Common Threads
Common Threads seeks a highly motivated Director of Development to oversee the organization’s development division. This position will lead the organization’s fundraising strategy, execution, and performance management for individual, foundation, corporate, and government giving.
The Director will manage a team that consists of two fundraisers, a grant writer, and an individual giving/ board engagement manager. Development Manager oversees their portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government accounts. The Director will be responsible for overseeing these managers to ensure fundraising and growth goals are obtained in all verticals via new and existing opportunities.
Responsibilities:
Leadership & Strategy (20%)
● Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy
● Work closely with leadership to set and meet fundraising goals, and manage up-to-date revenue projections
● Prepare the CEO and Development team for cultivation, solicitation, and/or stewardship conversations/activations, as needed
● Collaborate with the entire Growth division (consisting of development and marketing/communications) to develop effective donor communications and materials, as well as the creation of key development collateral, such as community impact reports and other documents, as needed
● Monitor and analyze data, and use insights to help direct organizational strategy
● Collaborate with Programs and Evaluation staff to propose programs and projects that meet funder interests while advancing organizational goals
● Participate in market-specific and national working committees related to nutrition equity
● Represent Common Threads internally and externally, articulating mission and programs to diverse funding and community audiences through individual conversations and group presentations
● Monitor philanthropic trends and lead/initiate strategy meetings on potential mission-related special project directions
Management (20%)
● Manage and lead a team of fundraising professionals that make up the cultivation, LOI, proposal, reporting, renewals
● Ensure Development division goals are met, and ideally exceeded
Development division (foundation, government, and corporate giving)
● Manage team members throughout the fundraising process (prospecting,
● Establish OKRs and KPIs for the division and individual team members
Grant Management (20%)
● Support the grant writer in research grant opportunities, prepare grant proposals, and manage the grant application process. Ensure compliance with grant requirements, track reporting deadlines, and oversee grant-funded programs to achieve intended outcome
Individual Giving & Major Gifts (25%)
● Support execution to grow individual donations through seasonal giving appeals and campaigns
● Cultivate and lead major gift relationships with support from CEO
● Assist with CEO’s and Marketing/Individual Donor strategy efforts to recruit and build donor/ supporter networks and individual revenue with National, Advisory, and regional board members in all Common Threads markets
Event Support (15%)
● Lead planning and execution of cultivation and fundraising events, ensuring alignment with revenue goals.
● Engage board members, donors, and volunteers in event strategy, participation, and follow-up stewardship.
The above statements are intended to describe the essential job functions of this role and are not an exhaustive list of all duties performed by personnel occupying this position.
Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree (preferred)
● 7+ years of progressive experience in fundraising
● Must be experienced in all fundraising verticals (corporate, foundation, government, and especially individual giving)
● Proven track record of securing five, six, and seven-figure grants and multi-year gifts from corporations, foundations, and/or government sources
● Management experience
● Proficiency in Salesforce (or other CRMs) and an understanding of the importance of department data integrity
● Experience with Classy.com (preferred)
● Knowledge of national and local institutional funders specific to Common Threads’ program locations
● Grant writing, reporting, and compliance experience
● Experience overseeing and developing funding proposals (e.g. writing grant requests, letters of inquiry, presentations, etc.)
● Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Suite, as well as basic presentation design programs such as PowerPoint and/or Canva
● Experience and/or high comfort level working virtually
● Experience working with culturally diverse audiences
● Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
● A commitment to the mission and values of Common Threads
Other Requirements:
● Reliable personal transportation is required for this position. Candidates must be able to travel locally for donor meetings and events. Mileage will be reimbursed for the use of a personal vehicle; rideshare or taxi expenses are not eligible for reimbursement.
● This is a full-time position that will primarily work Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm; evening and weekend work may be required for events or donor engagements.
● Employment is contingent upon successful background check.
Compensation:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, geographic location, and organizational pay structure. About Common Threads:
Common Threads is a nonprofit that teaches children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage health and wellness. We are national in scope, with strong roots in each of our 8 major program locations, reaching 30,000 children, parents and teachers in 2024-2025. We equip under-resourced communities with information to make affordable, nutritious and appealing food choices wherever they live, work, learn, and play. We believe that adequate and healthy food contributes to wellbeing. For more information, visit www.commonthreads.org or Common Threads’ social media accounts (@CommonThreadsOrg on Instagram and @CommonThreadsUS on Twitter). Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands/fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Common Threads’ EEO Statement: Common Threads provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Common Threads complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Common Threads expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Common Threads’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, geographic location, and organizational pay structure. About Common Threads:
Common Threads is a nonprofit that teaches children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage health and wellness. We are national in scope, with strong roots in each of our 8 major program locations, reaching 30,000 children, parents and teachers in 2024-2025. We equip under-resourced communities with information to make affordable, nutritious and appealing food choices wherever they live, work, learn, and play. We believe that adequate and healthy food contributes to wellbeing. For more information, visit www.commonthreads.org or Common Threads’ social media accounts (@CommonThreadsOrg on Instagram and @CommonThreadsUS on Twitter). Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands/fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Common Threads’ EEO Statement: Common Threads provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Common Threads complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Common Threads expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Common Threads’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.