Development Strategist

About Community Change and Community Change Action:

Community Change builds the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to lead powerful and dynamic movements for social change.

Our vision of a better world centers the leadership of impacted people of color to move our work on immigrant rights, economic justice, and racial equity, including a focus on jobs and housing, early childhood care and education, income supports, and immigration reform.

This position also supports Community Change Action, an affiliated 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. While motivated by the same core values – equity, inclusion, and justice – Community Change and Community Change Action operate independently of one another, and each organization has its own board of directors.

Position Description:

The Development Strategist supports and collaborates deeply with the Deputy Director of Foundation Giving and the Director of Fundraising — as well as other fundraising staff — to raise institutional/foundation-gifts portfolio within the organization’s larger movement-driven fundraising model, centering donor-organizing practices and relationship-based fundraising. 

They are a key member of the fundraising team, which works collaboratively across the organization and in close coordination with executive leadership, program colleagues, and the finance and operations teams. The Development Strategist will produce written material under deadline; support foundation strategy development; track deadlines and completion of certain fundraising tasks; manage information and relationships; and hold the prospect research necessary to build a strong fundraising program.

Principal Responsibilities:

The Development Strategist is responsible for working with the Deputy Director and Director to sustain and increase support from existing general support funders and solicit new cross-cutting revenue through the research, cultivation, and solicitation of new funders as well as leaning into rising programmatic opportunities. They will partner closely with the Senior Writer on proposals and reports, and draft portfolio-appropriate funder-facing content.

Community Change regards funders as key partners and collaborators, which means fundraisers work closely with program staff, building a culture of philanthropy and serving as a bridge between programs and funders. As part of this structure, the Development Strategist will be “embedded” into program teams to become familiar with our work — with a focus on areas of work that undergird general support fundraising, emergent pipelines, and short-term funding opportunities.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Develop subject matter knowledge within assigned embedded programs, within the understanding of the entirety of our impact as an institution;
• Project manage the grant stewardship and solicitations for our largest general support funders; 
• Collaborate with the Deputy Director, Director, and senior leadership to identify unique opportunities for Community Change to test new fundraising ability and strategies in emergent or short-term campaign programs;
• Work in close collaboration with program directors and the Deputy Director and the Senior Writer to translate program objectives into grant deliverables;
• Compile and draft content including writing grant proposals and reports, as well as case statements, concept notes, organizational and program overviews, and donor updates;
• Drive overall prospect research for the team, owning and tracking institutional relationships without a clearly identifiable starting pipeline;
• Forecast funder revenue and capture data in our constituent and grants management systems (Salesforce).

The Development Strategist and institutional giving pipeline sit within a larger fundraising program that raises resources from both individual and institutional supporters. As philanthropy shifts, fundraising too must shift to become more interconnected. The Development Strategist will share information on program deliverables and collaborate with lead staff for individual major gifts to navigate complex giving structures that bridge individual and institutional giving

The Development Strategist will be an impeccable project manager and quick writer. They see fundraising as their contribution to the movement for social justice and are committed to using their work to build the power of low-income communities of color.

The Development Strategist must build good relationships, internally and externally, and cultivate an instinct for fundraising opportunities and alignment between funders’ interests and our programs. They should also have a collegial spirit and a good sense of humor. In addition, the ideal candidate will bring:

• Three years of professional experience, preferably with at least one year of grant management for a non-profit organization;
• Experience editing or writing, preferably for philanthropic audiences;
• Familiarity with standard methods of foundation solicitation and cultivation;
• A problem solver; tenacious, and proactive with the ability to get things done. Keen attention to detail;
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Outlook, MS Office applications, and Salesforce;
• Proven ability to learn quickly, work independently, meet multiple deadlines, and perform under pressure; 
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusting relationships internally and externally. Innovative and creative with a fresh perspective, as well as the ability to champion new ideas thoughtfully and thoroughly; 
• Deep commitment to the mission of Community Change and the project of building power with low-income communities of color; passion for social justice and a commitment to work in solidarity with the people directly impacted by injustice

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.