The Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) office began in 1992, is located in New York City and has become a vocal and valuable city and statewide advocacy organization for the children of New York.

Mission of the Children’s Defense Fund
The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor children, children of color and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investments before they get sick, drop out of school, get into trouble or suffer family breakdown.

CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by individual donations, foundation, corporate and government grants.

Position Overview:
The CDF-NY Director of Development serves as a key member of the New York management team and is responsible for leading the development of resources and relationships to fund, further and strengthen CDF-NY’s program. This fundraising position will focus on donors and prospects with a capacity to give $5,000 or more annually. The Director will research donor priorities and develop funding proposals and related submissions to public foundations, private foundations, family foundations, corporations, businesses and individuals in the New York region in support of CDF-NY programs and operational priorities. Work in close collaboration with the Executive Director and Deputy Director for CDF-New York in determining overall strategies, researching donor or prospective partner “fit” with CDF-NY and developing specific funding relationships and partnerships with prospective funding partners. Key measurements for success in this position will include prospect pipeline activity (proposals submitted and “asks” cultivated); gift “capture” rates; total value of gifts secured annually; effective monitoring of awarded gifts to ascertain progress, monitor activities and ensure timely and accurate donor feedback, reporting and ongoing cultivation; and effective collaboration with all internal stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Develop an annual plan and prospect (“account”) list of current and potential donors appropriate to CDF-NY and CDF-NY programs and organizational priorities. Annual (12 month) fundraising expectation is $200,000 in new or increased funding for CDF-NY for the first year, increasing in subsequent years.
2. Serve as primary Development staff point of contact for cultivation of new donors for CDF-NY’s annual Beat the Odds (BTO) event in coordination with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, Steering Committee, Event Planner and others as appropriate. This will include providing staff support to and engagement with the volunteer members of CDF-NY’s BTO event sponsorship committee.
3. Assist with the coordination and the development of all proposals and funding requests to assigned / approved portfolio.
4. Prioritize funding research and requests for gifts consistent with the program priorities and the currently budgeted needs of CDF-NY.
5. Coordinate donor and prospective donor cultivation including phone contact, email, personal visits and other communication with all donors and prospects within the assigned portfolio.
6. Identify and assist in the development of written and other collateral tools required to support successful and effective donor cultivation in coordination with the Executive Director, communications consultants and as appropriate other CDF staff.
7. Introduce new prospective partners to CDF-NY programs and cultivate new relationships in support of CDF-NY's mission, goals and priorities (e.g. meetings, briefings, information sharing calls, networking, sending information on CDF-NY programs, policy efforts and publications, etc.).
8. Serve as lead writer and editor for proposals or funding requests and grant reports, for assigned portfolio in collaboration with all appropriate CDF-NY stakeholders.
9. Collaborate in close coordination with the Executive Director with various CDF-NY project/program teams, CDF-NY Communications, and CDF-NY Policy staff to accurately represent the programmatic elements and priorities of CDF-NY’s current program activities and future program and organizational plans in grant proposals.
10. Work closely with the Executive Director and Deputy Director to expand and steward the CDF-New York Advisory Board.
11. Maintain portfolio pipeline report to track giving progress toward fundraising goals. Maintain and regularly update Raiser’s Edge database for assigned relationships in collaboration with CDF national office development staff.
12. Prepare meeting briefs and schedule appointments with current and prospective partners for the CDF-NY Executive Director.
13. Manage and complete additional assignments from the Executive Director and assist when appropriate and possible with other development team initiatives and projects.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated passion for CDF’s mission;
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skills in writing succinctly with excellent grammar, spelling and proof-reading;
• A minimum of ten years past relevant experience;
• A demonstrated understanding of nonprofit programs and services, especially those involving children and education-related projects;
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to CDF’s work; advance degree strongly preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to be a willing, able and active learner; willingness to be taught and trained in professional skills, in workplace protocols and in topics and issues specifically relevant to CDF’s mission and work;
• Demonstrated skills in organizing multiple projects and priorities;
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly within the New York region for external meetings, and occasionally travel to other areas outside of the region;
• Demonstrated proficiency in using Raiser’s Edge, Excel, Classy, and WordPress preferred.

To apply submit cover letter, resume and writing sample (preferably a grant proposal).