Director of Development

PaidLeave.ai; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Moms First is seeking a senior fundraising leader to drive our national development program across foundations, corporate partners, HNWI, and grassroots donors. You will own strategy, manage the pipeline, and close major gifts in collaboration with the CEO and a small development team.

You will build a data-informed fundraising engine, set annual budgets, and lead donor communications while expanding HNWI engagement and multi-stakeholder partnerships to fuel ambitious growth for the organization.

Qualifications

• 12–15 years of progressive fundraising experience, including leadership roles in high-growth nonprofits.
• Track record of securing six and seven figure gifts and building transformative partnerships.
• Experience shaping and executing multi-year development plans and managing a team.
• Comfortable working in a lean, collaborative, data-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising strategy, pipeline development, and multi-year development planning.
• Cultivate and solicit major gifts from foundations, corporations, and HNWI; manage advisory boards.
• Oversee donor communications, grants, reports, and foundation proposals.
• Drive corporate partnerships and sponsorships tied to events and campaigns.
• Mentor the Development Manager and align development with program priorities.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor engagement

Strategic fundraising planning

Relationship management

Communication & storytelling

Data-informed decision making

Education

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Job description

Moms First is a national nonprofit leading the fight for America's moms. We are driven by our belief that motherhood is the unfinished business of gender equality. Founded by Reshma Saujani in 2021 at the height of the pandemic, our community of moms and supporters is 1.5 million strong and committed to fighting for a world where moms are valued and supported in our workplaces, communities, and culture.

Fueling that fight requires bold, strategic fundraising — and we're looking for the leader to drive it. This is a builder's role: you will own and scale Moms First's fundraising program across foundations, corporate partners, high net worth individuals (HNWI), and grassroots donors. Reporting to the CEO, you will lead the full development function as part of a lean, high-impact two-person development shop — working alongside a Development Manager and in close partnership with the CEO, who serves as the organization's lead fundraiser. Together, you will set strategy, manage the pipeline, and drive the cultivation and closure of major philanthropic gifts that fuel our most ambitious growth goals.

You have a track record of securing six and seven figure gifts by building and relentlessly working a robust, data-informed pipeline. You bring particular sophistication to HNWI engagement, including 1:1 relationship management, advisory boards, giving circles, and other tailored approaches. You also know how to manage institutional funders against clear objectives, including corporate sponsorships tied to events and campaigns. You are a compelling communicator who can make the case for our mission to diverse audiences — from C-suite executives to major foundations to individual supporters — and you close.

You lead with humility, roll up your sleeves, and bring a low-ego approach to a collaborative environment where everyone — including the CEO — is in the work alongside you. You thrive in blue sky space, build the systems and processes that move prospects through the pipeline, and hold yourself and your team accountable for results. As a senior leader at Moms First, you will help shape how we live out our team values — daring, high impact, relentless, equitable, and above all else, putting moms first.

Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Pipeline

• In collaboration with the CEO, set overall fundraising goals, manage revenue forecasts, and a multi-year development strategic plan
• Build and own a clear, data-informed pipeline across all donor types — foundations, corporate partners, HNWI, and grassroots — mapping opportunities by type, stage, and certainty, with Salesforce as the primary system of record
• Develop and manage an annual development budget, tracking progress against goals and reporting regularly to leadership
• Analyze philanthropic trends and funding landscapes to identify emerging opportunities aligned with Moms First's mission and growth goals

Donor Engagement & External Relations

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and deepen relationships with a pool of key funders, Board members, and Advisory Council stakeholders
• Own relationships across all donor types with distinct strategies to grow and sustain each
• Pitch partnership and funding opportunities to C-level executives and foundation leaders; facilitate discovery and pitch meetings for the CEO
• Drive corporate partnership strategy, including securing and stewarding sponsorships tied to events and campaigns
• Lead the individual giving program with particular focus on HNWI as a growth opportunity, deploying tailored approaches including giving circles and 1:1 relationship management
• Review and approve grant proposals, reports, and foundation communications before submission, and oversee grant reporting with support from Development Manager
• Drive donor communications that keep supporters informed and connected to the impact of their investments

Operations & Systems

• Optimize the systems, processes, and materials that enable the development function to prospect, cultivate, and close major gifts at scale
• Establish clear goals, metrics, and accountability structures for development performance, delivering regular reviews to the CEO and senior leadership
• Frequently analyze fundraising targets and mark-to-market progress, operationalizing insights to keep the team on track
• Review and continuously improve external pitch materials, presentations, grant proposals, contracts, and reports

Team & Culture

• Manage and mentor the Development Manager, setting clear goals and supporting their growth and effectiveness
• Serve as a player-coach for the development function — providing executive leadership while remaining hands-on in execution alongside the team
• Collaborate across functions to align development strategy with organizational narrative and programmatic priorities

Qualifications

• Minimum 12–15years of progressive fundraising experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role within a high-growth nonprofit, advocacy organization, or campaign environment
• Demonstrated success securing six and seven figure gifts and building transformative philanthropic partnerships
• Experience shaping and executing a multi-year development strategic plan, including building and managing a team
• The humility and low-ego orientation to thrive in a lean, collaborative environment — a genuine willingness to roll up your sleeves and do the work, not just direct it
• High level of adaptability in an environment with evolving team structures, with a penchant for embracing change and navigating ambiguity
• Strong communication and presentation skills; a compelling storyteller who can win hearts and minds, influence, and negotiate across diverse audiences
• Familiarity with Salesforce or a comparable CRM; comfort working in a data-informed environment
• Highly organized with a proven ability to manage multiple deadline-driven priorities while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience managing and developing direct reports

Deep commitment to Moms First's mission and to diversity, equity, and inclusion