Development Director

As a critical member of the leadership team, the Development Director will set and direct the Prison Society's strategy for revenue generation and external engagement, including major donor programs, campaigns, events, foundation and corporate partnerships, and philanthropic collaborations.

This development jack-of-all-trades position involves conducting the full orchestra of fundraising activities, from cultivating and stewarding major donors, foundations, and partners to engaging board members, representing the Prison Society in key philanthropic networks statewide, elevating events, and collaborating with the communications team to craft compelling public-facing materials.

This is a unique opportunity to have a lasting impact on human rights while working alongside a remarkable team that embodies dedication, empathy, and a spirit of collaboration.

Founded by Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin in 1787, the Prison Society is entrusted with protecting the health, safety, and dignity of Pennsylvanians in prison, and in supporting their families while they care for loved ones behind bars.

This statewide organization has a small staff of 21 and a large and growing network of 200+ volunteers. On any given day, you will find the Prison Society inside correctional facilities, helping incarcerated people access healthcare, running virtual support groups for moms with incarcerated sons, or on the phones of our helpline fielding hundreds of calls and letters from incarcerated people and their families who are looking for basic information on issues that impact them. You can learn more about these programs on our website.

Says outgoing Development Director Emily Cheramie-Walz, "It’s truly an honor to work on behalf of one of the oldest humanitarian organizations in the country. While it’s difficult and emotional work, it’s made easier because you’re surrounded by the most wonderful, empathetic and supportive coworkers and invested community members."

Over the last four years under the leadership of Emily and Executive Director Claire Shubik-Richards, the Prison Society's budget has tripled from $1 million to $3 million thanks to new government funding sources, major foundation commitments, and an uptick in individual giving. Emily, who has been part-time, has gotten the organization to a place where a full-time director is needed. She is excited to hand-off the reins and get her successor set up for success and, likely, one of the most fulfilling experiences of their career.

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This is where you come in!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and lead a multi-year fundraising and partnerships strategy to grow and diversify revenue.
• Advise and guide the Executive Director, Board, and senior leadership, in all development matters, building a culture of giving. You will work closely with each member of our diverse board to identify how each member can fundraise.
• Contribute to all levels of organizational strategy as a critical member of the senior staff.
• Lead cultivation and solicitation of major donors, corporate sponsors, and institutional funders, including personally managing a portfolio of individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, and philanthropic partners while overseeing and guiding the relationships held by other team members.
• Identify, develop, and manage strategic partnerships that align with the organization’s goals, representing the Prison Society in philanthropic networks including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia, and Greater Pittsburgh Philanthropy Partnership, and at high-profile philanthropic and civic events throughout the state.
• Supervise, nurture, and grow development staff. We currently have one, stellar associate-level staffer who wears many hats including data input and board support. With your leadership, we will expand the development team.
• Collaborate and create with our communications team, on donor appeals and all varieties of collateral that help tell the full story of our impact. While you rarely will write a grant application from beginning to end, you will contribute content, oversight, and editing.
• Ensure the integrity and smooth operation of our development infrastructure (CRM systems, reporting, donor communications, and compliance).
• Elevate our events, with existing staff, and the potential for contracted support, you will level-up our annual Philadelphia fundraising event while creating additional opportunities for community building and fundraising across the state.

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Your Core Competencies

You have seven or more years of nonprofit development experience, with at least three years in a leadership role.

You are a development generalist and a strategic thinker with a strong track record in growing revenue. You can conduct the full orchestra of fundraising including major donors, foundations, corporate giving, campaigns, events, and philanthropic partners.

You are a scrappy, hardworking, team player who doesn't mind rolling up your sleeves. While you will be primarily overseeing the different parts of a diverse development plan, you could run the whole show soup to nuts if you had to.

Major donor cultivation is your sweet spot. You can provide examples of identifying, engaging, and nurturing major donors through significant gifts.

You are a connector with robust connections to and knowledge of the Pennsylvania philanthropic community. You have a proven record of thinking creatively about partnerships to raise visibility and fundraising.

Everyone is your best friend. You are approachable, caring, positive, outgoing. Connecting with the person who donated $10 is as meaningful to you as meeting with the $100,000 donor.

You are a maestro at events. You appreciate the difference between fundraising and friendraising, and you know when to strategically pursue each. You have experience executing both. You are energized getting the show up and working the room when it's on.

Data informs you. No CRM intimidates you. You spot trends, making the data work for you. While you may not relish data input and running reports, you recognize their importance, and you work with development support staff to make sure data is accurate, timely, and informative.

You are constantly evolving as an advancement professional. Your finger is on the pulse of a shifting fundraising landscape. You adjust your approach as opportunities evolve.

You masterfully juggle multiple tasks. You prioritize and reprioritize, exhibiting excellent time management and problem-solving skills. You are detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with excellence.

You are a confident manager. You love supporting people in reaching their professional potential and personal fulfillment. You do not shrink from course-correcting performance.

You are a clear, confident verbal and written communicator who can adapt your tone and approach across audiences and platforms. You are comfortable writing donor appeals and contributing to annual report content, grant applications, and other story-telling collateral.

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What You Need to Know

• Location This is a hybrid position where you will work remotely and in-person out of the Philadelphia office.
• Hours This position works 40 hours per week, primarily during regular business hours of 9am-5pm.
• Manager You will report to Claire Shubik-Richards, Executive Director of the Prison Society.
• Travel - You will travel throughout Pennsylvania to meet with various groups—foundations, partners, donors, volunteers from diverse backgrounds, and everyone in between.
• Start date As soon as possible.
• Salary & benefits $90,000-$110,000. A flexible spending account, medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage provided.
• Flexible time off We encourage a healthy work-life balance and do not cap the number of days off our employees can take. In addition, we observe 11 paid holidays.

Benefits - A flexible spending account, medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage provided.

Flexible time off We encourage a healthy work-life balance and do not cap the number of days off our employees can take. In addition, we observe 11 paid holidays.