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Director of Development

Location: New York City
Reports to: Executive Director
Salary and Benefits: Highly competitive salary, full medical and dental coverage, and generous vacation time.
Closing Date: Monday, June 10, 2013

THE ORGANIZATION

The Opportunity Agenda was launched in 2006 to build public support and public policy for greater and more equal opportunity in the United States. The organization uses communications, culture, and advocacy to influence public opinion on social justice issues, including immigration, racial equity, economic opportunity, and criminal justice reform– identifying and pushing for policies that improve people’s lives. Providing communications and media training, polling, and research support to the country’s leading social justice leaders and organizations, The Opportunity Agenda works to clarify, elevate and advance issues and communities that are too often ignored.

Over its eight-year history, The Opportunity Agenda has trained and equipped thousands of leaders and spokespeople, generated media coverage reaching tens of millions of Americans, demonstrably moved public opinion on critical issues, and fostered innovative policy solutions nationally and around the country. The organization’s dynamic, growing network of advocates, artists, policymakers, researchers, and other change makers has incubated transformative new ideas, and its staff have emerged as go-to strategists on a range of social justice campaigns and coalitions throughout the country.

A project of Tides Center, the Opportunity Agenda is an equal opportunity employer. We value a work place that is diverse in terms of gender, race, class, age, geographic origin, sexual orientation, and other differences that enrich our society.

THE POSITION

This is an exciting opportunity to help a creative, collegial, highly-respected U.S. social justice organization achieve significant growth in its financial support. The Director of Development, leading a three-person team and working closely with the Executive Director and the Steering Committee (the future board of trustees), will help the Opportunity Agenda increase its annual budget (currently at about $4 million and growing) by expanding its base of foundation funders and helping the organization develop an individual giving program, focused on major donors. S/he will be an integral member of The Opportunity Agenda’s senior leadership, involved in the organization’s overall strategizing and stewardship.

The Opportunity Agenda has a strong track record in foundation fundraising. Current donors include The Open Society Foundations, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Ford Foundation, and Oak Foundation, among others. It receives support from a small group of individuals, but has yet to develop a major gifts program. To preserve its independence and impartiality, The Opportunity Agenda does not accept government grants or contracts.

The Opportunity Agenda seeks a fundraising generalist, with experience in foundation fundraising and grant writing, which will be the main focus of work. The willingness and ability to direct a major gifts fundraising program is required; experience with major gifts fundraising is a plus.

The Director of Development will be charged with securing increased funding from existing and new foundation funders, in particular identifying opportunities for increased unrestricted support; improving fundraising systems (e.g. tracking prospects, grants, contacts and donor-reporting); and establishing a clear strategy for sustainable growth – including a plan for helping to secure funding from high-dollar individual donors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising strategy and implementation:

  • Develop and execute The Opportunity Agenda’s annual fundraising strategy and plan.
  • Build the pipeline of foundation, individual, and other prospects.
  • Prepare budgets and forecasts related to all fundraising activities (should be comfortable with setting annual fundraising goals and have systems in place to benchmark and track activities and progress).
  • Report regularly to the organization leadership on fundraising progress against stated goals.
  • Strengthen development infrastructure and systems.
  • Oversee donor cultivation events, including annual awards event.
  • Work with communications and other colleagues to develop appropriate messages and communications channels for various donor audiences.
  • Lead the entire organization to excel in donor/funder cultivation and stewardship.

Foundation grants:

  • Oversee and analyze research to identify new sources of institutional giving.
  • Oversee and participate in drafting of proposals and reports in close collaboration with Executive Director and program staff; ensure timely submission of acknowledgements, reports and proposals.
  • Assist with strategic positioning of programs and mission.
  • Ensure regular interstitial communication with institutional donors.
  • Work closely with senior leadership to nurture and develop new relationships with program officers and other foundation personnel.

Individual donors:

  • Develop a plan for building a major donor program rooted in board participation, human stories, and moves management.
  • Develop the Steering Committee’s understanding, capacity, and abilities regarding fundraising, including through expanding and staffing its Development Committee
  • Establish a fundraising target for this constituency and develop the strategies necessary to increase income from this source year by year.
  • Create a cultivation and stewardship program that includes various methods for engaging donors, from events to written and online communications, emphasizing the human lives touched by the organization’s work.
  • Work with marketing and communications colleagues to develop the organization’s brand and visibility, and to foreground its accomplishments and impact.
  • Implement and grow the annual fund, primarily through the annual appeal.
  • Assess the current database and its utility in view of current and future fundraising goals.

Broader role:

  • Play an active role in organizational strategic planning and priority setting.
  • Work closely with colleagues across program areas to maximize organizational and fundraising effectiveness.
  • Keep Steering Committee members updated and informed on fundraising progress, including reporting back at Steering Committee meetings.

CREDENTIALS

Qualifications:

Required

  • 8-10 years of fundraising experience in progressively senior positions, preferably in an advocacy organization
  • Excellent writing and oral communication skills
  • Commitment to social justice and to the vision, mission and values of The Opportunity Agenda
  • Proven track record cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding various donor constituencies
  • Excellent interpersonal and team-building skills
  • Ability to maintain effective working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Ease relating to influential, well-known individuals and high-dollar donors
  • Experience with fundraising, organizational and program budgets
  • Ability to maintain high standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism, and to handle sensitive and proprietary financial information
  • Flexible multi-tasker
  • Anticipatory and strategic thinker
  • Systematic approach to tasks and overall development operation
  • Excellent time management skills, and attention to detail
  • Computer skills: Windows operating, MS Office, knowledge of and facility with donor management databases
  • Willingness to travel on occasion
  • A sense of humor, humility, and collegiality

Desired but not necessary

  • Familiarity and experience with social justice, human rights, and/or civil rights issues and organizations
  • Spanish language skills
  • Experience organizing events

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample to jobs@opportunityagenda.org. No phone calls please.

