Applications are now closed
The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) seeks an experienced development director to oversee and accelerate FAC’s successful fundraising work, which has fueled an expansion of our budget, our staff and, most importantly, our impact in advancing press freedoms, free expression and government transparency.
Nonpartisan and nonprofit, FAC believes that the broadest range of engaged and informed communities is essential to the health of our democracy – that the values expressed by the First Amendment provide a blueprint for an inclusive, equitable society and a responsive, accountable government. To that end, FAC educates, advocates and litigates to protect and promote government transparency and First Amendment protections for all.
The Development Director will work with FAC’s Executive Director, Board of Directors, and leadership-level staff to collaboratively set a strategic vision for our fundraising efforts, support our growth, and expand the field of donors at all levels. They will be responsible for all fundraising activities, including individual donors, institutional funders, donor stewardship, board engagement in fundraising, and membership drives.
This is an opportunity to play a big role in a small but growing organization, to foster and support work that has a major impact in California and beyond. Working alongside a team of six other First Amendment and transparency champions, the Development Director will be instrumental in the continued growth of an organization that has had, and continues to have, an outsized impact on the law, and on our community, by aggressively defending free expression, a free press, and government transparency and accountability.
Our work depends on a highly collaborative work environment. We work as a team–each of us with the opportunity and responsibility to directly shape the future of our 34-year-old institution, which has grown into an indispensable resource and champion for journalists, activists, and community members–and for democracy itself. This means substantial autonomy, and also a willingness to perform functions for day-to-day operations, such as maintaining internal records and contributing to quarterly or other reports.
The Development Director’s core responsibilities are:
- Setting the strategic vision for FAC’s fundraising efforts and executing on tactics that ensure FAC has the resources to meet its goals.
- Researching, identifying and directing outreach to new sources of funding, individual and institutional.
- Energizing FAC’s board of directors to engage at all levels of fundraising.
- Creating compelling materials for donors, including email updates, impact reports and other marketing tools.
- Overseeing all aspects of fundraising campaigns via mail, email and other media, including by directing and/or crafting specific messages and related media/graphics.
- Generating, analyzing and clearly communicating about data to ensure that fundraising is done in the most efficient and effective way.
- Utilizing Salesforce and other systems to track, evaluate, and report on the performance.
- Supervising at least one contract employee.
Desired Qualifications:
- Five-plus years of professional development experience in a nonprofit organization;
- Demonstrated experience creating and executing an annual fundraising plan;
- Demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting major individual and institutional funders;
- Experience with collaboratively setting realistic but ambitious fundraising goals, and tracking and reporting on progress toward those goals;
- Ability to work with board of directors and staff to prospect for potential donors, large and small;
- Ability to tell FAC’s story in a way that engages and motivates donors, our board and others;
- Experience creating and executing strategies for increasing small gifts and major gifts;
- Management or supervisory experience helpful;
- Experience crafting fundraising communications for audiences ranging from the general public to specific donors and/or potential donors;
- Proficiency with Salesforce;
- Commitment to FAC’s mission and indispensable role in the open-government and journalism ecosystem in California and beyond;
- The ability to work independently, but also collaboratively and collegially on a small but growing staff;
- Commitment to bringing FAC’s services and advocacy to a broader and more diverse constituency, including communities of color and communities outside major metropolitan areas.
We welcome candidates who will work remotely but require this position to be based in California. Candidates who want to work from the San Francisco Bay Area will have access to FAC offices in San Rafael (Marin County).
FAC is committed to a diverse and inclusive staff, one that reflects the state and country we serve. Freedom of information, expression, and of the press are universal ideals but diversity of life experiences can make a big difference in how FAC identifies and litigates legal issues, serves our varied constituencies, and arrives at policy positions on the rights and ideals we care about. To that end, we deliberately seek applicants who can bring different perspectives and experiences to better inform our work promoting and defending free expression, a free press and the public’s right to know.
Applicants are encouraged to submit materials as soon as possible; applications are preferred by October 7, but we are accepting applications on a rolling basis and the job will remain open until filled.
Location:
FAC has offices in San Rafael, California, but this position can be based anywhere in California. Travel for donor and team meetings may be required.
Salary:
$90,000-$110,000 depending on experience. Higher compensation may be available for someone with advanced skills and/or experience. Includes health benefits and eligibility for FAC’s 401(k) retirement plan, including a 5% employer match.
Starting date:
Fall-winter 2022.
How to apply:
Use this portal. Please submit a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in working for the First Amendment Coalition and how your skills and experiences fit the desired qualifications. You should address your cover letter to David Snyder.
Application materials are not accepted via email.
If you have any questions regarding FAC’s Development Director position or the application process, please email devdir@firstamendmentcoalition.org.