Development Director

QUICK FACTS

• Position: Development Director
• Department: Administration and Resource Department, Development Division
• Supervisor: President and Executive Director
• Salary: $ 90,000 - 110,000
• Benefits: Full medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance covered at 100%; flexible work schedule; flexible paid time off with approval from supervisor; paid holidays; phone and travel allowance; child and pet-friendly workplace. Relocation package available.
• Position & Status: Full-Time, exempt
• Anticipated Start Date: September 2024
• Hours: 40 hours per week; occasional evenings and weekends
• Location: Hybrid (based in Oregon). This role allows for up to three days of remote work per week, with a requirement to attend monthly meetings in Multnomah County.
• Physical/Cognitive Details: Regularly required to use a computer and phone to perform work and communicate with others for several hours each day. Occasionally required to travel throughout Oregon. The noise level in the office is moderate.

ABOUT IMAGINE BLACK

Imagine Black (formerly PAALF Action Fund) helps our Black community imagine the alternatives we deserve and build our political participation and leadership to achieve those alternatives. Since our start in 2009, we have envisioned a world where people of African descent enjoy the rights, resources, and recognition to be a thriving, resilient, and connected community.

At Imagine Black, we maintain a strong commitment to Black Queer Feminist (BQF) theory and practice. BQF provides a more holistic understanding of our conditions and connectedness as Black people. As a result, we understand that liberation for all Black people can only be realized by uplifting the voices, experiences and prioritizing the issues of historically silenced and vulnerable groups within Black communities – specifically, queer, trans and GNC, femme, poor, disabled, working, and undocumented people (adapted from BYP100).

Imagine Black is a 501(c)(4) multi-issue grassroots organization in partnership with our sibling 501(c)(3) organization, Imagine Black Futures. We have a staff of eight and an operating budget of around $1.5M. This represents a 400% budget growth in the past four years. 

More information about Imagine Black can be found at imagineblack.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Development Director will strategize fundraising opportunities and lead a committed development team. We seek an experienced development professional whose knowledge, creativity, and mentorship will lead sustainable growth to make a strong impact on Black-led civic engagement -- overseeing our annual fund drives, sponsorships, recurring donors, annual events, major donor program, and grant management. 

This position directs work to cultivate and sustain a broad community of supporters and develop compelling communications. Imagine Black seeks a leader who will move beyond traditional funding methods and integrate new strategies to secure resources for the organization to thrive.

This role is ideal for an experienced development professional with a strong background in overseeing development activities in nonprofit organizations. The position reports to and works closely with the President and Executive Director and serves as the supervisor for our Grants Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development (30%)
• Oversee and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy to build a diverse pipeline of annual contributors, major donors, and foundation and corporate partners and raise more than $2M annually. The strategy focuses on expanding unrestricted giving in a way that supports the financial sustainability of both entities.
• Identify funding streams that can be further developed, locate additional ones, and support the development team in achieving this.
• Implement and maintain a data-driven, relationship-centered development approach, working with Operations staff to leverage the donor database system.
• Empower the team, including the Grants Manager, to grow and develop with mentoring and stretch assignments based on capacity and career goals, providing coaching, feedback, and performance reviews.

• Grants Management (20%)
• Oversee the development of grant proposals, monitor grant progress, and review grant reports.
• Lead on prospecting foundation and other institutional grants and contracts from local-, state-, and nationally-based funders.
• Manage key relationships with the foundation, government, and other institutional supporters, and identify new opportunities and prospects to reach out to.
• Work with development staff to write and manage grants, completing on-time grant compliance.

• Individual, Business, & Corporate Contributions (30%)
• Oversee and strengthen the system for donor cultivation.
• Create an annual calendar of fundraising campaigns, strategies, and revenue targets.
• Ensure individual giving, sponsorships, and corporate engagement, processes and sources align with and reflect organizational mission and values.
• Develop and support implementing a major gift strategy in collaboration with the President and Executive Director, including development, solicitation, and stewardship work with existing and new relationships.
• Provide vision, clarity, and planning to lead the development team in all areas of development, including annual fund drives and campaigns, sponsorships, grants, major donor cultivation, ads, and community partnerships.
• Develop individual giving strategies, annual fundraising campaigns, pledges, solicitations, and other activities.
• Seek out, cultivate, and strengthen relationships with donors, partners, and funders.
• Work closely with the President and Executive Director, development staff, and board on donor stewardship.
• ​Function as a conductor of donor relations, activating board members, staff, and community.
• Track and manage donor/supporter data and relationship management system via EveryAction, ensuring timely donor acknowledgments.
• Ensure giving data is accurate and reconciled with finance and accounting systems.

• Communicate Values Externally (10%)
• Support a culture of belonging for our greater community. Imagine Black/Imagine Black Futures is a public-facing organization with a great deal of community affection The development director will help us better embrace that community through a strong ethos of engagement and cultivation.
• Produce an annual impact report and other donor materials.
• Support board fundraising.

• Staff & Department Leadership (10%)
• Serve as a collaborative member of Imagine Black’s Leadership Team.
• Develop and monitor the department budget with the President and Executive Director and the Deputy Director of Finance & Operations.
• Supervise and support the professional development of department staff through goals and growth opportunities, gathering resources, and providing ongoing feedback and coaching.
• Manage department administration, including timesheet approval, PTO requests, purchases and reimbursements, and contracts.
• Support department staff with work as needed.
• Develop and strengthen departmental policies and processes as needed.
• Make staffing, structure, and resource decisions in partnership with the President and Executive Director to achieve department and organizational goals.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of demonstrated experience with the majority of job responsibilities.
• Experience cultivating good relationships with stakeholders, including individual and institutional supporters, and collaborating across multiple teams.
• Demonstrated experience in securing major grants, gifts, or support from individual or institutional supporters. 
• Demonstrated experience with community fundraising models. 
• Demonstrated strong supervisory skills to supervise, support, and hold accountable team members. 
• Organizational skills to build effective processes and organize information and timelines across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Passion for the mission & vision of Imagine Black.
• Passion for how self-determination and radical Black imagination can directly influence policy and advocacy.
• Familiarity with the unique challenges facing Black Oregonians.
• A commitment to applying a Black Queer Feminist lens to development and fundraising. 
• Exemplary supervisory and people skills with an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various people.
• Creative thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to occasionally work on evenings and weekends.
• Proven skills in working and communicating with communities within the African diaspora, especially with descendants of enslaved Africans, African immigrants and refugees, and Caribbean immigrants and refugees
• Strong work ethic and flexibility to accommodate multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with political or 501(c)(4) fundraising. 
• Bi- or multi-lingual (Arabic, Amharic, Swahili, and Somali-speaking applicants are encouraged to apply)
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, specifically EveryAction.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite, as well as the ability to work with online forms and systems (Asana, Zoom, Xero, and Slack)
• Understanding and/or experience with community organizing, civic engagement, policy advocacy, and/or community development.
• Lived experience with Black community issues, particularly in Portland, Oregon

TO APPLY

To be considered for this role, please submit the following items:

• Resume or CV;
• Cover letter describing your interest in this position and how well you meet the stated qualifications.

No phone calls, please.

Racial and gender equity are of the utmost importance in our search. If you do not meet all of the required qualifications for this role but feel you can be a great addition to our team, please apply and let us know why we should meet you! 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to those received by Friday, October 11 2024.

Benefits

Salary: $ 90,000 - 110,000

Benefits: Full medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance covered at 100%; flexible work schedule; flexible paid time off with approval from supervisor; paid holidays; phone and travel allowance; child and pet-friendly workplace. Relocation package available.