Head of Development

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Promise’s first dedicated Head of Development, you will play a critical role in achieving our mission of supporting innovators and accelerating innovations for equity in early childhood development (ECD). You will partner closely with Promise’s Managing Partner and Leadership Team to create and implement a strategic approach to fundraising and development, which includes philanthropic giving, major individual gifts, sponsorships, and in-kind resources, in order to advance Promise’s mission and vision and fulfill the objectives of our three-year strategic plan. 

DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

Promise’s three-year strategic plan, spanning 2023-2025, envisions significant programmatic and organizational growth, supported by a ~$5-$6million annual budget. Approximately half of the funds to execute this plan have been secured, and the Head of Development will develop systems and execute strategies (in partnership with the Leadership Team) to raise the remaining resources needed to achieve our strategic objectives. 

A core component of our organizational fundraising goals is developing and executing a successful fundraising strategy to support and sustain a core initiative in Promise’s strategy launched last year, the Early Childhood Leaders of Color Collaborative. The Collaborative seeks to support 200 members by 2025 and our vision to sustain it includes a robust network of supporting community foundations, individual donors, and corporate partners. We aspire to raise ~$2 million per year by 2025 to sustain this initiative, and will be an immediate priority upon starting in the role.

Additionally, Promise is fortunate to have trusted relationships and partnerships with a number of core institutional and programmatic funders to support its three-year strategy and is looking for the Head of Development to help expand the portfolio of those relationships among philanthropic foundations (our historic focus) and catalyze partnership with individual donors and corporate sponsors (priority areas of development opportunity).  

Key Objectives + Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement Promise’s strategic fundraising strategy that draws from a diverse mix of revenue sources

   1. Work in partnership with the Promise leadership team to develop and successfully implement an annual fundraising and revenue strategy plan tailored to meet Promise’s short-term and long-term needs while ensuring the organization can fully live out its mission, vision, and goals

   2. Build and maintain new and existing relationships with philanthropic partners

   3. Oversee the coordination, enhancement, and maintenance of a light-weight database (CRM) system that includes gift processing, prospecting, donor histories, and fundraising reporting; ensure accurate and thorough maintenance of donor records

   4. Lead and manage Promise’s regular cultivation pipeline reviews

1. Strategically raise funds from a diverse mix of revenue sources utilizing corporate, community, individual, and major donor program strategies:

   1. Design and execute a place-based development or community foundation-focused strategy for the Early Childhood Leaders of Color Collaborative

   2. Launch and implement a new strategy focused on individual giving

   3. Build and steward relationships with current and potential donors

   4. Lead Promise’s existing cultivation efforts

   5. Prospect and writing foundation grants, requests, and proposals

1. Develop compelling communications and stewardship materials that describe and highlight the impact of our work

   1. Develop a system of communication internally to ensure that our teams are are actively engaged in fundraising efforts

   2. Support board development and communication with Promise’s advisory board (launching in 2023) and other external stakeholders

1. Execute additional team projects and responsibilities

   1. Offer expertise and coaching to Promise internally as well as to social ventures in the network to support their fundraising and development efforts

   2. We’re a startup too! Things will come up, new opportunities will arise, unexpected events and turns will happen, and it will always be an adventure. We are looking for someone who thrives in this environment, relishes change, finds ways to say yes, thinks on their feet and enjoys juggling various opportunities, challenges and needs that come our way!

ABOUT YOU

Values / Mindset

• Alignment and commitment to Promise’s core values 

• A willingness to engage personally and professionally in the work to dismantle structural racism and systemic inequality and uphold the commitments laid out in Promise’s Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion statement.

• Deep belief in our mission and vision and the ability to connect its importance to your personal story

Experience

• 5+ years of fundraising experience in a management or professional position with a demonstrated track record of success in fundraising across diverse revenue streams

• Experience developing relationships with local, regional, and national foundations or major individual donors and the ability to connect our mission with discerned funder priorities

• Experience designing and implementing stewardship programs to move donors through levels of giving

• Experience building and implementing fundraising databases and systems

Skills

• Entrepreneurial: you can adopt an entrepreneur mindset and working style - you love juggling multiple tasks, at various levels, and wearing many hats. You are action-oriented and always ready to roll up your sleeves, no matter the size of the task, and you take a lean, iterative approach to your work and embrace testing and learning. 

• Exceptional communication skills: you have exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills, including business writing skills with the ability to compose reports, proposals and other correspondence

• Critical and analytical thinking: you can effectively problem solve and collaborate thoughtfully in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

• Detail-oriented: you sweat the details and do what it takes to get them right because you believe it leads to higher quality 

• High-autonomy: you are able to find your footing in an ambiguous situations, have a high degree of self-motivation in a remote environment, and we can count on you to, deliver high quality work at speed and close the loop

• Relationship-building: you enjoy establishing and maintaining positive, productive connections with individuals and groups, you listen and empathize well, you build trust and credibility, and you enjoy creating a sense of shared purpose and commitment 

• Collaborative: you work well in small team environments, you like bouncing ideas off of others, you enjoy getting and giving feedback, you derive value out of brainstorming and group thinking

Submit your resume, LinkedIn profile (if you have one!) and an email explaining your interest in this role, including a story that demonstrates how our mission, vision and work connects to you personally, to jobs@promisestudio.org with the subject line “Application for Head of Development Role - [YOUR NAME]”. Please also include how you heard about this job opportunity.