Director of Development

Job Title: Director of Development, New Orleans Area

Reports to: Vice President of Advancement

Salary Range: $95,000 - $115,000

Starting: April 2025

Status: Full Time (40 hours/week)

Location: New Orleans, LA

Deadline to Apply: March 14, 2025

About Generation Hope

Generation Hope is a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring all student parents have the opportunity to succeed and achieve economic mobility. We drive systemic change by partnering with education and policy leaders while offering direct, two-generation support to teen parents in college and their children. To date, we’ve provided over $1.5 million in tuition assistance, supported more than 500 teen parents in college, celebrated more than 200 degrees earned through our program, and partnered with over 30 two- and four-year institutions nationwide.

Our team culture is rooted in excellence, respect, and inclusion. Named "one of the best nonprofits" by Spur Local, we embrace diversity in all its forms—background, thought, and experiences. If our mission and culture resonate with you, we invite you to consider joining our team. For more information, visit www.generationhope.org.

We offer competitive benefits, including 403(b), health, dental, vision, paid time off, and a hybrid work model. Full details are available at generationhope.org/careers. All employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before their start date.

Position Overview

Generation Hope is seeking an experienced and exceptional Director of Development, New Orleans Area to lead and grow our fundraising efforts in Greater NOLA. This role is a unique opportunity to be a part of an innovative and mission-driven organization that is expanding nationally to support teen parents, student parents, and their families. Based in New Orleans, you’ll play a critical role in advancing our direct services and systems change work, ensuring life-changing impact for young families across the region.

Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, who is located in our DC headquarters, the Director of Development, New Orleans Area will develop, implement, and execute a comprehensive strategy that includes identifying potential funders and securing commitments primarily from local and regional foundations, corporations, and individuals of significant capacity to fund direct services, technical assistance to regional institutions, and regional policy work to support a growing budget. This position is ideal for a strategic thinker and skilled communicator who excels in donor engagement, loves connecting with people, and has a passion for innovative fundraising. You’ll contribute to building sustainable revenue streams that support a $10 million budget and drive our goal of raising $16 million annually by 2029. As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you’ll have a seat at the table to shape Generation Hope’s future while enhancing development systems and practices.

Essential Responsibilities

Goal: Meeting Our Budget

• Creating and implementing a multi-year development plan for our New Orleans area programming and systems-change work that tracks and monitors progress toward short- and long-term fundraising goals
• Maintaining oversight, tracking progress, and developing strategies across all New Orleans-based fundraising activities, including major giving, individual giving, foundation relations, grants, corporate partnerships, and local and state government funding
• Establishing, cultivating, and maintaining relationships with current and prospective funders and donors through various means (personal meetings, thank you calls, “insider” emails, virtual coffee chats, etc.) and providing support to the Vice President of Advancement and CEO to interact with New Orleans-based funders and donors regularly (i.e., creating briefing documents, prepping emails, etc.)
• Working with the Director of New Orleans Programming to keep donors and funders updated on progress, needs, and/or upcoming events by inviting the Director to fundraising meetings (where appropriate), asking for their input on grant applications, planning donor visits during program events, strategizing around attending networking events, etc.
• Partnering with the nationwide Generation Hope Development team to execute a strategy that supports a growing major gifts program, including identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major donors
• In collaboration with the Events Manager, refining and executing a strategy that drives fundraising and community building through virtual experiences, major fundraising events, and intimate cultivation events that occur throughout the year, and managing consultants to execute these events as needed
• Refining and executing a strategy that sustains and grows a strong portfolio of foundation support for our direct and indirect services in New Orleans through researching grant opportunities, writing proposals, and drafting reports per funder requirements. Assist with writing and reviewing more extensive grant proposals as needed.
• Actively participating as a senior leader on the growing New Orleans-based team to ensure the success of Generation Hope’s fundraising efforts, supporting fellow team members, contributing to the success of our New Orleans programming, and upholding Generation Hope's values
• With the support of the Vice President of Advancement, tracking all contributed income progress, including grant funding, donor cultivation and solicitation, and event income
• In partnership with the Vice President of Advancement, CEO, and COO, working with the Board of Directors, including the Development Committee, on development-related projects and ongoing fundraising efforts
• Working with other teams across the organization to identify opportunities for corporate partners to engage holistically in Generation Hope’s work
• Researching trends in the field to support team learning, coordinating stewardship of existing foundation donors, and identifying and strategizing around new funding sources to meet ambitious fundraising goals

Goal: Maintaining Our Budget

• Working collaboratively with our grant writing firm, including planning, writing, and reviewing all grant reports, ensuring that all grant budgets are being properly tracked and reported to funders
• In partnership with the Vice President of Advancement, monitoring the New Orleans development-related budget
• In collaboration with the Operations team, working to ensure that funding records are populated and accurate in Little Green Light (CRM tool) to execute ongoing communication to donors, develop new prospects, and report progress to leadership
• In collaboration with the Vice President of Advancement, creating and executing systems to ensure development efforts reflect Generation Hope’s strategic and values-aligned brand to drive organizational growth, resource building, and national positioning of Generation Hope within relevant thought leadership circles.
• Ensuring that the annual New Orleans Development Plan is aligned with the annual Communications Plan and editorial calendar
• Participating in speaking engagements and funder meetings to share information about Generation Hope with external audiences

Goal: Developing Our Team

• Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to Generation Hope's mission.
• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Minimum five years experience in fundraising required (including donor cultivation, grant writing, and special events) with a proven track record of raising funds from diverse sources, including a combination of major gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Knowledge of and relationships within the local and regional funding community. Connection to funders in the New Orleans area is a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to accountability, measuring outcomes, and a results-oriented culture
• Demonstrated ability to deploy high-level judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ability to think ahead and plan proactively in a dynamic, evolving, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lead with curiosity to attain the information and perspectives required to produce deeply value-added work.
• A diplomatic and mature demeanor with the ability to interact with all levels of internal and external constituents, especially deploying excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Acute attention to detail and relentless commitment to follow through. Strong project management skills; self-starter; cooperative and flexible
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as with a team
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Possess the skills to work with and motivate staff, board members, and other volunteers
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail
• Embrace getting out of the office and building external relationships
• Be a “self-starter” and goal-driven to initiate donor visits and fundraising calls
• Be organized and exhibit “follow through” on tasks and goals
• Display a positive attitude, sound judgment, and professionalism; show concern for people and community, demonstrate presence, self-confidence, and good listening ability
• Proficient computer skills and in-depth knowledge of relevant software such as Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace, CRMs, etc. required
• Proficient with task management software such as Monday.com and Asana required
• Familiarity with donor-tracking systems
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people
• Resourcefulness, creativity, and strong problem-solving skills
• Personal and professional commitment to understanding and dismantling systemic and institutional racism

TRAVEL

• This position requires travel for activities such as meetings, classes, and workshops in and out of the Greater New Orleans area. Must be able to travel (via plane, train, or car) to attend trainings, conferences, project sites, and related activities.
• Regular overnight travel is required approximately 10% of the time.

CANDIDATES MUST RESIDE IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA BEFORE THE EMPLOYMENT START DATE.

Generation Hope has a hybrid remote and in-office work model.

Generation Hope provides full benefits, including 403(b), health, dental, and paid time off. More information on benefits can be found at generationhope.org/careers. As a safeguard to the health of our employees, participants, and community, all new hires must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the employment start date. Our full vaccination policy is available here.

To apply, please complete the online application.

Generation Hope is an equal-opportunity employer. Generation Hope will not discriminate on any basis prohibited by law, including marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, matriculation, political affiliation, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health decisions), age, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, and disability.