Job Opportunity

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Organization: Propel ATL

Job Title: Development Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Job type: Full-time salary, exempt

Compensation: $70,000 - $80,000 + benefits, including remote work stipend

Location: Fully remote workplace; candidates must reside in metro Atlanta at time of employment

Do you want to support efforts to make Atlanta’s transit systems work better for people? Do you want to help build a city with streets that are safe, inclusive, and thriving spaces for people to ride, walk, and roll? 

Propel ATL, formerly the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, seeks a Development Director to join our energetic and focused staff.

We’re looking for a team member with a demonstrated enthusiasm for our mission and vision and a commitment to our guiding principles — particularly the principles related to social and racial justice who will be guided by the goals of our strategic plan. Our staff relies on accountability and collaboration to achieve effectiveness. We are committed to the career development of each staff member and provide leadership opportunities to help our team grow.

Top candidates for this position exercise exemplary critical thinking skills and self-management, are proactive, and thrive working both independently and collaboratively in a small organization setting.

Primary Responsibilities

The main purpose of the Development Director position is to develop and sustain a robust and diverse portfolio of funding sources that support our annual strategic implementation plan. Fulfilling this position on our team will entail the following key responsibilities:

• Design and lead effective fundraising campaigns
• Maintain oversight over all fundraising activities including major giving, grants, special events, individual appeals, and corporate partnership initiatives
• Develop fundraising strategies in collaboration with Executive Director and Development Committee of the board
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with existing and potential funders
• Routinely analyze and effectively communicate performance of fundraising tactics
• Deepen the understanding of a philanthropic culture within the Propel ATL team and Board of Directors
• Monitor and report progress toward short- and long-term fundraising benchmarks and goals
• Evaluate potential collaborations, especially as it relates to institutional funding, data tracking, and reporting
• Create and collaboratively execute the annual fundraising plan: 
  • Manage expense budgets for all fundraising efforts
  • Manage the donor database
  • Research new prospects for all donor channels
  • Maintain gift recognition and donor tracking protocols (mapping moves, tracking relationships for family funds, soft credits, advising donor stewards, matching funds, etc.).
  • Effectively translate strategic touchpoints and updates into tangible actions
  • Collaborate with other staff.

INDIVIDUAL AND MAJOR DONORS 

• Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective supporters.
• Implement the individual giving program using various platforms, including print mail and digital fundraising drives.
• Grow a major gifts program (Momentum Makers), including identification, cultivation,  solicitation, and stewardship of major donors ($1,000+).
• Engage prospective donors on a continual basis to establish and maintain effective relationships. 
• Optimize messaging so it is evergreen enough to maintain efficiency but fresh enough to ensure continued engagement.
• Move donors and members up the ladder of engagement.
• Leverage advocacy wins for development.

INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING - FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 

• Secure grants from private, public, and corporate foundations and government sources. 
• Expand the base of support through effective research, qualification, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Manage the cultivation and stewardship calendar for the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Develop and track grant proposals and reports for all institutional funders
• Participate in the planning, writing, and reviewing of grants budgets.
• Collaborate with other staff to provide input on program grant proposals
• Create communications to support development activities.

CORPORATE 

• Secure corporate sponsorships for programs and public events. Ensure timely invoicing, acknowledgement, and sponsor fulfillment. 
• Manage corporate relations through effective communications, creative engagement opportunities, and best in class fulfillment designed to increase retention and build ongoing relationships. 
• Collaborate with staff to manage stewardship and sponsor fulfillment as needed. 

SPECIAL EVENTS - ANNUAL BLINKIE AWARDS 

• Create and execute an effective fundraising event plan
• Lead Blinkie Awards planning
• Collaborate with staff to hold a successful event

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Engage board members to identify new prospects
• Support the Development Committee of the Board of Directors by participating in committee meetings, providing development reports, and contributing to the development of a philanthropic culture within the Board. 
• Manage and track board members’ annual individualized commitments.
• Work with the Board of Directors on development related projects.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE

Five or more years proven track record: 

• raising funds from diverse sources, including major gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations and government agencies
• managing cultivation and stewardship activities and strategic moves management
• with leadership annual and/or front-line individual giving
• grant writing/solicitation creation 
• in communications strategy, planning, and implementation in the nonprofit sector

KNOWLEDGE

• Fundraising best practices and AFP Ethical Standards
• Knowledge of and connections to the funding community in Atlanta and/or nationally
• Knowledge of CRMs (i.e. Nationbuilder) and grant management tools (i.e. Fluxx Grantseeker)

STRENGTHS

• Organized self-starter with demonstrated commitment to accountability and outcomes and exhibits follow-through on tasks and goals
• Prioritizes and works efficiently on multiple projects while remaining detail-oriented
• Strong interpersonal skills – can build and maintain strong, productive internal and external relationships
• Strong writing skills and effective verbal communicator 
• Is approachable and comfortable providing and receiving feedback
• Aptitude for working with diverse communities and people
• Is solution-oriented, highly adaptive, and resourceful
• Exhibits common sense, sound judgment, professionalism, and a positive attitude
• Exhibits the integrity necessary for handling sensitive and confidential information

Workplace and Benefits

WORKPLACE FORMAT

Fully remote. Requires some evenings and weekends as well as occasional in-person engagements as necessary for the responsibilities of the position.

REMOTE WORK STIPEND

Staff receives a work from home reimbursement as a fixed amount each pay period.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Employer pays 50% of each employee’s medical insurance premium, in addition to partial dental and vision, and fully covered basic life and long-term disability insurance.

PAID LEAVE

• Annual paid holidays include:
  • two weeks (one in summer, one in winter).
  • approximately 10 recognized holidays.
  • four floating days.
• Vacation accrues at the rate of eight hours per 160 hours worked. 
• Each staff member receives 72 hours of annual wellness leave.
• Family and bereavement leave policies are provided.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Each staff member receives bi-weekly career development support from their direct supervisor. Staff also has access to and is encouraged to pursue professional development opportunities.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Propel ATL aims to foster an environment that recognizes, respects and values different backgrounds and talents. We do not discriminate in our staff, board, volunteers, volunteer committees, or recipients of services, and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected category. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Apply for this Opportunity

Email a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with “Development Director” in the subject line. In your cover letter, let us know how you became aware of this job opportunity and what resonates most with you from our mission, vision, and guiding principles. Include any details that uniquely qualify you for this position. If you need accommodations to make our hiring process more accessible to you, please be in touch and we will respond accordingly. 

This job was updated on April 3, 2023. Applications are reviewed as received, and the position will remain open until filled.