Director, Development, U.S. Climate Alliance

The salary for this position is $140,000 - $160,000.

Position Overview

The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors securing America’s net-zero future by advancing state-led, high-impact climate action. The Alliance Secretariat helps its members accelerate climate action by providing a broad range of technical, analytical, policy, and capacity assistance and resources. The coalition has also built strong relationships with the federal administration to help create and implement an ambitious, durable national climate framework. For more information on the Alliance, please visit www.usclimatealliance.org. 

The U.S. Climate Alliance seeks a Development Director to lead the Secretariat’s fundraising activities and secure the philanthropic resources needed to sustain and grow our work in support of our member governors. The Development Director will be responsible for overseeing effective donor stewardship with existing funders, identifying and cultivating relationships with prospective new funders, leading the development of grant proposals and reports, establishing systems and processes to support an effective fundraising operation, and tracking progress toward grant objectives in close collaboration with the Leadership Team and relevant policy leads. The Development Director reports to the Managing Director and sits on the Extended Leadership Team, contributing to the strategic direction of the organization. This is a brand-new role and an exciting opportunity to build on the Alliance’s momentum and growth as we look to increase support for member states and territories at a critical moment for climate. The position is part of the Energy and Climate team at the United Nations Foundation, which houses the U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat.

This position is based in Washington, DC (hybrid schedule) with consideration for remote work in the continental U.S.

Essential Functions

Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing funders.

• Steer donor stewardship activities aimed at increasing visibility and understanding of the Alliance’s work, impact, and successes with existing funders. This may include organizing in-person meetings, virtual calls, and presentations with Alliance leadership and policy sector leads; drafting invitations to Alliance events and convenings; coordinating funder roundtables; amplifying relevant newsletters, announcements, and other publications; and other activities.
• Respond to and coordinate responses to funder inquiries and requests.
• Track deadlines, deliverables, and action items to support ongoing funder engagement.

Identify and cultivate relationships with prospective new funders.

• Maintain knowledge of trends in climate philanthropy, particularly foundations, and other 501c (3) charitable organizations.
• Identify and conduct research on prospective funders with strategic interests that align with the Alliance’s mission and policy priorities.
• Prepare one-pagers, talking points, and other background materials for prospective funders that effectively and succinctly illustrate the Alliance’s work and impact.
• Facilitate outreach, engagement, and relationship-building with prospective new donors in collaboration with the Executive Director and Managing Director.
• Support engagement between Alliance leadership and current and prospective funders.
• Establish a travel and meeting strategy for the Executive Director and Managing Director that proactively identifies opportunities for engagement.
• In advance of meetings or other interactions with funders, draft briefing documents and compile other supporting materials.
• Schedule and run any needed advance preparation meetings.
• Schedule and run debrief meetings to ensure that meeting details and outcomes are appropriately documented, and action items are tracked.

Lead the development and submission of all funding proposals.

• Working with fellow Secretariat team members, lead the development of grant proposals that align with the Alliance’s mission and strategic plan, advance our policy priorities, support the needs of states, and complement specific funder interests.
• Create and implement a proposal review process that ensures all relevant staff, including the Executive Director, are in alignment on a proposal before it is submitted.
• With the Operations and Development team, create a proposal budget.
• Submit all proposals through the relevant donor portal.

Lead the development and submission of all required grant reports.

• Track reporting deadlines and proactively work with sector leads and the Operations and Development Teams to submit financial and narrative reports on time.
• Create and implement a reporting review process that ensures all relevant staff are in alignment on a report before it is submitted.

With the Operations and Development Teams, implement and oversee processes for:

• Connecting Alliance-wide annual planning to fundraising goals.
• Reviewing and negotiating grant agreements.
• Qualifying new prospective funders.
• Communicating with funders and tracking funder interactions.
• Projecting revenue and identifying budget gaps.
• Others as assigned.

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree required.
•  7-10 years of relevant work experience.
• Successful track record in development, with experience fundraising for energy, environment, or climate non-profits strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of trends in philanthropy, particularly climate philanthropy, foundations, and other 501c (3) charitable organizations.

• Prospective funder research and management experience, and knowledge of prospect research tools.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Superior attention to detail.
• Experience using Salesforce preferred but not required.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, and proof-reading skills, with a strong attention to detail and ability to communicate technical information to diverse audiences.
• Experience developing and tracking progress toward objectives.
• Ability to work effectively across teams and time zones.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and experience with fundraising databases.
• Proficiency for anticipating and avoiding problems.
• Aptitude for grasping and adding value to the organizational vision and mission, helping to develop and deliver on high-level goals and priorities.
• Organizational, political, and emotional intelligence and ability to use discretion around sensitive information.
• Ability to work well under pressure.

Our Values  

The Secretariat’s core values represent our team’s highest priorities and driving forces. These values are the heart of how we go about doing our work in support of each other and our member governors and states, serving as cultural cornerstones and exemplified by all members of our team. 
 

• Purpose: We are aligned by a common purpose to confront the climate crisis and its impacts through the power of state government. We connect our daily work to the Alliance’s mission and, in pursuit of our shared goals, always act in the best interest of our governors and states. 
• Excellence: We have high standards in the work we do to support Alliance governors and states. We are focused, data-driven, and attentive to the smallest of details while never losing sight of the big picture.
• Empathy: We value kindness and treat others with dignity and respect, recognizing that our actions affect one another and all those with whom we interact. We consider growth, learning, and development to be priorities.
• Inclusion: We actively work to increase diversity, advance equity, and cultivate a welcoming work environment where everyone feels valued. We are collaborators and prioritize teamwork — knowing that it will take our broader community all working together to ultimately solve the climate crisis.
• Balance: We value a positive work environment and, even in the hectic day-to-day, we make the time to build relationships, celebrate successes, and laugh. We know that balancing home and work lives is essential and encourage each other to put the health and well-being of ourselves and our loved ones first.

Benefits & Compensation 

For full-time, U.S. benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:

• a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• flexible spending accounts
• 403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contribution
• group term and supplemental life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• health club discounts
• commuter subsidy
• back-up care
• employee assistance program

Additionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.