Director of Philanthropy and Communications

Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer

Department/Division: Philanthropy & Communications

Direct Reports: 3

THE POSITION

The Director of Philanthropy and Communications is a senior leader responsible for developing and executing a multi-year fundraising strategy across all philanthropic revenue streams, with a specific focus on major gifts, principal gifts, planned giving, corporate philanthropy, and donor engagement campaigns. This role works closely with the CEO to develop “giving” targets that align with New Futures’ strategic priorities and financial goals. The Director will cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth individuals and corporate donors, securing transformational gifts that ensure New Futures’ long-term sustainability. This leader will also oversee corporate giving strategies, giving campaigns, and high-impact donor engagement events, ensuring alignment with corporate philanthropic priorities and New Futures’ broader institutional funding efforts.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

PHILANTHROPY & DONOR ENGAGEMENT (40%)

• Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy with a focus on major gifts, principal gifts, corporate philanthropy, and planned giving to ensure revenue sustainability and growth.
• Work closely with the CEO to develop annual giving targets and ensure alignment with New Futures’ strategic and financial goals.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth individual donors to secure transformational gifts.
• Lead major donor engagement efforts, including one-on-one cultivation, personalized solicitation plans, and tailored stewardship strategies.
• Oversee corporate giving strategies, ensuring alignment with corporate philanthropic priorities while collaborating with the Development Manager on institutional funding strategies and foundation grants to create a comprehensive fundraising approach; collaborate with the Director of Strategic Priorities when necessary.
• Develop and implement donor engagement campaigns, including annual giving campaigns, major gifts initiatives, and planned giving outreach.
• Design and lead high-impact donor engagement events, such as exclusive briefings, CEO Circle events, and Scholar impact showcases.
• Partner with the Board and Development Committee to enhance fundraising capacity, providing tools for donor engagement, solicitation strategies, and stewardship efforts.

DATA, FUNDS MANAGEMENT, AND DONOR STEWARDSHIP (25%)

• Develop and execute giving campaigns that drive donor acquisition, retention, and increased giving levels.
• Oversee donor tracking, stewardship, and reporting using Salesforce, ensuring a seamless donor experience and accurate revenue forecasting.
• Provide data-driven insights on donor behavior and fundraising trends to refine New Futures’ giving strategies.
• Ensure proper donor recognition and engagement, reinforcing the impact of their philanthropy.
• Collaborate with finance and development operations to ensure accurate revenue tracking, timely reconciliation, and compliance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS (20%)

• Develop and implement a strategic communications plan that enhances New Futures’ visibility and strengthens donor and partner engagement.
• Oversee brand strategy and messaging, ensuring consistency across digital, print, and media platforms.
• Serve as a public-facing ambassador, representing New Futures at industry events, corporate meetings, and high-profile donor engagements.
• Collaborate with staff on thought leadership initiatives, positioning New Futures as a key voice in workforce development and education philanthropy.
• Work with the Communications Manager to develop compelling donor materials, including impact reports, newsletters, and campaign messaging.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP & BOARD ENGAGEMENT (10%)

• Serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organizational decision-making and strategic planning.
• Partner with the CEO, and Board, specifically the Development Committee, to enhance fundraising strategies and engage Board members in major donor cultivation.
• Provide transparent revenue reporting, tracking progress against fundraising targets, giving campaigns, and donor engagement goals.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering professional growth and collaboration across departments.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED (5%)

JOB QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 8 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on individual and corporate giving.
• At least 3 years of experience in leading and managing a team to achieve collective and individual goals.
• Deep understanding of fundraising analytics, donor pipeline development, and CRM platforms (Salesforce required and Donorbox preferred).
• Knowledge of board engagement and governance best practices in fundraising.
• Proven track record of securing major gifts and corporate sponsorships.
• Experience developing and implementing multi-year fundraising strategies.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage high-net-worth individuals, corporate executives, and Board members.
• Experience using technology tools to advance fundraising strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with expertise in donor messaging and proposal development.
• Experience leading high-impact donor events and external engagement efforts.
• Commitment to racial and social equity, ensuring fundraising and communications strategies reflect these values.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with donor-advised funds, peer-to-peer fundraising, and emerging revenue trends.
• Experience managing a communications function, including brand strategy and media engagement.
• Prior experience working in the education, workforce development, or social impact sector.

What Else You Should Know

The position is full-time and is based in Washington, DC. We are currently operating in a hybrid model (remote and in-person). Our hybrid model is subject to change.

The starting salary range for this position is $98,000-$110,000, with the exact wage depending on experience. The ideal starting date for this role will be sometime between June/ July 2025.

We offer excellent benefits, including but not limited to generous time off, a wellness package, a professional development budget, reimbursement options, and employer-paid medical premiums covering 80%–90% of employees' costs.

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to racial and gender equity. We make a particular effort to recruit candidates who identify as Black, Latinx, Indigenous, people of color, and gender non-binary to apply for open positions.

Have a passion for our mission but don’t check all the boxes? We still want to hear from you! Too often, excellent candidates elect not to apply for roles if they don’t meet all the requirements listed in a job description–this is especially true for women and candidates of color. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position! New Futures believes in helping its staff grow; in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter through our career page. We also strive to ensure the hiring process, including the submission of the application meets your needs. If there is an accommodation needed during the application or hiring process, please email Admin@newfuturesdc.org, as well.