Senior Director of Development

Position Title: Senior Director of Development 

To Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter. Your written presentation and interest in EMPath’s mission are crucial aspects of our selection process. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Who is EMPath?
Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) is a 200-year Boston-based nonprofit that transforms lives by partnering with families to move out of poverty and provides other organizations with the tools to do the same.

As a leading nonprofit innovator that combines direct services, a global learning network, robust research, and advocacy, we offer a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.

JOB SUMMARY:

EMPath has seen great growth in its fundraising over the past few years and is looking to add a seasoned member to the Advancement Team to further grow philanthropic revenues. The Senior Director of Development will be responsible for building and managing EMPath’s overall development strategy. S/he will establish fundraising goals and plans in accordance with the organization’s budgetary goals and will work with the Chief Advancement Officer and the President & CEO to maintain relationships with the organization’s funders at all levels. The Senior Director will lead and develop a strong, small team (two direct reports), and will focus especially on developing the organization’s individual giving program and its institutional partnerships. The Senior Director will manage a portfolio of major donor prospects, and will manage the team to build development processes, improving overall development team functioning and increasing revenues.

Responsibilities:  

• Collaborate with CAO and Advancement Team to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including major gifts, grants, annual giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and special events.
• Achieve annual and multi-year revenue goals and assist in meeting departmental and organizational goals.
• Serve as one of the primary relationship officers to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of both new and existing major individual and institutional donors to build and deepen their connection to and partnership with EMPath.

• Devise and execute plans to qualify, cultivate, and solicit potential new high net worth individual and institutional donors. 
• Manage senior grant writer and oversee all grant applications, reports, site visits, and stewardship communications.
• Manage senior development specialist to ensure strong donor communications, including acknowledgements, email/mail solicitations, and stewardship correspondence.
• Serve as a key contributor and partner with the CAO in planning and executing EMPath’s annual gala and biennial Disrupting Poverty Conference (2028); plan and hold additional donor cultivation and stewardship events when appropriate. 
• Develop a planned giving program and expand EMPath’s monthly giving program in partnership with the senior development specialist, increasing donor uptake of both programs.
• Work collaboratively with and leverage the assets and talents of the organization’s leadership, including President & CEO, Board of Directors, and EMPath staff.
• Collaborate with team members to ensure proper documentation of donor contact information, outreach, gift acknowledgement, recognition and stewardship activities. 

Qualifications:

• At least seven years of experience in nonprofit development.
•  Experience building relationships with and direct personal solicitation of individuals, foundations, and corporations at the 6-7+ figure level. 
• Proven track record of significantly increasing an organization’s annual philanthropic revenues, in addition to success with campaigns, is preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to effectively maintain relationships with many different types of people: including program participants, donors, staff, and board. 
• Ability to proactively build new, productive relationships with potential donors is a must.
• Exceptional supervisory skills with the ability to motivate and grow a small team.
• Very strong writing skills (show these in your cover letter!). Ability to communicate complex ideas succinctly and convincingly.
• Very strong project and event management skills with experience managing and prioritizing work to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to goal attainment, high degree of initiative, and ability to motivate and engage staff, high level volunteers, and donors. 
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products and strong working knowledge of Raisers Edge or similar CRM database.
• Ability to support fundraising activities and meetings that occasionally may occur outside of regular work hours; ability to travel occasionally for fundraising meetings.

• Bachelor’s degree required; master's degree or CFRE preferred. Will consider more experience instead of formal education.
• 7+ years nonprofit development experience.
• 7 + years of frontline major gift fundraising experience. 
• 2 + years people management experience (managing full-time employees).
• Cover Letter submitted with your application.

Why EMPath?

The meaningful work! The organization and your colleagues are committed to disrupting poverty and supporting families as they work towards their biggest goals.

Collaborative team environment! You’ll join a team that values teamwork and shares knowledge and ideas – all working towards shared goals for empowering leadership and organizational impact.

Work-life balance: EMPath operates on a 36 hour, 4-day work week.  This is a hybrid opportunity. This position requires 2 days of in-person work at our 308 Congress Street, Boston MA office and 2 days of remote work. 

Benefits: competitive healthcare benefits, tuition assistance, and retirement planning. 4 weeks of accrued paid time off, 9 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays.

Pay transparency: This role is budgeted for $110,000 - $125,000 annually, based on education and experience.

At EMPath, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered. We strongly encourage people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

We are an EEO/AA/ADA/ADEA employer based in Boston, Massachusetts.

All offers of employment at EMPath are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check.

Tell Us About Yourself!
To be considered for this role, please submit a resume and cover letter. Your written presentation and interest in EMPath’s mission are crucial aspects of our selection process.