Director of Development

Compensation: $90,000 – $115,000

Start Date: ASAP

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana.

Deadline: Position is open until filled. Priority will be given to applications received before September 1, 2025.

About PJI

The Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI) is a New Orleans-based organization that stands at the forefront of the fight for the liberation, freedom, and autonomy of Black people and all those targeted and touched by the criminal legal system and mass incarceration.

PJI moves life-changing work:

Because racism and mass incarceration are entrenched and pervasive foes, PJI’s approach is multifaceted, including collective action, legislative advocacy, civil and criminal litigation, and reframing narrative discourse.

We challenge the notion that prisons keep us safe and that people with convictions should have no rights. We fight for freedom for people sentenced to die in prison. PJI blocks harmful legislation and pushes for dignity-advancing legislation. PJI partners on and co-strategizes social movement work with hundreds of currently incarcerated people. We advance the voices of survivors of violence and challenge the death penalty. Our work builds powerful authentic stories, pushes counter-narratives, and changes discourse. The world that PJI pushes for is one where the legal system recognizes freedom and dignity as universal rights and that embodies an ethos of transformation, restoration, and safety.

Summary of Position

The Director of Development (DD) enthusiastically supports resource generation to raise $3 million annually so that PJI can fulfill its mission. The DD oversees fundraising and donor cultivation and recognition systems, sets departmental and organizational goals, maximizes auxiliary revenue streams, and maintains relationships with partners and other stakeholders. The DD is a core member of the leadership team, reporting directly to the Executive Director and supervises PJI’s Development Associate and Communications Associate.

Who We Are Looking For

This work is hard on every level. PJI optimistically and strategically fights for a better future and requires staff who are committed to one another and to people who are incarcerated or otherwise harmed by the criminal legal system.

PJI is committed to hiring smart, talented, skilled people who have directly experienced the issues that we fight against. People who are formerly incarcerated, survivors of violence, working class, LGBTQ+, and people of color are all strongly encouraged to apply.

Essential Functions

Development and Fundraising

• In collaboration with the Executive Director, develop and implement annual development plans of $3 million + encompassing grants, individual and corporate giving, donor engagement, and stewardship.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with individual and corporate donors, including direct engagement with high-level donors to increase giving.
• Oversee donor CRM maintenance to ensure accurate tracking, recognition, and strategies that boost donor retention and overall contributions.
• Submit timely, compelling grant proposals; manage grant reporting; and support cultivation of strong funder partnerships.
• Research and pursue new funding opportunities, including small foundations, corporate sponsors, and innovative initiatives, sometimes in collaboration with CAFA volunteers.
• Plan and execute fundraising and donor stewardship events, including development of timelines, marketing, RSVP tracking, and coordination of vendors, supplies, and logistics.
• Compile donor data and prepare leadership reports with key fundraising metrics.
• Cultivate strategic community partnerships and explore additional revenue-generating opportunities aligned with PJI’s mission.

Communications

• Supervise the Communications Associate and provide strategic oversight of messaging and content to support fundraising, donor engagement, and public visibility.
• Collaborate with the communications and storytelling teams to develop compelling messaging and materials that reinforce PJI’s mission and support donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Ensure consistent branding and oversee key communications deliverables, including reports, digital content, and media engagement, aligned with development strategy.
• Support organization-wide messaging by coordinating with leadership and staff to enhance engagement and elevate PJI’s impact.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Communications Associate, Development Associate

Qualifications

• • 5+ non-profit fundraising experience with proven track record of success in major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, and special events.
  • Experience raising budgets of more than $1 million.
  • Demonstrated experience successfully stewarding donors and producing or coordinating fundraising events
  • Ability to work well on teams and strong leadership and project management skills
  • Strong prospect identification and qualification skills
  • Proven communication skills and experience leading communication and fundraising event efforts
  • Proficiency with fundraising software and digital platforms including MS Office Suite, Airtable, Slack, Bloomerang, web hosting and domain providers (e.g., Squarespace)
  • Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading ability
  • Commitment to anti-racist work, education, working with diverse groups of people and marginalized communities
  • Positive, solutions-focused attitude and strong self-motivation
  • Flexibility including a willingness to work long hours when necessary

Please submit application materials via the form found at https://promiseofjustice.org/jobs.

Deadline: Position is open until filled. Priority will be given to applications received before September 1, 2025.

PJI is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees. All employment decisions at PJI are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, past or present military service, history of incarceration, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. PJI will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. PJI encourages applicants of all ages, and does not discriminate based against formerly incarcerated individuals.