Development Manager (Volunteer)

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Development Manager (Volunteer)

*Note: The following is an opportunity for flexible, part-time, volunteer work. Please DO NOT APPLY if you are only looking for paid employment.*This is a remote-from-home position.

Are you an experienced Development Manager who is passionate about making a difference? Would you find it exciting to work with smart and talented individuals committed to producing great journalism in the public interest? Can you commit (a minimum of) 10 hours a week to our mission, working remotely on your own schedule with our far-flung, diverse team?

WhoWhatWhy.org is a nonpartisan, agenda-free news organization. Not left-wing, not right-wing, not consensus-seeking, we report the truth, whatever it is. We approach each story with an open mind, boundless curiosity, and a willingness to dig deep beneath the surface - and don’t back away in the face of pressure from powerful institutions and groupthink.

We are a nonprofit. We are not funded by a zillionaire. We do not accept corporate ads. As such, we are only currently able to pay a small core team, as well as experienced professional freelancers - and rely primarily on skilled volunteers to fill out our growing organizational infrastructure.

Age does not matter. We have among us young students, vibrant retirees, and everything in between, from all walks of life.

Join us!

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Planning and Programing

• Work with WhoWhatWhy executive leadership in creating an annual strategic funding plan and a long-range giving plan
• Oversee a move management system with all donors
• Manage a major gifts portfolio, a business giving portfolio, and a foundation giving portfolio. Cultivate, solicit, and close a predetermined number of gifts
• Plan and implement the annual individual giving campaign and administer a planned giving program
• Develop and manage a departmental budget and resources to optimize efforts
• Define metrics and creates methods for tracking progress of all fundraising activities
• Communicate relevant aspects of the Development Department to stakeholders
• Research prospective donors’ and grantors’ interests and requirements to find alignment and opportunity for WhoWhatWhy

Donor Relationship and Stewardship

• Manage donor stewardship, from cultivation to acknowledgment, including preparing and editing correspondence and support materials, tracking gifts, and preparing reports for board meetings, funders, and the Executive Director
• Prepare the Executive Director and other leadership team members to effectively cultivate, solicit, and close gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations
• Actively develop and support the Board of Trustees in its fundraising.
• Create, implement, manage, and evaluate a year-round events portfolio, including a signature event
• Oversee reporting to comply with partner institutions’ funding requirements

Marketing and Communications

• Oversee development of WhoWhatWhy’s donor and donor prospect communications including subscriber newsletter; annual report; marketing collateral materials and phone and email pitches
• Serve as liaison in cross functional marketing and editorial initiatives that help promote and/or impact the organization

Team Management and Development

• Keep senior organization and department leadership informed and involved so they support our fundraising objectives, and bring the Development perspective to broader strategy discussions
• Recruits and actively develops staff to meet current and future staffing needs. Works to maintain good communication and high morale

Performs all other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Knowledge and ability to develop fundraising programs and events that drive positive donor and community relations
• Ability to quickly build trust and partnerships across various stakeholder groups (e.g., including major donors, trustees, volunteers, staff, and students)
• Communication skills that create a positive impact and engagement (written, verbal, and presentations)
• Ability to develop and implement recommendations and plans to achieve organization, donor, and partnership goals
• Project management and execution skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities
• Driven to continuously identify opportunities to improve the organization’s effectiveness
• Proficiency in development database management (e.g., SalesForce) and other applications
• Effective public speaking and presentation skills are essential

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND CERTIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with significant exposure to all key aspects including strategy, donor research, marketing, event planning and public relations
• Proven track record of fundraising success and extensive network within the American philanthropic community
• Experience with Internet-based giving strategies

Perks

• Channel your passion in a stimulating environment
• Learn the nuts and bolts of nonprofit operations in an up-and-coming organization
• Develop new skills and gain valuable experience that can enhance your professional trajectory
• Do amazing work on a flexible, part-time basis
• Have fun while you make a difference
• Your work will be seen!

Expectations

You will work remotely and on your own schedule, and we ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months for at least 10-15 hours a week. Because our staff is spread throughout the world, we rely mostly on a combination of Slack, email, and conference calls, and expect everyone to be highly responsive in a timely manner.

If you possess a high level of self-motivation, and work well independently - but also have strong collaboration skills and enjoy the opportunity to partner with like-minded individuals, and can commit quality time per week on a regular basis to help achieve team goals, we’d like to hear from you.

To Apply

We will not review applications that appear to be mass submissions. To apply, send your resume and a customized cover letter explaining why you're a good fit for this position. If there is no option to attach a cover letter, please send a cover letter to hr@whowhatwhy.org. You should confirm your understanding that this is, initially, a volunteer position.

After submitting your application, you may receive email responses from us that may go to your spam inbox. There is a technical issue with our Applicant Tracking System that we are working on fixing. In the meantime, please check your spam inbox regularly for correspondence from us. Thank you!