Managing Director of Development

Overview

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic public defense office in the South Bronx – seeks a passionate and strategic fundraising leader to fill the position of Managing Director of Development.

We are a public defender non-profit that is committed to ensuring low-income people in the Bronx are provided excellent representation and advocacy. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic individuals with a strong commitment to public defense to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of nearly 500 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure we achieve better outcomes for the people we defend.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, child welfare, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic reform at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the clients and communities that we serve and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Responsibilities

The Managing Director of Development is responsible for leading and strengthening all aspects of The Bronx Defenders’ private fundraising efforts. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the leadership team, the Managing Director will develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports the organization's long-term growth, sustainability, and impact.

This is a transformational leadership opportunity for an experienced development professional who is excited by the prospect of building and leading a growing fundraising function during a pivotal period in the organization’s evolution. The successful candidate will be both a strategic leader and an experienced frontline fundraiser with a demonstrated ability to build meaningful donor relationships, secure major gifts, and grow philanthropic revenue.

The Managing Director will oversee all private fundraising efforts, including individual giving, major gifts, foundation and corporate partnerships, fundraising events, donor stewardship, development operations, prospect research, and board engagement. As public funding for legal services organizations continues to face uncertainty, this role will be responsible for significantly growing and diversifying private philanthropic support to ensure The Bronx Defenders has the resources necessary to sustain and expand its impact. This includes strengthening existing revenue streams while building new pathways for philanthropic investment from individuals, foundations, corporations, and strategic partners.

Development Strategy & Leadership

• • Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that increases philanthropic revenue and advances organizational priorities.
  • Establish fundraising goals, performance metrics, and long-range growth plans for the development function.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and leadership team on fundraising, donor engagement, and philanthropic partnerships.
  • Foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization and help position fundraising as a shared organizational responsibility.

Individual Giving, Major Gifts & Events

• • Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive individual giving strategy with a particular focus on growing major and principal gifts.
  • Build, manage, and actively steward a portfolio of major donors and prospects while partnering with the Executive Director and Board members on key relationships.
  • Develop and oversee a moves management program that strengthens donor acquisition, retention, stewardship, and long-term philanthropic investment.
  • Provide strategic leadership for all fundraising events, including the annual gala, ensuring events serve as effective tools for donor engagement, relationship building, and revenue growth.
  • Leverage events and donor engagement opportunities to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects and strengthen the organization’s overall fundraising pipeline.

Corporate & Institutional Partnerships

• • Lead all corporate and foundation fundraising efforts, including the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key institutional partners.
  • Develop and execute strategies to significantly increase private philanthropic revenue from corporations, foundations, and other strategic partners.
  • Strengthen and expand the organization's corporate engagement strategy, including both philanthropic and pro bono partnerships that advance BxD’s mission and capacity.
  • Partner with the Executive Director, Board members, and other organizational leaders to deepen relationships with corporate and institutional supporters and expand philanthropic investment.

Board & Volunteer Leadership

• • Partner with Board leadership to strengthen fundraising engagement, accountability, and ambassadorial activity.
  • Support the development of volunteer leadership structures that expand fundraising capacity and donor networks.

Development Operations & Infrastructure

• • Oversee all fundraising operations, including donor systems, reporting, prospect research, gift processing, stewardship, and performance tracking.
  • Strengthen development infrastructure, policies, and processes to support sustainable growth and informed decision-making.
  • Ensure accurate forecasting, budgeting, and analysis of fundraising performance.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• • Lead, mentor, and develop development staff while building the future structure of the fundraising function.
  • Partner with the Strategic Communications team to develop donor-centric communications and engagement strategies that strengthen fundraising outcomes.
  • Collaborate across departments to ensure fundraising efforts reflect organizational priorities and programmatic impact.

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• • Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including significant leadership and management responsibilities.
  • Demonstrated success securing and stewarding major gifts, including five-, six-, and seven-figure philanthropic investments.
  • Experience managing donor portfolios and personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors.
  • Experience leading fundraising strategy and managing complex fundraising initiatives.
  • Experience leveraging fundraising events and donor engagement opportunities to build philanthropic relationships and drive revenue growth.
  • Experience supervising staff and developing high-performing teams.

Candidates must demonstrate:

• • Commitment to public defense work and issues affecting low-income individuals impacted by the criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal systems.
  • Experience working in and with racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically marginalized communities.
  • Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and strategic planning skills.
  • Experience developing fundraising systems, processes, and organizational infrastructure.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with executive leadership, Board members, staff, and external stakeholders.
  • Strong organizational, analytical, and project management abilities.
  • Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters.
  • Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level.

Preferred but Not Required

• • Experience using Salesforce or comparable CRM platforms.
  • Experience leading fundraising efforts for legal services, advocacy, social justice, or mission-driven nonprofit organizations.
  • Experience managing fundraising consultants, campaign counsel, or strategic planning initiatives.

This is a hybrid position that will require in-person work and contact with staff and community members.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with directly relevant experience, the anticipated salary range for this position is approximately $150,000-$225,000 depending on experience. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders’ staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 – Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is not within the bargaining unit.

This position is exempt.

To apply, upload your resume and a cover letter in one document when prompted. Your cover letter should share why you want to do this work at our office, some key lived and/or professional experiences that have prepared you for this position, and any additional information you would like for us to consider.

The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent, and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family, and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we serve.