Director of Development

Native American Rights Fund; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 149,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Job summary

The Native American Rights Fund, based in Boulder, Colorado, seeks an experienced Director of Development to lead fundraising, memberships, and advancement activities. You will collaborate with executive leadership, the board, and committees to set strategy, drive major gifts, annual funds, and capital campaigns, and ensure measurable progress across initiatives.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in fundraising, strong CRM and leadership skills, and a deep respect for Native community

Qualifications

• At least ten (10) years of experience in fundraising, development, non-profit management, with a proven track record.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong leadership, supervisory, communication, and interpersonal skills with CRM knowledge.
• In-depth knowledge of Native American culture and/or experience with tribes/tribal communities.
• Superior written and oral communication; ability to influence and partner effectively.
• Ability to organize and prioritize many tasks and manage time under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse staff and donors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies and goals.
• Build and maintain donor relationships and manage records, solicitations, grants, and acknowledgments.
• Lead and mentor a development team and volunteers; set department strategies and metrics.
• Oversee planning and execution of fundraising events and initiatives.
• Coordinate grant writing and identify new funding opportunities.
• Prepare reports on fundraising progress for the Board of Directors and stakeholders.
• Create marketing materials and communications with the Communications Director to strengthen donor relations.
• Coordinate annual budget with CFO and forecast fundraising potential for programs.
• Serve as Corporate Officer and attend Board meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Leadership

CRM management

Strategic planning

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CRM software

Job description

SUMMARY

The Native American Rights Fund is a non-profit national Indian law firm representing Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals in Indian law matters of major significance. NARF’s main office is in Boulder, Colorado, with additional offices in Washington, D.C. and Anchorage, Alaska. NARF is looking for an experienced Director of Development to lead the department in well-developed forward-thinking fundraising strategies that meet annual and longer-term advancement goals for operations/projects while measuring progress throughout the year to ensure continued success. This position works with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Fundraising Committee, National Support Council for Advancement, and the Development team to provide leadership, strategic oversight and implementation of NARF’s comprehensive fundraising, membership, and advancement activities in order to engage current and new supporters, increase financial investment in NARF, and build an increasingly strong and diverse network of stakeholders.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Fundraising Strategy: Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies and fundraising goals, in cooperation with the Executive Director, to meet financial targets, including major gifts, annual funds, corporations and foundations, tribal giving, and capital campaigns.
• Donor Relations: Build and maintain relationships with key donors, stakeholders, and community members to enhance donor engagement and support. Ensure records, solicitations, grants, and donor acknowledgements are efficiently managed.
• Leadership and Team Management: Lead and mentor a team of development professionals and committee volunteers, providing guidance and support to achieve fundraising goals. Set strategies, develop and implement comprehensive department wide annual fundraising plan and timeline, set priorities and expectations, and maintain comprehensive metrics to track areas of success and identify areas of improvement.
• Event Planning: Oversee the planning and execution of fundraising events and initiatives, ensuring successful outcomes.
• Grant Management: Coordinate grant writing and submission processes, identifying new funding opportunities and revenue streams.
• Board of Directors: Prepare and present reports on fundraising progress to the Board of Directors and other stakeholders.Assist in enhancing giving and networking with Board of Directors to increase giving from Indian Country.
• Marketing and Communication: Develop marketing materials and communication strategies to support development activities and enhance the organization's visibility. Collaborates with the Director of Communications to ensure consistent branding, clear and targeted messaging, and strengthened relationships with supporters.
• Budget Planning: Coordinate with the Chief Financial Officer to create an annual budget that corresponds with the organization’s fiscal year and annual fundraising plan, including forecasts and evaluations of fundraising potential for each activity and program.
• Corporate Officer: This position will also serve as a Corporate Officer, which requires attendance at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Corporate Officers.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY DUTIES

All Development Department personnel

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• At least ten (10) years of experience in fundraising, development, non-profit management, with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or Nonprofit Management. Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong leadership, supervisory, communication, and interpersonal skills are essential, along with a deep understanding of donor relations and fundraising strategies, including CRM management.
• In depth knowledge of Native American culture and/or experience working with tribes, tribal members and tribal businesses required.
• Superior written and oral communication skills, with the ability to establish rapport, confidence, and trust with stakeholders at all levels and the ability to influence and challenge business partners in a constructive and persuasive manner.
• Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints. Work may occasionally require a high level of mental effort and strain when performing a high volume of tasks and other essential duties.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability and willingness to work with a diverse group of staff and donors. Possess the ability to maintain good interpersonal relations and communications with donors and staff. Possess the ability to provide information and assistance with ordinary courtesy and tact.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range is $149,034 to $194,494 annually. This salary range is based on one (1) to fifteen plus (15+) years of experience in the Denver Metro market. Actual salary will depend on years of experience, qualifications, and location.

Generous benefits package includes vacation leave, health, dental and vision insurance, and paid time off including sick leave and medical/disability leave. Additionally, there is an employer contribution to the employee 401K plan, employer paid group life insurance, accident insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.