Development Specialist (or Development Manager)

Development Specialist (or Development Manager)

Location: Remote within the United States

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: Executive Director

Job Summary:

The Development Specialist/Development Manager (depending on experience) will be responsible for identifying and cultivating funding from institutional funders and major donors to support our mission and programs. This role involves researching potential funding sources, developing relationships with foundation representatives, and preparing compelling grant proposals and reports. In addition, this role is responsible for building relationships with prospective individual donors in efforts to grow our major gifts portfolio. The ideal candidate will be passionate about our work; detailed and organized; excited to grow our organization and this new role to increase our ability to do our work; and looking to join a highly efficient, creative, and innovation-focused team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research and Identification: Conduct thorough research, including with grants databases, to identify new funding opportunities from foundations and other grant-making entities whose priorities align with MAP’s work.
• Relationship Building: Establish and maintain strong relationships with institutional funder representatives, major individual donors, and other key stakeholders.
• Grant Management: In collaboration with the Executive Director, co-develop, implement and manage an annual grants strategic plan, including the development of a grants calendar, outreach plan, proposal submissions, grant reporting and compliance, and acknowledgment of funders.
• Grant Writing: Lead all phases of grant proposal writing and report development in a collaborative environment, ensuring alignment with our organizational goals, brand guidelines, and donor requirements.
• Reporting: Track and report on the progress of grant applications and funding received with grant data and support from administrative staff; ensure compliance with all grant requirements.
• Collaboration: Work closely with program staff to understand funding needs and develop proposals that effectively communicate the impact of the MAP’s work. Work with executive director to prepare for meetings with foundations, which can include creating materials like slide decks or memos. Work with communications staff to develop and implement fundraising strategies that work with communications strategies. Work with the board of directors to sustain and expand funder relationships.

Goals:

• Identify new sources of institutional and other philanthropic support, including major gifts, for MAP as an organization and for our key program areas (LGBTQ, Democracy, Messaging, and Open to All).
• Work with the executive director to successfully diversify funding for MAP.
• Work closely with the executive director, members of the board of directors, senior staff, program staff, and other consultants.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience: Specialist role: 2 years of experience in development, including managing grants or gifts of $10K or more; Manager role: 4 years or more of experience in development; preferably with demonstrated success in donor cultivation and stewardship, including raising and managing funds from institutional donors.
• Skills:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to listen to and understand the motivations and strategies of funders to develop compelling narratives and proposals. Experience writing competitive grant proposals to private and public funders.
• Ability to drive annual giving campaigns, inspiring individual donors to give at key times throughout the year.
• Experience working within a CRM or donor relations software.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Confidence in building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including philanthropic staff and major gift donors.

Personal Attributes:

• Passion for MAP’s Mission: A strong commitment to the mission and values of MAP, including our work to speed equality and opportunity for all especially on issues of LGBTQ equality and a thriving and healthy democracy; advancing conversations across difference; advancing policy change, and centering collaboration.
• Detail-Oriented: Meticulous attention to detail in researching, tracking, and following up on grant proposals and reports.
• Proactive: Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a fully remote team with occasional travel for funder meetings, convenings, and staff gatherings.

Compensation:

• This is an exempt, full-time remote position with a salary range of $80,000$

110,000 per year based on experience. MAP also offers dental and vision benefits, 403(b) retirement matching, flexible spending program, workers compensation, long-term disability, paid parental leave, generous vacation policies and other benefits. 

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@mapresearch.org. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but must be received by January 13, 2025, to be considered.

About the Movement Advancement Project 

The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent, nonprofit think tank, founded in 2006. We power progressive movements. We work to create a thriving, inclusive and equitable America where all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life. Our transformative and rigorous research and communications help people more easily understand—and take action on—the critical issues we face. We have programs focused on LGBTQ Equality and the Equality Maps; Democracy & Elections and the Democracy Maps; and Open to All, our nondiscrimination and diversity, equity, and inclusion campaign program. Our work is laser-focused on changing hearts and minds which means we target conflicted rather than base audiences and tailor our materials and communications accordingly. At a time of deep divisions, our work builds bridges to advance equity and opportunity for all. In all our work, we advance conversations and policy to speed equity and center collaboration. Our theory of change animates our work and can be found here. 

Equal Employment Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy 

MAP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on age, height, weight, citizenship, color, creed, physical or mental disability (including HIV status), ethnicity, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, marital status, matriculation, national origin, physical appearance, race, religion, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, union membership, veteran status, or other unlawful factors, with respect to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, promotion, discipline, discharge, compensation, training and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.