Director of Development

The Maryland Center on Economic Policy (MDCEP) seeks a talented Director of Development to plan and implement a development strategy that ensures the long-term sustainability of the organization. MDCEP has a dynamic vision for program growth and impact that requires the expansion and diversification of its revenue streams.

This position is newly created, and the successful applicant will have the opportunity to both grow fundraising and mold how this new role fits within the organization. The Director of Development will report directly to the CEO, work closely with the Vice President of External Relations, and collaborate with MDCEP staff, consultants, and its Board of Directors.

Successful applicants will be resourceful, organized, self-starters who can think creatively about strategy and tactics, with a strong track record of relationship building and the ability to thrive in an environment of collaboration and innovation. In addition, MDCEP seeks someone with a deep commitment to racial, ethnic, gender, and economic justice, and the organization’s core values around taxes, government spending, and economic policy.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Development Strategy (roughly 15%)

• Research prospects, manage relationships, and develop strategies to support and grow MDCEP’s local and national funders, major and small donors, and institutional partners to sustain and increase funding for our mission
• Represent MDCEP with funders and donors and at events; prepare CEO and other staff for donor and foundation calls, meetings, and presentations
• Cultivate MDCEP’s donor and grants pipeline and create and implement annual fundraising communications calendar

Foundation Giving (roughly 50%)

• Develop compelling messaging and implement strategies for consistent, clear communication with existing and prospective foundation partners
• Oversee the timely development of LOIs, proposals, and grant reports, working with staff and our grant writing consultant
• Work with staff to ensure grant budgets accurately reflect project needs and that grant agreement goals are met, as stipulated in mutually agreed upon proposals

Individual and Institutional Giving (roughly 30%)

• Develop compelling messaging and implement strategies for consistent, clear communication with existing and prospective donors
• Solicit gifts and support the CEO and Board Members in solicitations
• Manage the direct mail program, including drafting print and digital appeals, pulling mailing lists, and working with external mail house to send out solicitations

Development Operations (roughly 5%)

• Work with finance team to develop and track grant budgets and financial reporting, track awarded dollars and ensure proper invoicing for pledge payments, and track and report individual and institutional donations
• Work with the finance team to ensure compliance with charitable solicitation certifications, cash-handling procedures, gift processing, etc.
• Manage MDCEP’s fundraising database for gift entry, pledge payment reminders, timely tax receipts, mailing lists, gift reports, etc.
• Assist MDCEP leadership with budget projections, the annual audit, fundraising reports to the Board of Directors, and by managing board engagement in development activities
• Work with the communications team to keep donor facing aspects of the website fresh, assist with social media, and send and track email outreach.
• Manage event logistics for 2-3 small donor events annually

Qualifications and Competencies

• At least five years of development experience.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and revenue growth, with a proven track record of finding new grants and expanding donor pipelines.
• Excellent writing, editing, and organizational skills. Experience communicating in compelling ways to donors about the importance of financially supporting public policy work.
• Ability to build and sustain robust, authentic, productive working relationships with colleagues, including external partners and key stakeholders, across race and other group identities.
• Commitment to advancing antiracism, equity, and inclusion through policies and programs.
• Keen awareness of multiple group identities and their attendant dynamics and ability to consistently bring a high level of self-awareness, empathy, and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions.
• Ability to manage up to organizational leadership, including the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Experience with CRM tools, website and email platforms, and fluency in Microsoft Office. Experience working with Little Green Light, WordPress, and MailChimp specifically is ideal.

Terms of Employment

Full time, exempt position. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. They must live in the state of Maryland if hired, ideally within 45 miles of our Baltimore co-working space near Penn Station. Occasional travel across Maryland and to the District of Columbia is required, and on rare occasions to conferences in other states. Please note that all staff other than the CEO are currently telecommuting three to five days per week.

Bargaining Unit Status

This is a bargaining unit position, represented by the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union.

About MDCEP

The Maryland Center on Economic Policy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan “think and do tank” that believes every Marylander should be able to achieve their full potential in a healthy economy that offers a widely shared, rising standard of living. We engage in research, analysis, strategic communications, public education, and grassroots alliances promoting robust debate and greater public awareness of the policy choices Maryland residents face together.

MDCEP’s timely, credible, and accessible analysis helps shape the dialogue in Annapolis. We serve as a vital resource for diverse community partners, policymakers, and the media. Over the past 13 years, our work has helped expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, guarantee earned sick leave for most Maryland workers, increase the state’s minimum wage, feed more hungry kids in more schools, and protect Marylanders from the harmful effects of changing federal policy. This work is more important than ever, and the work done by the Director of Development will be crucial to our ability to deliver for average Marylanders going forward.

MDCEP is also part of several national networks that provide technical support, thought partnership, and regular professional development and learning opportunities for our staff.

Benefits include health insurance (MDCEP pays full employee premium, plus a portion of dependent premiums), up to four weeks paid vacation, sick leave, paid family and medical leave, etc. and a generous retirement plan.