Director, National Corporate and Foundation Development

You are entrepreneurial, confident, and results-driven, a closer, and most satisfied when your work has deep, meaningful impact. You take a hands-on approach to challenges and opportunities and are skilled at building processes and systems. 

You are a versatile and well-rounded fund development professional with a track record of qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors, particularly corporate and institutional donors. You enjoy both the behind-the-scenes and donor-facing aspects of fundraising, and are knowledgeable about fundraising systems, processes, and best practices. You are a tech-savvy and well-organized project manager. You are experienced in leading multiple projects with concurrent deadlines and strategically use limited resources to create the biggest impact. You are proficient in donor relationship management and research programs and utilize technology to track people, resources, and programs.

You will supervise one full time staff person. You will have the support of teammates who look out for you and want you to succeed. You are comfortable in a collaborative and diverse work environment, often working across time zones.

 This position may be based in the greater metropolitan areas (wihthin 100 miles) where Defy Ventures offers services, including: TriState New York area (including CT and NJ), Seattle/Tacoma, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County, San Diego, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City or Chicago. Depending on distance from local offices, the position may be fully remote or hybrid (one day in office per week).

Responsibilities

•      Serve as chief grant writer for the organization. Duties (with support of Development and Communications Manager) include:

o   Prospecting for national and regional funding opportunities

o   Writing LOIs and proposals for national/multi-state grants

o   Writing reports for national/multi-state grants

o   Serving as consultant for local chapters on grant prospecting, writing, grant strategy and reviewing/editing of drafts

o   Maintain centralized grant writing resources such as boilerplate language and commonly requested information

o   As capacity allows, write grants for local chapters

•      Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation and corporate donors for the national organization and maintain an evolving funder pipeline focused on growth, sustainability, and opportunity;

•      Engage current and prospective corporate and foundation donors as volunteers in Defy’s program activities

•      Provide centralized resources and trainings to local chapter staff to build their development skills

•      Execute strategies for local chapters and the national organization to 1) increase annual revenue year-over-year, and 2) support retention and engagement of significant existing donor base, and 3) generate new relationships and major gift support from institutional, individual, and corporate donors;

•      Oversee processes and systems for fundraising operations; ensure that donor information, touchpoints, and projections are tracked effectively in the CRM.

•      Track progress and success of fundraising strategies and tactics though use of analytics, data, and metrics

•      Supervise Development and Communications Manager and provide guidance on specific national marketing and communications efforts, including:

o   Management of Defy social media channels

o   Monthly national newsletter

•      Create strategy for National Email Marketing Campaigns and Annual Report

•      Ensure that appropriate recording, recognition and reporting occur for all donations, grants and contracts

•      Lead national development efforts such as donor recognition and end of year campaign

Requirements

•      A record of measurable results in personally identifying, cultivating, and soliciting corporations, and foundations and individuals for support (ideally, track record of raising at least $500K per year with strong experience in corporate and foundations)

•      Ability to source and cultivate new funders

•      Collaborative team player with a "can do" attitude; willing to roll up sleeves and do whatever it takes to support team priorities.

•      Excellent verbal communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills to effectively work with a broad spectrum of stakeholders

•      Professional, precise, and persuasive writing and editing skills

•      Superb organizational skills, with the proven ability to create and implement efficient operational systems, plan strategically, allocate work, set and manage objectives, analyze and mitigate risk, and create and manage projects

•      Ability to succeed in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, diverse, results-oriented environment, and to handle multiple projects concurrently under tight deadlines

•      Deep experience with CRM systems; experience with EveryAction CRM is a plus

•      Bachelor's degree preferred

•      Ability to travel as needed locally and nationally

•      Must be able to receive clearance from prison partner facilities to attend Defy events

•      Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and/or Google suite

•      Experience in Criminal Justice sector and/or lived experience is a plus.

About Defy Ventures

Defy Ventures is an entrepreneurship, career readiness, and personal development training program that recognizes the potential in many formerly and currently incarcerated people to become successful, legal entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) “defy the odds” through our program which includes intensive leadership development, Shark Tank-style business pitch competitions, and executive mentoring.

Defy Ventures is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.