Development Director

About GWC: Founded in 2001, the Garment Worker Center is a worker rights organization leading an anti-sweatshop movement to improve conditions for tens of thousands of Los Angeles garment workers. Through direct organizing, GWC develops leaders who demand enforcement of strong labor laws and accountability from factory owners, manufacturers, and fashion brands. We center immigrant workers, women of color, and their families who are impacted by exploitation in the fashion industry.

Position description: GWC seeks an experienced, mission-driven Development Director (DD) to design and implement fundraising strategies to garner support from individuals, foundations, and government. The DD will work closely with the Executive Director and collaborate with organizational teams for input on needs and deliverables.

Duties:

• Major Donor & Individual Giving
  • Build and manage a portfolio of individual and corporate prospects for national, regional, and local funders and conduct written and face-to-face solicitations with prospective donors.
  • Develop long-term strategic plans for building a robust donor pipeline from grassroots donors through major giving.
  • Identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects from within and beyond GWC’s supporter network.
  • Steward and build GWC’s relationships with our donors, through regular and creative communication strategies.
  • Consistently track donors in our database and provide regular reporting on progress towards fundraising goals.
• Institutional Fundraising (Foundations and Government)
  • Maintain relationships with GWC’s funders and program officers, in collaboration with the Executive Director.
  • Develop and implement plans to expand institutional support, including consistent prospecting for new funding opportunities.
  • Coordinate all site visits, with appropriate staff and member leaders.
  • Develop an effective practice for communication and collaboration with GWC program teams to ensure strict alignment between fundraising and strategic plans.
  • Submit compelling and timely grant proposals.
  • Supervise our Grants Manager to develop strong systems of internal reporting so as to ensure thorough and timely grant reports.
  • Coordinate with key staff for required training and grant deliverables.
• Fundraising Events & In-person Engagement
  • Develop and coordinate annual plans for in-person fundraising events.
  • Work in partnership with other GWC departments to leverage programmatic work for donor and prospect engagement opportunities.
• Financial
  • In collaboration with our financial staff,
    • Develop sound and effective project budgets (also in collaboration with relevant program teams).
    • Design systems for strong tracking on the use of both institutional and grassroot funds.
    • Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Communications
  • Lead strategy and draft communications for digital and direct mail fundraising campaigns.
  • Collaborate closely with our Communications Manager for coordinating development messaging and events with GWC’s overall communications plan.
• Strategic Direction
  • Lead Development team strategic planning meetings on a quarterly basis.
  • Develop capacity-building plans, as needed, to ensure GWC’s ability to manage, report, and maintain compliance on large grants, including government grants.
  • Work with GWC Directors to develop and adjust GWC’s overarching strategic direction and build Development strategies around organizational goals.

Qualifications and Skills

• 5 or more years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a record of a high rate of return.
• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, gender, and economic justice.
• Experience centering an organization’s staff and members in development plans, including grant proposals and site visits.
• Strong interpersonal skills that build relationships.
• Self-motivated and able to meet strict deadlines.
• Diligent with establishing and implementing goals, in consistent relation to the organization’s strategic plans.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Willing to travel for funder meetings.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and donor management software.