Development Director

Development Director 

Job Description 

Location: Hybrid (Atlanta, GA / Remote)

Reports to: Executive Director

Compensation: $115,000 – $130,000 annually

Expected in-state travel frequency and evening/weekend event expectations: Four to six donor events per month (peak)

Expected out-of-state travel frequency: One to two donor events quarterly (peak)

Role Description:

The Development Director is a strategic leader, a member of the organization’s senior leadership team, and seasoned fundraiser responsible for driving all fundraising strategies to support Georgia's progressive ecosystem. Working in close, daily collaboration with the Executive Director, this role serves as a primary architect of the organization’s development strategy and external messaging, ensuring every narrative and appeal is seamlessly aligned with leadership’s vision.

This role carries primary accountability for achieving annual revenue targets of $15M+ across in-state and national individual, institutional, and aligned funding streams. Grounded in community-centric fundraising and ethical storytelling, you will lead a team—including a Development Manager—to deepen member giving, identify prospective supporters, and manage an active portfolio of multiple high-level relationships. As a key advisor, you will loop executive leadership into major funding discussions early and directly staff the Executive Director for transformational donor cultivation and engagement.

Core Responsibilities: 

1. Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

a. Develop and execute strategic fundraising plans with clear metrics to achieve short-term and long-term program goals.

b. Development and oversight of annual revenue forecasting and pipeline valuation.

c. Lead the growth of solicitation goals and stewardship plans, ensuring donors are respected and guided toward increased giving.

d. Manage annual development plans, revenue projections, and long-term strategy documents housed in the institutional Strategy Plans.

e. Maintain a deep understanding of donor management to build and sustain robust donor pipelines.

f. Participate in organization-wide strategic planning

g. Present revenue strategy to board leadership

h. Align fundraising strategy with electoral and programmatic priorities

2. Membership Program & Individual Giving

a. Coordinate monthly membership meetings, including speaker identification, slide deck creation, registration management, and post-meeting follow-up.

b. Manage all membership-related materials, including donor lists and giving history.

c. Initiate speaker outreach three to four weeks prior to meetings and ensure follow-up communications are sent within 24–48 hours of each event.

d. Directly manage, steward and grow a portfolio of individual, institutional, and/or corporate donors.

e. Define retention and upgrade metrics of individual donors/members

f. Define donor visit targets annually.

3. Grants & Institutional Fundraising

a. Oversee the institutional fundraising calendar and coordinate the development of proposals, Letters of Intent (LOIs), and grant reports.

b. Draft compelling narratives and budgets for grant applications, ensuring alignment with operations and executive leadership.

c. Adhere to strict internal timelines: Begin full proposal development 4–6 weeks before deadlines and LOIs 2–3 weeks before deadlines.

d. Maintain the Foundation Comprehensive Spreadsheet and ensure all submitted materials are labeled and archived for institutional record keeping.

e. Grow a grant portfolio of institutional funders.

4. Relationship Management & Communications

a. Represent the Georgia Alliance at public forums, events, and in media-related projects.

b. Maintain ongoing relationships with major donors, foundation partners, and allied advocacy coalitions.

c. Facilitate leadership introductions and coordinate quarterly check-ins between executive leadership and major partners.

d. Craft campaign messaging, fundraising appeals, and member newsletters in collaboration with the communications staff.

e. Provide input in narrative strategy and political framing discussions

f. Support Executive Director in development and training of the board fundraising toolkit, track fundraising activity, donor identification and cultivation, and provide updates as requested.

5. Development Operations & Team Management

a. Serve as the primary administrator for the EveryAction CRM, ensuring data integrity, hygiene, and accurate donation tracking.

b. Manage digital fundraising platforms, including ActBlue for campaign links and Fidelity for donor-advised fund (DAF) records.

c. Supervise and inspire the development department, fostering a work culture that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion.

d. Partner closely with the Development staff to co-create and implement an annual professional development plan that fosters long-term career growth and enhances departmental capacity.

e. Supervise the Development staff, providing regular performance reviews and constructive feedback to ensure alignment with organizational goals and fundraising targets.

f. Maintain the organization of the shared Development Google Drive to ensure continuity of institutional knowledge.

Candidate Profile: 

1. Required Experience & Skills

a. Fundraising Expertise: Five-plus years of experience in development strategy, specifically focusing on five- and six-figure gifts from major donors and foundations.

b. Solicitation Track Record: Three-plus years of demonstrated success in soliciting, closing, and stewarding gifts from a diverse donor pool.

c. Movement and Ecosystem Knowledge: Deep personal or professional involvement in Georgia’s progressive movements and the policy issues facing its diverse communities.

d. Management: Proven ability to supervise staff and resolve conflicts collaboratively while maintaining a healthy work/life balance for the team.

e. Communication: Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to navigate challenging conversations and ask difficult questions when required.

f. Experience building systems/processes.

g. Experience working within politically sensitive ecosystems.

2. Technical Proficiency

a. Advanced experience with EveryAction and ActBlue.

b. Familiarity with DonorSearch, Slack, and Asana.

c. Ability to manage complex file systems in Google Drive and reconcile financial data with internal records.

3. Values Alignment

a. Explicit understanding of racial, social, and economic justice and a commitment to embedding anti-racism in fundraising practices.

b. A passion for grassroots organizing and building a reflective, transparent democratic process in Georgia.

Benefits: 

1. Full health, vision, and dental insurance.

2. Flexible hybrid/remote work environment.

How to Apply: 

Georgia Alliance for Progress is looking for a strategic, seasoned fundraiser to join our senior leadership team as the Development Director. If you are passionate about building a powerful, inclusive progressive movement in Georgia and possess the skills outlined in the candidate profile, we invite you to apply.

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• Cover Letter: A detailed letter expressing your interest in the role and explaining how your experience aligns with our mission.
• Resume: A relevant resume highlighting your experience in major donor strategy, grant management, and team leadership.
• References: Contact information for two professional references who can speak to your fundraising achievements and leadership capabilities.

Submission Instructions:

• Format: Please package all of the above documents into a single PDF file.

Hiring Process & Timeline: 

We are committed to a transparent, inclusive, and thorough selection process. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Our process consists of the following steps:

1. Application Review: The hiring team will review all submitted PDF packages (Cover Letter, Resume, and References).

2. Initial Screen: Shortlisted candidates will participate in a brief 20-minute introductory call with HR to discuss alignment with our mission and the core requirements of the role.

3. Core Interviews:

a. Leadership Alignment: A 30-minute interview with the Executive Director focusing on strategic partnership, external messaging, and high-level development goals.

b. Management & Operations: A 30-minute interview with the Development Manager focusing on team dynamics, professional development planning, and day-to-day operations.

4. Relevant Work Sample Submission: Finalists will be asked to submit a redacted or non-confidential sample of their previous professional work that demonstrates their expertise in development strategy. This may include a successful fundraising plan, a compelling donor-facing narrative or case for support, or a strategic grant proposal. The purpose of this step is to evaluate the candidate's ability to craft clear, persuasive messaging and design strategies that align with a multi-million dollar revenue goal.

5. Panel/Peer Interview: A final 45-minute conversation with additional members of the Senior Leadership Team to ensure cultural and strategic fit across the entire organization.

6. Reference Checks: A review of professional references focusing on the candidate's track record of closing six-figure gifts and their management style.

7. Offer & Negotiation: A final offer will be extended, with compensation ranging from $115k–$130k, based on experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

Georgia Alliance for Progress is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that celebrates differences including race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and socio-economic circumstance. We highly encourage applications from individuals who have lived or professional experience in movement spaces that center the leadership of communities most impacted by injustice.