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Development Director

Posted February 17, 2022

Background

Real Organic Project is a grassroots, farmer-led non-profit promoting integrity in the certified organic food system. We formed in 2018 to save the organic label from industry greenwashing that threatens organic farming.  Real Organic Project created and manages an add-on certification for organic farmers who are committed to the foundational values and practices of organic farming: soil health and animal welfare.  We currently certify over 800 farms in the US and Canada. Our annual virtual symposium, weekly podcasts and newsletters inform and organize a rapidly expanding list of thousands of farmers and eaters. 

While we have secured a healthy annual operating budget, we’ve done so without a formal development staff or systems. As we transition from a startup phase into a growth phase, we are expanding our small team to achieve our vision of reclaiming the word organic. 

Real Organic Project is seeking an experienced development professional to guide our $1M annual fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate will be passionate about creating change in the food system to support Real Organic farmers and eaters. This is a full-time position. We are a 100% remote organization, candidates who reside anywhere in the U.S. may apply. Occasional travel to fundraising and educational events around the country is required.

Job Summary

The Development Director: 

  • develops and implements annual and long-term fundraising strategies
  • works closely with the executive team (two founders) and board to meet annual fundraising goals
  • stewards a wide range of supporters through campaigns, events, and personal engagement
  • serves as an ambassador for Real Organic Project’s work in a range of settings

The Development Director leads all aspects of Real Organic Project’s fundraising and donor stewardship efforts, with the support of staff and the board. This includes spearheading an annual fundraising plan, maintaining current donor relationships and developing a new base of supporters.  Additionally, this role will involve planning donor engagement events – both digitally and in person. We want to work with someone who is always actively thinking about how we can better approach our development efforts as we grow. This is a great position for a creative fundraising professional excited to shape a development program from the ground up.

Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Develop and implement an annual development strategy and calendar, including: donor stewardship and engagement roadmaps, fundraising campaigns and cultivation events for individual, institutional and major donors.

 

  • Individual giving, including: creating and implementing donor engagement campaigns, solicitation and stewardship for individual and major gifts, drafting email and direct-mail appeals, organizing crowdfunding campaigns, drafting and delivering acknowledgements and impact reports, developing prospects, working with communications manager, mailhouse and printer as needed.  

 

  • Grants management, including: maintaining foundation grants calendar, communicating with foundation and other institutional contacts, prospecting for new opportunities, managing grant process workflow internally, drafting reports, LOI’s, and proposals in concert with program staff. 

 

  • Development metrics, including: tracking and reporting all donations received, appeal conversion rates, number of donations, value of donations by tier or type, donor retention and engagement, and others, sharing this data with staff and board members to develop strategy and report progress. 

 

  • Managing Salesforce (CRM) database, including: developing data entry processes, entering donor data, monitoring and tracking fundraising and donor communications, working with consultants to customize database and reports as needed. 

 

  • Event planning for intimate donor engagement events, such as private dinners and farm tours throughout the country, working in tandem with program staff in each region. 

 

  • Leverage staff and board by offering training and support in fundraising strategies, working closely with staff and board to cultivate new funding opportunities.  

 

  • Ensure all fundraising efforts are ethical and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

  • Be an ambassador for Real Organic Project in various settings, including: media interviews, conference speaking, tabling, individual donor meetings & intimate donor engagement events.

Experience

  • Successful experience in nonprofit development and fundraising
  • Network of colleagues in the philanthropic sector 
  • Experience successfully managing complex long term projects, and multiple projects simultaneously 
  • Demonstrable ability to communicate complex topics, both verbally and in written form, to different audiences 
  • Experience with CRM data entry and management, benchmarking and tracking performance
  • Experience communicating with a wide variety of people with different backgrounds and political views, including high-net worth individuals 
  • Knowledge of organic and regenerative agriculture issues

Skills

  • Digital fluency and ability to self-train and troubleshoot applications (Google Workspace etc.)
  • Proficiency in CRM database management 
  • Working knowledge of Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms 
  • Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, including public speaking 
  • Fluent in fundraising messaging best practices and current research 
  • Meticulously organized
  • Self-motivated, creative and collaborative
  • Adaptable and responsive to remote, small team, start-up environment

Compensation:

Full-time position. $62,000 – $80,000, with benefits. Salary commensurate with experience.

How to apply:

Please send a detailed, personalized cover letter and resume as one file to hire@realorganicproject.org with the subject line: “Development Director application”

Interviews will begin on March 8th, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Please direct any questions to hire@realorganicproject.org

Real Organic Project is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.