Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship

The Center for Election Science is a fully remote 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers voters through voting methods that strengthen democracy. Our organization does research and works directly with communities to bring approval voting to cities and states across the country. We aim to enhance the voting process in U.S. elections to ensure we achieve the responsive government we deserve. We are a high-impact organization seeking talented employees to advance progress on this challenging mission.

The Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship will lead CES's fundraising initiatives, developing and implementing strategies to secure financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations. This role requires a strategic thinker with a proven track record in philanthropy, excellent relationship-building skills, and a passion for electoral reform. This person reports to the Chief Executive Officer who also provides support for major gifts and key relationships.

Responsibilities are as follows:

Strategic Management

• Manage contractors supporting donor relationships and grants.
• Identify and manage additional contractors as they arise.
• Prioritize automation and delegation wherever possible.
• Manage data assets to maintain accurate records of donor interactions and contributions. 

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Ensure prompt and appropriate stewardship of all 300+ donors.
• Set and evaluate philanthropic strategy for the organization. 
• Develop and manage relationship plans for key donors.
• Coordinate large direct solicitations with support from contractor and Chief Executive Officer.
• Maintain and regularly update our donor database.
• Support  board members in their personal fundraising (each has committed to a specific give/get for the year). Use wealth screening software to identify larger donors.

Communications & Outreach

• Arrange and execute frequent donor communications via email. social media and in-person.
• Develop and execute strategies for cultivating, stewarding, and engaging foundation, corporate, and individual donors through outreach events and activities.
• Create and manage bi-annual direct response fundraising campaigns and other smaller campaigns throughout the year.
• Lead the development of the CES’s annual report. 

Grants Portfolio Management

• Organize, identify and collaborate on submission of grants.
• Cultivate relationships with prospective funders.
• Lead the granting enterprise for the organization including drafting and submitting identified grants and submitting reports for acquired grants

Experience/Skills

• Bachelor’s degree and professional experience in philanthropy required. 
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in fundraising for nonprofit organizations or for political action committees. 
• Demonstrated ability to build, maintain a culture of innovation and philanthropy, and successfully engaged in one-on-one solicitation from large capacity donors. 
• Experienced and proficient in various aspects of philanthropic work, including soliciting and managing relationships with individual, foundation, and corporate donors; cultivating and researching potential donors; writing grants; and organizing special events.
• Knowledge of and interest in political advocacy. 
• Feels comfortable working remotely and have experience with or be willing and able to learn new systems including Google Docs, Salesforce, fundraising CRMs, and email marketing platforms.
• Ability to solve problems, prioritize, and minimize multitasking.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• A team player that is collaborative, has a high degree of professionalism, thrives in a fast paced environment and contributes to the success of the team. 

Additional Information

• Some moderate travel: ~4+ weeks/ year, including international travel
• Occasional night and weekend availability
• Opportunity to interact with leaders in the field of political science and policymakers. 

How You Can Be A Competitive Applicant

• Get to know our work: Explore our blog, read our articles, and follow us on social media to stay updated. 
• Be passionate about what we do: Our work demands significant effort, and your passion will help you sustain and enjoy that effort.
• For more information, visit our website: https://electionscience.org/new_ddrs/

The Center for Election Science is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for positions in which they do not meet all of the qualifications listed. CES is committed to finding the best candidate for this position. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested in the position even if you do not meet every qualification listed.

Requests for reasonable accommodation can be made via email to hiring@electionscience.org

This job description outlines the responsibilities and qualifications for the Director of Philanthropy role at the Center for Election Science, aimed at attracting candidates who are passionate about improving U.S. election processes through strategic and effective fundraising.