Position Overview

The Director of Development will lead on a suite of development initiatives related to the organization’s sustainability, strategic planning, communication and the execution of a portfolio of donor actions in order to meet Propeller’s $3.6M fundraising goal. The Director of Development manages and oversees the planning and day to day operation of all Propeller’s fundraising and communications efforts, including corporate and foundation grants, major gifts and individual giving, special events, marketing, branding, and public relations. The Director oversees the Senior Storytelling Manager and Senior Communications Coordinator and works closely with the CEO and Board of Directors in development efforts.

Major Responsibilities & Outcomes

Development oversight and project management: Work in collaboration with Senior Storytelling Manager, CEO, Board of Directors, and programs team to shape, manage and drive the implementation of an effective fundraising program that meets organizational needs, including:

• Craft and implement Propeller’s fund development plan in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Steward and cultivate Propeller’s Board of Directors Development Committee.
• Effectively cultivate new funders and diversify revenue streams (corporation, earned revenue, foundation, governmental, individual giving).
• Ensure fundraising policies and procedures reflect ethical, equitable fundraising practices.
• Collaborates with finance team to monitor grant expenditures and payments; collaborates with programs team to develop grant deliverables, narratives, and budgets; collaborates with impact team to ensure timely and accurate grant reporting and deliverables.
• Plan and facilitate donor meetings.
• Represent and speak on behalf of Propeller at cultivation engagements, events, and donor meetings.
• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with donors and community stakeholders.
• Oversee planning and organization of fundraising events and appeals.
• Oversee development of compelling solicitation, proposal, and reporting materials.
  
  

Communications oversight and project management: Collaborate with Senior Communications Coordinator and programs team to shape, manage and drive the implementation of effective outreach and communication campaigns to educate and cultivate community support, including:

• Oversee the development of marketing and outreach strategies to communicate with a range of constituencies through print and digital media. 
• Plan and organize campaigns that promote Propeller ventures, organizational impact, policy agenda, and inclusive entrepreneurship through storytelling and supporting data.
• Oversee the creation, writing, editing and production of press releases, publications, videos, website, newsletter, social media, and printed materials, including annual reports and advertisements.
• Conduct annual audits to ensure departmental efficiency.

Critical Competencies

• Personal qualities of emotional intelligence and maturity, humility, and unwavering commitment to Propeller’s mission
• Project management skills, with demonstrated experience stewarding projects from inception to completion.  
• Attention to detail and demonstrated success with budgeting, scheduling, managing multiple projects and deadlines, and establishing priorities. 
• Personal qualities of emotional intelligence and maturity, humility, and commitment to Propeller’s mission; interpersonal skills -- able to tune into others’ feelings, thoughts, and motivations and earn trust by consistently demonstrating integrity, authenticity, reliability, and professional competence. 
• Proactive, hands-on strategic thinker who will own the responsibility for monitoring fundraising goals, engaging donors, and evaluating pipeline.
• Experience managing a team by building trust and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Experience in effectively communicating key data and impact to external and internal audiences. 
• Demonstrated experience building and driving organizational fundraising plan and strategic initiatives. Interested in merging efforts of development and communications to engage donors, key stakeholders, and the general public.
• (Preferred) Experience working alongside prominent New Orleans communities of color (Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Vietnamese-American, and others).
• (Preferred) Analytical skills – Able to structure and process qualitative or quantitative data and industry trends. Able to generate reports and strategy recommendations.
• (Preferred) Experience writing quality, accurate data-driven proposals and reports.

Compensation: $79,375 - $84,375. Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Propeller also offers a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, long- and short-term disability insurance, retirement, paid time off, and professional development resources and opportunities. 

Location: New Orleans, LA. Applicant must be located or willing to relocate to New Orleans. Remote work is possible for Q1 and Q2 2021.

Start Date: Ideally early May, 2021

To Apply

Application Deadline: We have extended the deadline for this position and will continue to review applications on a rolling basis. We may close the application at any point, so we encourage anyone interested to apply as soon as possible.

Application Directions: Apply here by presenting your resume and short-answer responses to the questions below. A cover letter is not required.

• What will be your greatest strength in this role? In what way will you need to grow the most to be successful in this role? (4-6 sentences)
• What gives you energy in your current work? What drains your energy in your current work? (2-4 sentences)
• Share a successful development-related project or initiative you led with multiple internal and external stakeholders that makes you proud. (4-6 sentences)
• Why do you feel it’s important to build an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in the city of New Orleans? (4-6 sentences)
• What are your salary requirements? (1-2 sentences)
  
  

Propeller and its Ventures have received local and national recognition in The New York Times, TIME, Los Angeles Times, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Wired, Forbes, The Advocate and The Times Picayune. To learn more about Propeller, visit gopropeller.org.

About Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation

Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting social innovation in New Orleans. Our mission is to grow and support entrepreneurs to tackle social and environmental disparities. We envision a powerful community of diverse entrepreneurs and stakeholders working together for a more equitable future where everyone can lead healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, and other systems of oppression. 

Our strategy is to build a critical mass of businesses and nonprofits working to tackle disparities in our five areas of focus: community economic development, education, food, health, and water. Propeller challenges inequitable systems that perpetuate racial disparities in our five areas of focus by working at the institutional level in partnership with entrepreneurs committed to racial equity.

Propeller and its Ventures have received local and national recognition in The New York Times, TIME, Los Angeles Times, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Wired, Forbes, The Advocate and The Times Picayune. To learn more about Propeller, visit gopropeller.org.

Propeller is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and has a strong commitment to building a diverse and inclusive team.