Chief Development Officer, Free the Slaves
Position: Chief Development Officer
Functional Area: Development & Sales
Organization: Free the Slaves
Location: Washington, DC
Metro Region: Washington, D.C.
Overview:
Free the Slaves (FTS) knows that slavery flourishes when people cannot meet their basic needs, and lack economic opportunities, social protections, and knowledge about or ability to exercise their rights. We know that a holistic approach is required to eradicate slavery, and we believe it is possible to end slavery in our lifetime. To that end, FTS works with grassroots organizations to free people from slavery and help them rebuild their lives. We record and share survivors’ stories so people in power can see slavery and be inspired to work for freedom. We enlist businesses to clean slavery out of their product chains and empower consumers to stop buying into slavery. We work with governments to implement effective anti-slavery laws and hold them to their commitments, and we research what works and what doesn’t so that governments use resources effectively to end slavery.
To learn more about Free the Slaves, please visit http://www.freetheslaves.net.
Position:
With a current budget of over $3 million, and ambitious plans to grow, Free the Slaves is currently seeking a strategic and experienced Chief Development Officer to develop and manage all aspects of a strategic fundraising plan to grow this high-impact organization. Working closely with the Executive Director and the Board, the CDO will develop and implement a plan to increase organizational funding, including building the base of funding from major donors, foundations and corporations, as well as exploring additional new sources of funding. The CDO will also serve as a key part of the leadership team and directly oversee a young, highly talented development department. This is a fantastic opportunity for a mission-driven and results-oriented fundraiser who is looking to create worldwide impact.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a strategic fundraising plan to broaden the base of support of Free the Slaves, through foundation grants and major gifts, corporate sponsorship, federal government grants, annual fund donations, and earned income
- Serve as a key senior leader in the organization, and support the Executive Director to create the strategies and infrastructure necessary to fulfill the organization’s potential for significant growth
- Ensure that all fundraising targets are met by identifying potential funders, soliciting gifts and securing donations, cultivating and securing grants, as well as by working with the Board to support their fundraising efforts
- Design and execute successful fundraising annual fund and capital campaigns that take full advantage of traditional and social media platforms
- Oversee and mentor two staff members, and a larger team as the organization grows
- Work in close collaboration with the Programs (including in-country operations and policy advocacy), Research, and Communications teams to develop fundraising materials that most effectively communicate the impact of Free the Slaves’ work and accurately reflect our transformative strategies
- Represent the organization publicly in meetings with potential funders and strategically cultivate funder relationships, positioning the Executive Director, Founders, and Board to make successful fundraising asks
- Under the supervision of the Executive Director, liaise with and support a Board Fund Development Committee
Qualifications:
- Extensive experience raising money for advocacy or cause-related non-profits from multiple sources, including individual donors, foundations, government agencies, and corporations
- Proven success building a portfolio of donors in a growing organization and increasing the visibility of a high-impact, social justice oriented organization
- Strategic thinker with the ability to craft an overall plan to meet the organization’s growing funding needs, and to develop a highly efficient and effective development department
- Highly confident professional with the ability to play a key role in the organization’s leadership team, and to contribute to high-level decisions about organizational strategy
- Passionate, energetic, innovative and able to command the respect of strong-minded donors, the board development committee, an enthusiastic volunteer base, and other key leaders in the organization
- Demonstrated ability to fully understand and effectively communicate processes of social transformation, and show what those changes mean in the lives of real people
- Highly results-oriented and goal-driven, with experience in and an inclination towards tracking and evaluating progress based on clearly defined metrics
- Excellent staff manager, with the ability to oversee and mentor a small team of talented staff (currently, a Major Gifts Officer and a Development & Administrative Coordinator)
- Superb written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the organization publicly and passionately to potential funders and other partners
- Experience with a donor database application (Raiser’s Edge is preferred); knowledge of WealthEngine and NOZA a plus
To Apply:
Please email a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity, both in Word format and addressed to Kate Horner at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
