Director of Cultivation and Stewardship

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.

CBPP combines rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective advocacy to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation both nationally and in states. It works closely with a broad set of national, state, and community organizations to design and advance policies that promote economic justice; improve health; broaden opportunity in areas like housing, health care, employment, and education; and lower structural barriers for people of color and others in communities that continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity.

CBPP promotes policies that will build a more equitable nation and fair tax policies that can support these gains over the long term. CBPP also shows the harmful impacts of policies and proposals that would deepen poverty, widen disparities, and worsen health outcomes.

CBPP seeks a highly experienced and strategic Director of Cultivation and Stewardship to implement a comprehensive strategy to cultivate and steward new prospective institutional and individual donors to the organization in collaboration with the Development leadership team. The Director will serve as a member of that leadership team and support efforts across the Development team to secure revenue from foundation and individual prospective donors through cultivation activities and external stakeholder engagement.

The Director will manage organization-wide donor communications, including funder updates, newsletters, tailored content, and impact presentations to keep donors engaged and informed. The Director will manage an integrated calendar of proactive cultivation activities hosted by CBPP, including virtual roundtables, in-person events, and high-touch donor stewardship offerings, including leadership-level meetings with CBPP executives. They will develop a calendar of external engagement opportunities where CBPP experts and potential and current donors and funders can be in conversation and thought partnership together and share CBPP’s impact with diverse audiences.

The Director of Cultivation and Stewardship will be a thinker and a doer that is able to set strategic direction, build relationships, and turn vision into resources. They will bring strong development and fundraising expertise, paired with an innovative approach to storytelling and positioning, ensuring the organization shows up clearly, consistently, and compellingly. They will demonstrate that communications, engagement, and development are interconnected.

They will support the organization in aligning in a cohesive strategy to deepen relationships, strengthen CBPP’s external credibility with new audiences, and drive investment in our organizational priorities. This position will supervise a team of two fundraising professionals.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead a cultivation and stewardship strategy, collaborating with Development Team leadership, colleagues, and CBPP programmatic leaders.

Translate CBPP’s organizational priorities, work, and impact into innovative, high-impact storytelling and messaging that resonates with current and prospective donors. Manage donor communications (outside of reports and proposals), including funder updates, newsletters, tailored content, and impact presentations.

Manage an integrated calendar of proactive cultivation activities, including Inside Policy Calls, virtual roundtables, in-person events, funder communications, and high-touch donor stewardship offerings, including leadership-level meetings with CBPP executives.

Identify and facilitate external engagement opportunities for CBPP experts to engage with current and potential donors, including conferences, trips, and speaking opportunities, and share CBPP’s impact with diverse audiences.

Collaborate with the Development leadership team to support CBPP’s President, Executive Vice President (EVP) for Policy and Program Development and EVP for Communications and External Affairs to ensure strategic leadership engagement with key donors and external stakeholders, including preparation of materials, briefings, and follow through.

Support CBPP executive leadership in crafting donor-facing communications and key messaging that advances fundraising and external relations goals.

Collaborate with the Director of Foundation Relations on conducting prospect research, identifying potential funders, developing creative outreach strategies, and preparing executive-level briefings for CBPP leadership meetings with new funders.

Collaborate with CBPP’s Communications team on development messaging strategy to create a seamless external experience for donors that drives engagement and philanthropic support.

Partner with CBPP’s Communications team to identify strategic thought opportunities with funders for CBPP leadership in articles, podcasts, events, etc.

Support the State Priorities Partnership (SPP), a network CBPP founded and supports comprised of state-level multi-issue independent policy organizations in 40 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, to develop and implement a collaborative fundraising plan that includes (1) identification of prospective funders of state-focused work, (2) opportunities to engage with prospective funders, and (3) production of materials that articulate the power and impact of the SPP.

Share national strategy, philanthropic trends and funding updates with CBPP’s senior leaders and SPP network leaders to build relationships, facilitate learning, and share best practices.

Supervise and mentor two development staff, setting performance goals, and overseeing their professional development.

Qualifications

A minimum of 10 years of experience in fundraising or external affairs on highly collaborative teams, with a proven track record of strategy development and fundraising success.

At least three years' experience managing a team of fundraisers, preferably within a non-profit setting.

Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple complex projects under pressure.

Superior writing and editing skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including foundation officers, donors, and internal teams.

Extensive experience and proficiency with CRM databases; Salesforce preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required.

Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Ability to travel up to 25 percent of time.

Commitment to the CBPP’s mission and the ability to translate that understanding into compelling donor communications.

This position reports to the Deputy Chief Development Officer.

Work Location and Hybrid Schedule Expectations: Employees are expected to work in the Washington, D.C. office for this position. CBPP is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule of two full in-office days (Tuesday and Wednesday) per week, as well as the first Thursday of each month in our Washington, D.C. office.

Terms of Employment: Full-time; exempt.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is not a bargaining unit position.

Compensation: Salary for this position ranges from $130,000 to $160,000 per year; pay is based on a number of factors including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience and internal pay equity. Excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP) and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.

Please upload a cover letter and resume in your application. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to CBPP’s mission.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.