Chief Development Officer (Volunteer-to-Hire)

About Unruled Masses

Public institutions belong to the public. Yet today, the systems meant to protect us — our schools, media outlets, hospitals, and courts — are being captured by undemocratic private interests and systemic corruption. While those in power use sophisticated technology to control the public narrative, Unruled Masses was built on a different premise: it’s time the public had better tools to fight back.

We are a multidisciplinary team of specialists for democracy: former intelligence and military officers, human rights leaders, data scientists, attorneys, and professors. Together, we combine intelligence tradecraft and data science to expose corruption, and pair that with a Database of Strategic Action to give everyday citizens the playbook they need to peacefully reclaim their democracy.

We move beyond analysis to deliver direct action tools that help communities expose hidden corruption, mobilize with precision, and protect the vulnerable — building the high-tech civic infrastructure that ensures safety, independence, and a voice for those demanding the rule of law.

This is consequential, urgent work. And to scale it, we need a fundraising leader who understands not just the mechanics of development, but the stakes of the mission.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, mission-driven development leader to serve as our inaugural Volunteer Chief Development Officer. This is a rare chance to step into an executive-level role with real organizational authority — to build a fundraising program for an organization doing genuinely unprecedented work at the intersection of intelligence, data science, and civic action.

You will be the first person to systematically tell our story to major donors, foundations, and mission-aligned funders. You will build the infrastructure, cultivate the relationships, and make the case that funding Unruled Masses is one of the highest-leverage investments a civic-minded philanthropist can make right now.

This is not a support role. You will partner directly with the Executive Director and Board to craft and execute a comprehensive development strategy — with full autonomy to build systems, lead donor cultivation, and make a measurable, lasting difference.

The Staged Transition Path

We believe in full transparency. Below is a clear description of how this engagement is structured and what the path forward looks like.

PHASE 1

The Build

Months 1–6 · Volunteer

PHASE 2

The Benchmark

$250K–$500K Secured

PHASE 3

The Hire

Full-Time Paid CDO

Phase 1 — The Build (Months 1–6)

The CDO serves as a volunteer pro bono leader, focused on strategy, infrastructure, and relationship-building:

• Conduct a fundraising audit and assess current organizational development capacity
• Establish or upgrade the donor database, CRM infrastructure, and gift-tracking systems
• Draft the organization’s inaugural comprehensive Development Plan
• Cultivate relationships with individual donors, foundations, and civic-tech-aligned funders
• Develop the case for support, donor-facing narratives, and key fundraising collateral
• Work with the Board to establish or strengthen a give/get policy and board fundraising expectations

Phase 2 — The Benchmark

The transition milestone is the organization securing $250,000–$500,000 in unrestricted or lightly restricted operating capital. This benchmark reflects genuine financial sustainability — the point at which the organization is positioned to support a full-time development salary.

Phase 3 — The Hire

When the milestone is reached, the Board will open a formal, merit-based search for a full-time, paid Chief Development Officer. The Phase 1 volunteer will be a preferred candidate in that search, with a demonstrated track record, deep institutional knowledge, and established funder relationships as key differentiators.

Compensation upon hire will be set at a market-reasonable rate determined independently by the Board, consistent with IRS 501(c)(3) guidelines — not based on, or calculated as a percentage of, funds raised.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Execution

• Design and lead a multi-channel fundraising strategy spanning individual major gifts, foundations, civic-tech funders, corporate sponsorships, and events
• Set milestone-driven fundraising goals in partnership with the Board and Executive Director
• Build and personally manage a major donor portfolio through the full cultivation-to-close cycle
• Develop compelling grant proposals, cases for support, and donor-facing materials that articulate the urgency and uniqueness of Unruled Masses’ work
• Identify and pursue new revenue streams — including democracy-focused foundations, civil liberties funders, and civic technology philanthropists

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Build and maintain authentic, lasting relationships with individual donors, prospects, and institutional funders aligned with the democracy and civic tech space
• Design and execute personalized stewardship plans at all giving levels
• Ensure timely, meaningful acknowledgment and recognition of all contributions
• Represent Unruled Masses professionally at events, funder convenings, and in civic/advocacy communities

Systems & Infrastructure

• Establish or upgrade the CRM, donor management, and gift acknowledgment systems
• Build data-informed reporting on donor acquisition, retention, and giving trends
• Develop gift acceptance policies, data hygiene standards, and stewardship workflows

Board & Leadership Engagement

• Serve as the organization’s fundraising champion at the leadership level
• Engage and activate Board members to participate actively in donor cultivation and solicitation
• Provide regular, transparent fundraising progress reports to leadership
• Contribute to strategic planning at the intersection of mission impact and financial sustainability

Who We Are Looking For

Experience

• 4+ years of nonprofit development experience with demonstrated success closing major gifts and leading fundraising campaigns
• Proven track record of building donor pipelines and growing organizational fundraising capacity — ideally in advocacy, civic tech, civil liberties, or democracy-focused organizations
• Experience crafting successful grant proposals to foundations and/or government funders
• Background in individual giving strategy, annual fund development, and/or corporate partnerships
• Prior experience in a startup, early-stage, or growth-phase nonprofit is a significant plus

Skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication — able to translate complex, high-stakes mission work into compelling, donor-centered narratives
• Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable architecting systems and cultivating deep one-on-one donor relationships
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or similar)
• Data-driven mindset — able to interpret metrics, identify trends, and adjust strategy accordingly
• Organized, self-directed, and effective in a lean remote environment

Personal Qualities

• Deep, genuine commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and civic empowerment
• Entrepreneurial spirit — energized by the opportunity to build something consequential from the ground up
• High ethical standards consistent with the AFP Code of Ethical Standards
• Collaborative, transparent communicator who earns trust with staff, Board, and major donors alike
• Comfortable with ambiguity, resourceful under constraint, and driven by the urgency of the mission

What We Offer

We recognize the significance of asking a senior professional to invest pro bono time. In return, we are committed to:

• Executive-level voice and real influence in shaping organizational strategy from day one
• Direct partnership with the Executive Director, a team of former intelligence officers, data scientists, attorneys, and Board of Directors
• A foundational role in the growth chapter of one of the most consequential civic organizations operating today — one you will have helped build
• Formal professional reference and documentation of impact upon completion of the volunteer engagement
• Reimbursement of reasonable, pre-approved direct expenses incurred in service of the role
• A written Staged Volunteer Agreement clearly detailing Phase 1 expectations, the Phase 2 benchmark, and the Phase 3 hiring process
• Preferred candidate status in the Board-led search for the full-time, paid CDO once the funding milestone is met

IMPORTANT NOTICE — Volunteer Role Status

This is a strictly unpaid volunteer position. It does not constitute an employment contract, create worker status, or entitle the volunteer to salary, benefits, or any future employment. Volunteers may withdraw at any time. No compensation of any kind will be paid based on, or calculated as a percentage of, funds raised. Any future salary upon hire will be set at a market-reasonable rate determined independently by the Board of Directors, consistent with IRS 501(c)(3) requirements.