Director of Development

About the National Coalition Against Censorship

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), based in New York, is an alliance of more than 60 non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting and protecting freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression in the United States. NCAC is currently seeking a full-time Director of Development to support a 50-year old organization with a strong brand, an essential mission, and a growing staff and program footprint. This role is a unique and exciting opportunity to drive fundraising for a mission-driven organization dedicated to free expression and fighting censorship in all its forms, at a critical time. Find out more at www.ncac.org.

Position Overview

The National Coalition Against Censorship seeks an innovative and visionary development leader whose primary responsibility will be leading NCAC’s growing and diverse development efforts. The work of the Development Director will include: acting as the lead on all individual giving; spearheading efforts for the NCAC’s annual fundraising annual gala and individual fundraising events (such as our annual Stand-Up for Speech comedy benefit); leading our grant strategy and writing; and, with the Executive Director, the recruitment and engagement of NCAC Leadership for the Board of Directors, annual benefit and development committees, and Advisory Council. The Director will also work with the Executive Director on the design and fundability of new program initiatives, and will work closely with the NCAC’s Communications team to engage and inform the NCAC’s donor base.

Responsibilities

Development

• Grant development. Lead the expansion and retention of NCAC’s grant-based support, especially for our dedicated program areas of youth free expression and arts censorship. Spearhead the solicitation of new grants from a diverse set of granting organizations, including large institutional funders and smaller family foundations.
• Individual gifts. Build up and take the lead in managing NCAC’s major giving program, developing the strategies, cultivation activities, materials/messages, and stewardship programs required to attract and retain five-figure and higher gifts from individuals. Work closely with the NCAC’s communications team to build and engage an increasingly diverse and sustainable overall profile of donors and supporters.
• Fundraising events. Lead the planning and execution of the NCAC’s Annual Benefit, including the recruitment of event chair(s) and Benefit Committee; work with the Benefit Committee on determining honorees, sponsorship solicitation, and creation of publicity materials; work with event consultant in managing the venue and night-of programming. The Director will also envision and execute targeted fundraising opportunities and events in support of our program work, including with stand-up comedians, librarians, publishers, artists, and other creators and performers dedicated to free expression.
• Foundations. Hone and expand our grants program, submit proposals and reports, steward relationships with existing foundation donors, cultivate new foundations, and develop strategies for aligning NCAC programmatic goals and projects with institutional donor interests.
• Donor Management. Develop, sustain, and grow a diverse donor base with the goal of sustainable individual giving support for NCAC. Work with the Communications and program teams to maximize donor engagement, including schedules for informing donors, Board members, allies, and funders about our programmatic work and impact; and a strategy for increasing donors on a ladder of engagement (moves management). Manage and maximize the use of NCAC’s donor database (currently Salesforce), and related vendors and contractors.

Strategic Leadership

• Planning. Work across the organization with key leaders to drive the work of the development and program teams.
• Organizational leadership. Serve as an active member of the senior leadership team to help shape and drive NCAC’s overall organizational and program strategies.
• Board and Advisory Council. Inspire and engage the Board and Council to be fundraising assets. Act as the staff liaison to the Development Committee, Annual Benefit Committee, and Advisory Council.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of overall professional experience (non-profit experience preferred); ideally 6+ years of fundraising experience;
• Experience fundraising for a mission-driven non-profit is a strong plus. NCAC will also consider non-traditional development candidates with relevant experience in other fields;
• Proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual and institutional donors in traditional and creative ways;
• Ability to work well and creatively with others in a small and collaborative office environment;
• Excellent communicator and storyteller; ability to make NCAC’s work come alive through top-quality written materials, stories, and talking points to a range of audiences;
• Excellent interpersonal and team-building skills; relationship-builder. Ease relating to influential individuals and high net worth individuals;
• Strategic thinker; flexible and tenacious; creative and entrepreneurial; positive and optimistic when tackling challenges; high energy and goal-directed;
• Detail-oriented worker. Ability to plan effectively, meet deadlines, manage data, and coordinate the involvement and input of others;
• Ability to maintain high standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism, including dealing with sensitive and proprietary donor information;
• Knowledge of and demonstrated proficiency with donor management and research databases. (Our current system is Salesforce.);
• Passion and commitment for free expression in theory and practice; enthusiasm for the mission and values of NCAC
• A sense of humor! Ability to deal with controversial topics and time-sensitive work with professionalism, fun, and principle.

Position Details

This position reports to NCAC’s Executive Director. This position is full-time with occasional travel and weekend and after-hours commitments. NCAC has adopted a hybrid work schedule, with currently two days minimum in person per week in Manhattan.

The National Coalition Against Censorship is committed to fostering a diverse and non-discriminatory work environment as both a reflection of our values and as core to our mission. Censorship first silences those with the least access to power and we believe that a diversity of experiences, identities and opinions strengthens our advocacy and our workplace.

NCAC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Only candidates who will be invited for an initial interview will be contacted. No phone inquiries please.