Director, Donor Relations & Development

Job Description
The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global Coalition of more than 150 organizations dedicated to advancing the forest, land, and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendant Peoples, and in particular the women within these groups. Members capitalize on each others strengths, expertise, and geographic reach to achieve solutions more effectively and efficiently. RRI leverages the power of its global Coalition to amplify the voices of local peoples and proactively engage governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to adopt institutional and market reforms that support the realization of rights.

RRI is coordinated by the Rights and Resources Group (RRG), a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC.

If you are passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples to secure their rights; supporting womens rights and governance; and combatting climate change, this could be the place for you. RRI does meaningful work to make a positive difference at the global, national, and local scale. For more information about our inclusive and purpose-driven work, check out our current openings.

People of color, people from Indigenous and local communities, women, and LGBTQ+ persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Director, Donor Relations & Development

Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director for Donor Relations & Development will have a critical role in shaping and implementing the organizations revenue strategy and advising on organizational priorities and direction. Priorities include maintaining current relationships and diversifying revenue streams, ensuring that RRG has the necessary resources to fulfill its mission, while also influencing the funding ecosystem, and expanding the resources available to RRI Coalition members.

The Director will streamline RRIs donor engagement processes and ensure consistency across commitments for RRIs major institutional donors. The Director will be responsible for managing internal donor relations staff and contractors/consultants hired to support fundraising and grant reporting. The ideal applicant is a skilled project manager with excellent writing and collaboration skills. Experience working in multi-cultural environments is highly desirable.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC.

Applications will be accepted immediately and interviews conducted on a rolling basis.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Organizational Strategy & Development

• Participate with the President, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Management Team, and governing body to define the organizations mission and strategic direction.
• Ensure that fund development is carried out in keeping with the organizations values, vision, and mission.
• Evaluate the impact of internal and external forces on the organization and its ability to raise funds, make recommendations on how to leverage opportunities and counter risks.
• Stay abreast of developments in philanthropy as well as the general fields of management and the nonprofit sector, inform the President, development committee(s) and board on current trends.
• Oversee and manage all development and engagement activities associated with the prospecting, cultivating, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
• Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration and strengthen internal communication in support of fund development.
• Recommend fund development policies when necessary.
• Establish fundraising performance measures and monitor results, regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the resource mobilization strategy and its implementation.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the development function and monitor adequacy of activities.

2. Stewardship of RRIs Major Institutional Donors

• Develop a deep understanding of existing donors priorities and manage the relationship in coordination with the President and program leads.
• Convene the Donor Support Group annually and ensure timely responsiveness to their concerns and advice, all toward informed, strong, and continued support for RRI.
• Respond to donor needs for presentation materials, coordinate meetings with appropriate staff, and otherwise ensure that donor requests are met.
• Proactively inform donors about RRI successes, challenges, and key learnings in order to improve RRIs positioning and opportunities for further funding and encourage donors to prioritize its values across their portfolios.
• Present on RRG and RRI accomplishments to donor-convened meetings, as needed.
• Liaise with the strategic communications team, regional teams, and strategic analysis teams to capture RRI successes and ensure these are communicated to donors through both reporting and other avenues.

3. Production of Proposals and Donor Reports

• Ensure that RRGs commitments to donors are integrated into the organizations annual strategy.
• Draft or oversee drafting of concept notes and grant proposals.
• Respond to calls from RRI Coalition members for joint fundraising.
• Oversee the compiling, writing, and editing of donor reports, procuring necessary input from across the organization and related donor teams, while ensuring that overarching donor priorities and key RRI messaging and priorities are integrated into reporting.
• Streamline the organizations donor reporting processes, in coordination with program teams.
• Ensure narrative, technical, and financial reports align by coordinating between the finance, program, communication, and donor engagement teams.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree required, Masters Degree preferred.
• 12-18 years experience in donor relations and development.
• Demonstrated ability to raise revenue and advance the mission of an organization, including requesting and securing 6-7 figure multi-year grants.
• Experience in philanthropic, governmental, and individual fundraising. Experience with European governments strongly preferred.
• Experience working in non-profit organizations (> 10 million USD), as well as in a global and multi-national environment.
• Track record of operational leadership in a senior role in a multi-cultural, international organization. Experience from both private and non-profit sectors an advantage.
• Experience with multi-lateral agency grant reporting and management.
• Experience successfully working directly with Board of Directors and senior management to establish a long-range course of action and deliver strategic objectives.
• Results-oriented, capable of creatively harnessing insights and recommendations from across the organization and the RRI coalition for developing implementable, fundable activities and action plans.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing, and diplomatic skills resulting in effective long-term relationships with a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of, and interest in, sustainable development and the role played by private sector and governmental donors preferred.
• Demonstrated capability to work under pressure and meet deadlines and revenue targets.
• Excellent written and verbal English language communication skills (knowledge of other languages is an advantage).

Benefits

Rights and Resources Group recognizes the value of benefits to employees and their families. We take great pride in offering our dedicated and committed employees a competitive benefits package. Our comprehensive benefit programs provide you with a reliable, effective, and affordable array of choices that will meet your needs and those of your family.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; dependents and domestic partners eligible
• 100% coverage of employee premiums for the following: short-term/long-term disability insurance, life insurance, travel insurance, and the employee assistant program
• If eligible, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• 25+ days of leave annually, in addition to paid holidays
• Flextime, teleworking, and work from home options
• Tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per year after 1 full year of employment
• Dynamic growth opportunities with merit-based promotion philosophy

Rights and Resources Group (RRG) is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the organization and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, RRG makes all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, political affiliation or belief, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation or any other category protected by applicable law.