Development Director

Development Director
 Fully Remote
  Pay:$125,000 – $135,000 annually

Represent Justice is a nonprofit organization that turns stories into action to change the justice system while building the capacity of system-impacted communities. Through Films & Series Impact Campaigns and Original Storytelling, the organization harnesses media, storytelling, and firsthand experiences to shift public perception around incarceration and redefine safety in America. Its growing network of formerly incarcerated Ambassadors, community partners, and film participants is committed to sharing stories, connecting with new audiences, and growing narrative power in justice reform.

We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Development Director to expand and diversify its revenue engine. The ideal candidate is an energetic, mission-aligned fundraiser who thrives on relationship building, cultivating donors, crafting persuasive proposals, making confident solicitations, strengthening foundation partnerships, and building scalable fundraising systems. Working closely with the CEO and Board, this high-impact leader will help power the organization’s mission and create lasting impact for system-impacted individuals, families, and communities nationwide.

Represent Justice leads with accountability, teamwork, creativity, innovation, inclusion, and transformative thinking, while remaining grounded in respect, empathy, community-led solutions, and passion. The successful candidate will embrace these values, collaborate across diverse experiences, remain curious and future-focused, and stay committed to meaningful, lasting change.

Best-in-Class Benefits and Culture:

We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by a competitive compensation of $125,000 – $135,000 annually, commensurate with experience. We also offer an extensive benefits package that includes:

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance provided
• Robust retirement planning: 401(k) plan available with employer matching
• Financial security: Life and disability insurance for added protection
• Flexible financial options: Health savings and flexible spending accounts offered
• Well-being and work-life balance: Paid time off, flexible schedule, and remote work choices provided

Plus, we work to maintain the best environment for our employees, where people can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative, creative environment where everyone feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning, and culture.

To thrive/succeed as the Development Director you should have:

• 7–10 years of successful fundraising and direct solicitation experience, including fundraising leadership and a proven track record of personally raising five- and six-figure individual gifts and growing revenue year over year.
• Bachelor’s degree and proficiency with Google Workspace or Microsoft Office, email marketing platforms such as EveryAction, and prospect research tools preferred.
• Strong commitment to criminal justice reform, social justice, and empowering system-impacted communities.
• Demonstrated grant writing excellence and experience managing a multi-funder portfolio.
• Strong CRM and database management skills, including data hygiene, segmentation, reporting, and process-building.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, and presentation skills, with strong analytical and organizational abilities and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Experience working with a Board and executive leadership on fundraising strategy, and experience supervising staff or consultants preferred.

Responsibilities as the Development Director will include:

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan aligned with organizational goals and revenue targets.
• Collaborate with the CEO on annual budgeting, revenue projections, and quarterly forecasting.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy across staff and Board, equipping them to participate in fundraising.

 Individual Giving

• Manage a personal portfolio of major donor and mid-level prospects, identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding them.
• Design and implement donor stewardship programs that improve retention and provide meaningful upgrade opportunities.
• Create customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship communications, including outreach emails, proposals, progress updates, thank-you letters, and impact reports.
• Create fundraising events and initiatives that engage new prospects and increase support from existing donors.
• Partner with the CEO and Board members on donor introductions, meetings, and solicitations.

 Grants & Institutional Funding

• Own the full grant lifecycle, including prospect research, calendar management, proposal writing, budgets, reporting, and compliance.
• Collaborate with the CEO to cultivate program officer relationships and expand the institutional donor pipeline.
• Write compelling, data-informed proposals, reports, progress updates, and grant agreements in partnership with program staff to gather outcomes and stories.

 Development Operations & Data Management

• Manage donor systems and software, including the donor database and CRM, to track and cultivate donors and prospects.
• Oversee gift processing, acknowledgment, and tax receipt policies and workflows.
• Partner with the Development & Operations Manager to create dashboards and reports tracking pipeline, retention, giving trends, and campaign performance.
• Manage the development budget to ensure cost-effective use of resources.

If you’re a passionate fundraiser ready to turn relationships, storytelling, and bold ideas into meaningful change, Represent Justice invites you to bring your talent and vision to a mission that is transforming lives and communities.

We are an equal opportunity employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment.Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

We anticipate that the application window will close in 30 days.