Senior Director of Partnerships

BrightPlus3; New York (NY); Remote; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Director of Partnerships to lead innovative fundraising initiatives that support progressive change. This dynamic leader will develop strategic donor engagement strategies, enhance visibility in the philanthropic ecosystem, and cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders. The role requires a commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice, and a track record of success in mobilizing resources for democratic causes. Join this pivotal organization at a crucial time for pro-democracy movements and make a meaningful impact in building a just, equitable society.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience in fundraising with a focus on individual and major gifts.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills and a strong sense of urgency regarding democracy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies to expand donor base and financial resources.
• Lead a high-performing partner services team to maximize fundraising impact.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor Engagement

Strategic Thinking

Relationship Building

Team Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

CRM Platform

Data Analysis Tools

Job description

Senior Director of Partnerships

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Democracy Alliance

The Democracy Alliance (DA), founded in 2005, is a donor community of individual philanthropists, foundations, and labor unions who are dedicated to democracy and our progressive future. The DA invests in building the progressive infrastructure in the United States by filling gaps, providing catalytic funding, and resourcing social change, all in the name of building a just, equitable, feminist, multiracial democracy that works for all.

The DA’s vision builds on our 20-year history and looks to the future; is deeply grounded in a commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice; and reaffirms the DA’s critical role as a convenor, resource aggregator, and community builder.

The DA plays a critical and unique role as a powerful convener—a dynamic forum where leading progressive donors, foundations, and organized labor strategize together to leverage their shared power and drive resources in service of our democracy. In this role as convener, the DA hosts two flagship conferences each year that bring together 150 – 400 donors, movement leaders, and elected leaders over several days to learn, collaborate, and plan. Throughout the year, the organization also offers numerous learning events to build the capacity of its members and partners and foster connections across its network.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Job Summary: The Senior Director of Partnerships

The Senior Director of Partnerships is a leadership position responsible for developing and executing strategic fundraising initiatives to support DA's mission of advancing progressive change and protecting democratic institutions. This role requires a dynamic leader who can drive innovative and disciplined donor engagement strategies, augment DA’s ability to move critical resources to the field and grow the pie, and contribute to the organization’s long-term sustainability. The Senior Director of Partnerships will work closely with internal stakeholders, including the Board of Directors and other senior leaders, to align fundraising goals with organizational priorities and ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to resource development.

The Senior Director of Partnerships will direct key staff and consulting capacities, providing strategic direction and hands-on support to drive fundraising efforts that engage a diverse network of donors, from high-net-worth individuals to institutional funders. This includes implementing cutting-edge fundraising and donor organizing programs, deepening partner engagement through excellent stewardship, fostering a culture of philanthropy, and ensuring that DA’s fundraising strategies reflect the values of racial, gender, and economic justice. The ideal candidate will possess a track record of success in donor cultivation, revenue generation, and strategic growth within mission-driven organizations.

Additionally, the Senior Director of Partnerships will play a critical role in enhancing DA’s visibility and positive influence in the philanthropic and progressive ecosystem by representing the organization at key events, building strategic partnerships, and positioning DA as a leader in mobilizing resources for progressive causes.

Fundraising Strategy and Expansion

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising and recruitment strategy to significantly expand DA’s donor base and financial resources.
2. Cultivate and steward relationships with the DA community of high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and institutional donors to drive sustained and increased giving.
3. Expand DA’s legacy giving program and create innovative donor pathways, such as a young donor network and targeted geographic funding collaboratives.
4. Guide and align efforts by President, Executive Vice President and senior leadership to grow the pie, recruit new DA partners, deepen relationships across the field, and raise resources for DA investment priorities.

Donor Engagement and Support

1. Lead efforts to provide an exceptional partner experience that deepens engagement, trust, and long-term commitment.
2. Ensure donor interactions align with DA’s values and strategic goals, fostering a culture of appreciation and impact-driven philanthropy.

Value Proposition and Organizational Growth

1. Clearly articulate the organization’s unique impact within the progressive landscape, in partnership with Programs team and other senior leaders.
2. Partner with senior leadership to develop compelling messaging and fundraising priorities that resonate with donor motivations and interests.
3. Leverage data-driven insights to refine and tailor fundraising efforts for maximum effectiveness and scalability.

Leadership and Team Management

1. Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing partner services team, inclusive of consultants, committed to advancing DA’s fundraising goals and maximizing our impact.
2. Foster an internal culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability within the partner services function and across the organization.
3. Develop and oversee the implementation of effective fundraising systems including revenue projections, CRM platform/database, and grants management.
4. Ensure fundraising practices are grounded in principles of justice and equity.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Deep commitment to DA’s values of racial, gender, and economic justice, and a passion for advancing progressive change.
2. A strong sense of urgency regarding the threats to democracy and a demonstrated track record of mobilizing resources for its protection.
3. At least 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, with a focus on individual and major gifts.
4. Proven success in developing and implementing innovative fundraising and donor organizing strategies that drive significant revenue growth.
5. Exceptional relationship-building skills, with a "constituent services" approach that combines inspiration, efficiency, and problem-solving.
6. 5+ years of experience managing and mentoring diverse teams in a social justice-oriented environment.
7. Strong strategic thinking, communication, and collaboration skills to effectively engage stakeholders at all levels.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead resource development efforts at a pivotal time for pro-democracy movements. If you are a strategic and passionate fundraiser and donor organizer dedicated to building a just, multiracial democracy, we invite you to apply.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The Democracy Alliance is a remote working environment.

REPORTS TO: Democracy Alliance Executive Vice President

BASED IN: Washington DC/New York/Bay Area preferred, other locations to be considered

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: One

COMMITMENT: Full-time

START DATE: Immediately

SALARY RANGE: $170,000.00 -$200,000 Based on Experience

TRAVEL: Travel will be required - including relationship cultivation & DA Events

TO APPLY

If interested, please submit a brief letter of interest and resume to [e-mail]. Please reference “Senior Director of Partnerships” in the subject line.

We believe that a diverse workplace is critical to achieving our goals. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and encourage applications from structurally marginalized communities and experiences to apply.

Frequently cited statistics show that applicants from structurally marginalized and/or underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. The Democracy Alliance encourages you to break that statistic and to apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to your application!