Nonprofit Remote Digest - Issue #643

We live in a time of historic economic uncertainty. The dramatic increase in unreliable work and the concentration of wealth in too few hands threatens to undermine the foundation of the modern social contract: the idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead in America.

---

Economic Security Project — www.economicsecurityproject.org We challenge the status quo by catalyzing ideas that build economic power for all Americans.

Development Manager

The Economic Security Project (ESP) is seeking a Development Manager to provide critical management of and support to the organization’s fundraising functions. This position will report to and work closely with the Director of Resources & Evaluation to meet ESP’s annual fundraising goals and provide superior stewardship and cultivation of both existing and prospective donors. ESP is a $11+ million organization and works primarily with foundation and individual donors.

About Us

We live in a time of historic economic uncertainty. The dramatic increase in unreliable work and the concentration of wealth in too few hands threatens to undermine the foundation of the modern social contract: the idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead in America. Low-income Americans are struggling to pay heating bills and make rent, and many in the middle class live on the financial brink as skyrocketing housing, childcare, and medical costs overwhelm stagnating incomes. Nearly 40 percent of Americans do not have enough savings on hand to cover a $400 emergency. Technological advancements threaten to accelerate these trends.

The Economic Security Project challenges this status quo by catalyzing ideas that build economic power for all Americans. We serve as convener, strategist, and funder. We disburse grants, identify gaps, develop communications research to inform the movements, and coordinate events and convening to encourage investment and action from others. We aim to support the emerging leaders in the economic justice field and ensure they have the networks, know-how, and resources to succeed.

We’ve identified two fights we think we can win: (1) a guaranteed income that would provide an income floor for all Americans and (2) anti-monopoly action to rein in the unprecedented concentration of corporate power. We pick our fights based on our analysis of where our team can add value, where there are gaps in the existing ecosystem, and where a little push could turn an idea from a trend into a substantive intervention that improves people’s lives.

Economic Security Project is a 501(c)(3) with a 501(c)(4) sister organization, Economic Security Project Action. Economic Security Project is co-chaired by Natalie Foster, Chris Hughes, and Dorian Warren. The Economic Security Project’s Executive Director, Taylor Jo Isenberg, has over ten years of experience building complex organizations. We’ve recruited a high-caliber team of campaigners, communicators, and operators to help us realize our vision.

Job Responsibilities

Donor engagement, cultivation, and stewardship (70%)

• Lead on donor cultivation and stewardship activities for both current and prospective donors; involves close coordination with and managing up of senior and executive staff, who act as the “face” of ESP and hold the relationships with funders

• Draft grant proposals, reports, LOIs, concept notes, overviews, updates, and other documents/collateral/content for funders and general fundraising purposes in collaboration with colleagues within ESP as well as with key external partners

• Plan and manage the logistics for fundraising-related events and meetings; work with executive and programs staff on event content

• Lead or support on new projects and initiatives for donors (e.g. instituting mid-tier donor program), depending on the project/initiative

• Develop deep familiarity with ESP’s donor portfolio

Back-end data management, cross-team coordination, and team support (30%)

• Keep development/donor information up-to-date in database and newsletter list, with an eye towards timeliness and data accuracy/integrity

• Build out and keeping fresh ESP’s prospective donor pipeline, with an eye especially towards building out ESP’s portfolio of major donors

• Research existing and prospective donors, e.g. for meetings, events, and prospecting

• Engage in gift administration, including gift processing; also involves playing a key role in coordinating with the programs team to ensure ESP is on track for all donor expectations, deliverables, and metrics

• Support in creating and improving processes and systems to elevate ESP’s development shop

• Support with other tasks as needed

Qualifications

• At least five years of experience in a position with transferable skills or a Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience in a position with transferable skills; strong preference for prior experience with fundraising/development within a nonprofit setting

• Experience with and/or commitment to economic, social, and racial justice, including the ability to discuss these issues and their intersections in a nuanced manner

• Excellent written, speaking, editing, and research skills, including the ability to seek out and synthesize complex information from disparate sources

• Top-notch project management skills, including the ability to manage outputs from staff at all levels of the organization

• High level of relational awareness, emotional intelligence, and a “customer service” orientation, especially when engaging with current and prospective donors

• The ability and willingness to regularly manage data and ensure it’s updated on a continuous basis, including pulling information from colleagues as needed

• Ability to work on deadline, adapt to changing situations, prioritize, and switch between different projects and tasks on short notice

• Quick learner and ability to take initiative and problem-solve

• Experience with major gifts, event planning, and/or engagement strategies a plus

• Experience with Raiser’s Edge, Asana, Slack, and G Suite a plus

The Economic Security Project is a virtual office with staff across the country. The Development Manager will report to the Director of Resources & Evaluation, who is based in metro Atlanta, GA. The initial salary range for this position is $70,000-$80,000 with benefits, depending on experience. It is full-time and considered exempt from FLSA overtime rules.

Salary

$70,000 - $80,000

The initial salary range for this position is $70,000-$80,000 with benefits, depending on experience.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume, answers to three pre-screening questions, and a writing sample at this link. The pre-screening questions are as follows; please keep each answer at or under 350 words:

1. Why are you interested in working at Economic Security Project? Please share your interest from a professional and/or personal perspective.

2. Can you tell us about a time you centered equity and inclusion in your current or in a previous role?

3. Without simply rehashing your resume, can you give a high-level summary of your experience with fundraising/development, with a focus on your accomplishments? If you do not have prior fundraising/development experience, can you lay out how your prior experience and skills would be applicable to the Development Manager role?

The writing sample should be a piece of recent work that you produced in either an academic or professional setting. Please only submit pieces for which you completed a significant majority (85+ percent) of both the drafting and editing.