Development Director

Development Director 

Application Deadline: February 20

Higher Heights Leadership Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, and its sister organization, Higher Heights for America (Higher Heights) are the leading national organizations providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation and advance progressive policies. 

Higher Heights was founded by Black women for Black women’s political growth and equity, with a winning plan for building collective political power and expanding Black women’s elected leadership. Higher Heights’ mission includes: 

• Investing in the next generation of political leaders. 
• Organizing and mobilizing the power of Black women voters through its #BlackWomenVote campaign. 
• Creating an environment for Black women to vote, run, win, and lead, through online training, research, cultural-shifting communications work, and digital campaigns. 
• Higher Heights is comprised of two sister organizations working to create transformational change 

ABOUT THE ROLE: 

The Development Director will play a critical role in advancing Higher Heights’ mission by leading major donor engagement and helping to scale a sustainable, values-aligned fundraising strategy. The ideal candidate brings a deep commitment to Black women’s political leadership and a proven track record of successfully soliciting and stewarding five- and six-figure gifts. 

Reporting to the Vice President of Institutional Development, this role partners closely with senior leadership, board members, and cross-departmental teams to grow the organization’s major donor network, including the Leadership Circle. The Development Director will manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors, identify and cultivate new prospects, close gifts, and ensure excellent stewardship. 

This role requires a strategic, forward-thinking fundraiser who can translate organizational priorities into clear fundraising goals, balance relationship-building with results, and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment. 

This is a remote, full-time employee position that requires some travel as needed to work in one of Higher Heights' offices in the New York City or Washington, D.C. (DMV) metropolitan areas and other locations as needed. 

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL: 

• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with major donors, institutional founders, and grant management who are giving gifts of $1000+/year including serving as the primary lead for the Leadership Circle 
• Develop and implement grassroots fundraising campaigns and strategies to engage supporters and increase donor participation both in person and digital; 
• Collaborate with executive team and board members to cultivate and steward donors fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusion; 
• Lead in identify and steward external partnership and stakeholders; 
• Lead identifying and stewarding diverse political donors interested in protecting, defending, and expanding Black women’s political leadership; 
• Manage systems to track and cultivate donors and prospects while maintaining clear and up-to-date records on donors; 
• Travel with, and transport, principal-level staff, including our President and CEO, for fundraising events and donor meetings and to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors 
• Supervise Data and Digital Organizing Manager and other staff with a deep understanding of how to use both strategy and data to advance fundraising goals; 
• Additional duties may be assigned consistent with the responsibilities and qualifications in this job description. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field (or equivalent experience). 
• Have at least 5 years of previous experience working directly with major donors (annual individual contributions of at least $5,000), managing a portfolio of major donors, and making direct solicitations;  
• Experience with 501(c)3, 501(c)4 organization structure  
• Experience with building memberships, coalition building, or membership-based organizations  
• Experience with prospecting and securing grants   
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with executive level staff and board members; 
• Possess a working knowledge of the funders in the progressive space;  
• Demonstrate strong writing skills; 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the proven ability to work collaboratively; 
• Experience supervising staff;  
• Have the ability to travel to meet donors; 
• Have experience working in a fast-paced environment and meeting competing deadlines; 
• Demonstrates a commitment to contribute to a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are valued and supported by each staff member; An appreciation of cultural differences; 
• Commitment to ensuring anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of the work in the organization. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: 

The salary range for this exempt role is $90,000 – $135,000 and is offered with a competitive benefits package. The final base salary will be determined by various factors, including individual qualifications and internal parity, which will be objectively assessed during the interview process. 

Higher Heights is an equal-opportunity employer. Higher Heights prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or any other basis prohibited by law.