistent, compelling messaging across all platforms. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, strategic thinker, and a relationship builder who can balance big picture planning with hands-on execution.

Job Duties include but not limited to:

Fundraising Strategy

• Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with SHF’s mission and evolving organizational priorities.
• Lead strategic planning to expand and diversify revenue across individual, corporate, foundation, and government donations and grants.
• Partner with the Board and volunteers to support our fundraising strategy, prospecting, stewardship, and relationship management.
• Ensure revenue targets are met and create forecasts, pipelines, and progress reports for senior leadership and the Board.

Communications & Public Relations

• Oversee SHF’s communications, including our website, newsletter, social media, branding, and other communications to ensure consistent and compelling organizational messaging.
• Manage public relations efforts, including media coordination, press releases, and cultivation of relationships with journalists and external partners.
• Support new and ongoing engagement efforts with elected officials, community leaders, development partners, and other key external stakeholders.

Special Events & Donor Engagement

• Lead strategy, planning, and execution of SHF’s annual gala, including sponsorship development, donor cultivation, program creation, and revenue goals.
• Direct the planning and execution of events such as groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and property celebrations.
• Strengthen donor stewardship and create meaningful opportunities for donor engagement, including site visits, volunteer events, and leadership-level touchpoints.
• Engage Board members and volunteers to serve as ambassadors for SHF, providing guidance and tools to support their engagement in fundraising and communications efforts.

Team Leadership & Cross-Department Collaboration

• Supervise Development & Communications staff and consultants, fostering a collaborative, high-performing team.
• Serve as a member of the senior team at SHF, contributing to organizational strategy and decision-making.
• Partner with SHF leadership and program staff to translate organizational outcomes and impact into fundraising and communications content.
• Collaborate with SHF leadership to ensure communications reflect organizational priorities, values, and impact.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

We are committed to hiring from a diverse pool of candidates. We are creative in our work and if you don’t meet all of the qualifications below but have other experience that makes you well-suited to this role, we highly encourage you to apply. Settlement Housing Fund is an equal opportunity employer.

The Director of Development & Communications will possess many of the following skills and qualifications:

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, communications, or related fields.
• Commitment to SHF’s mission and serving low-income individuals and families.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing fundraising strategies, cultivating donors, and securing philanthropic support.
• Experience managing customer relationship management (CRM) and other systems, ensuring data accuracy, activity tracking, pipeline management, and accurate reporting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills; detail-oriented. Ability to complete multiple tasks with simultaneous deadlines and prioritize projects.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with stakeholders including staff, board members, and funders.
• Experience supervising staff and fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• Ability to take initiative, suggest new ideas, and move tasks forward.
• Available for local travel near public transit and occasional weeknight work. SHF staff are expected to be in the office or on site at least two days per week and may work remotely up to three days per week.
• Commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Preference for candidates with lived experience connected to SHF’s mission.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• The ability to sit, stand, walk and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and telephone to talk and hear.
• The ability to frequently sit and reach with hands and arms.
• The ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Working Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Must be able to utilize office equipment such as desktop/notebook computers, copiers, printers, scanners, telephones, and calculators.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NOTICE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the environment and level of work being performed by this job. This job description in no way states or implies that the duties and responsibilities listed are the only tasks to be performed by the employee in this job. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description supersedes prior job descriptions. When duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and subject to changes in business necessity.

Settlement Housing Fund, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions expected of an employee. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of you as an employee. You may be asked to perform other duties as required.

• 4 weeks of vacation time annually for new employees
• 12 federally recognized holidays, plus a floating holiday
• A 35-hour work week
• Hybrid work model
• Medical, dental, and vision
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Paid prenatal leave
• Summer Fridays
• Flexible spending account – pretax health and dependent care
• Company paid basic life insurance, AD&D and Long-term disability insurance
• Commuter benefits (transit & parking)
• Pet insurance
• Identity theft and legal insurance
• 403b – with company match and 100% vesting day 1
• Customizable supplemental insurance
• Mental health support
• Tuition reimbursement
• And more!