Outreach and Events Coordinator

The Opportunity Agenda, a project of Tides Center, seeks an Events and Outreach Coordinator for its New York office. The Opportunity Agenda is a non-profit communications, research, and advocacy organization dedicated to building the national will to expand opportunity in America.

The Outreach and Events Coordinator is responsible for planning, managing, improving, and implementing The Opportunity Agenda’s convenings, briefings, webinars, and events, as well as growing and maintaining the organization’s electronic database of partners and stakeholders from around the country. The successful candidate will be innovative, proactive and detail-oriented, capable of working effectively with a diverse range of staff, consultants, and field allies. The position requires discretion and independent judgment as well as strong planning, logistical, and event management skills, and a commitment to social justice.

Working under the supervision of the Director of Communications, and in coordination with program and development staff, this position’s responsibilities include:

  • Oversee planning, budget, contracts, venue selection, and implementation of organizational convenings, events, and trainings, including an annual Communications Institute, Creative Change retreat, and other gatherings.
  • Logistical planning and implementation of the organization’s telephonic briefings and webinars, including technological and administrative tasks.
  • Maintain and grow the organization’s database of advocates, policymakers, donors, and other social justice leaders, developing systems for effective data management.
  • Maintain organization’s tracking system for internal metrics. Monitor, analyze, and evaluate metrics to inform program strategy, and for reporting to leadership, development staff, and other stakeholders. Assist with the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of partnership activities.
  • Collaborate in the planning and sustaining of organizational knowledge management and internal information flow.
  • Collaborate with Web Strategist to maximize interface of database and website, including audience segmentation.
  • Developing and maintaining systems for the dissemination of printed and electronic publications and materials.
  • Occasional administrative tasks, such as scheduling of meetings and staff travel.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in and knowledge of logistical, research, and writing tasks;
  • Three to five years minimum work experience;
  • Project management experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Demonstrated commitment to social justice.
  • Ability to develop and implement complex programs.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to interact with diverse audiences.
  • Experience assisting or managing public activities or events.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and database programs.
  • A sense of humor, modesty, and enthusiasm for our work and mission.
  • Bilingual skills in Spanish and English are desirable.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY AGENDA:

The Opportunity Agenda was founded in 2004 with the mission of building the national will to expand opportunity in America. Focused on moving hearts, minds and policy over time, the organization works with social justice groups, leaders, and movements to advance solutions that expand opportunity for everyone. Through active partnerships, The Opportunity Agenda synthesizes and translates research on barriers to opportunity and corresponding solutions; uses communications and media to understand and influence public opinion; and identifies and advocates for policies that improve people’s lives. To learn more about The Opportunity Agenda, go to our website at www.opportunityagenda.org.

The Opportunity Agenda, a project of Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related) or conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions (ARC). Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position will be determined based on experience and skills. Medical and dental insurance provided as well as short-term disability, flexible spending, and 403(b) accounts. Generous vacation package.

Location: New York, NY

Application Instructions:

Applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample to jobs@opportunityagenda.org. No phone calls please.


Internships

PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS - FULL-TIME SUMMER INTERNSHIP 2013

The Opportunity Agenda is dedicated to building the national will to expand opportunity for all in America through communications, research, and advocacy. We are seeking a summer Intern with a demonstrated commitment to social justice and equal opportunity, good research skills, and a solid understanding of strategic communications. A sense of humor and a dose of modesty are essential. The internship is open to anyone with a demonstrated interest in public opinion and media research around social justice issues including immigration, health care, racial justice, poverty, criminal justice, housing, and human rights. A strong candidate will have a background in social or political psychology, communications, political science, or social research. The intern will work under the supervision of the Public Opinion and Media Research Associate in the communications department of the organization.

The precise nature of the work varies by project and is based on the office's needs, but examples of work include:

  • Monitoring and archiving new public opinion research
  • Assisting in coordinating logistics of public opinion research projects (polling and focus groups)
  • Assisting in analyzing existing public opinion research and secondary data
  • Creating visual presentations of data (charts, table, graphics)
  • Blogging on public opinion topics
  • Program evaluation
  • Writing a literature review of academic research on a relevant topic
  • Assisting in media content analysis including using LexisNexis and other databases to identify appropriate articles
  • Creating power point presentations of public opinion data
  • Assisting in communications projects based on the department's team
  • Assorted administrative duties

Qualifications: Candidates for this position should have a strong desire to work in public opinion research and public policy. The ideal candidate will have some experience working in a professional environment and therefore bring to the position analytical, organizational, and general office skills along with strong verbal, written, and interpersonal skills. Good statistical skills and strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint, are required. Experience with SPSS is preferred. The candidate must be comfortable taking initiative, needs to be detail-oriented, and should be an energetic and quick learner possessing strong writing, editing, and research skills. Applicants with previous political or consumer opinion research experience will be given preference.

The intern must be able to commit to a minimum of 35-40 hours weekly for thirteen weeks dependent upon their availability. The hours are flexible, and some work may be completed off-site. The internship will begin June 3rd. School credit or a stipend are available.

About The Opportunity Agenda:

The Opportunity Agenda was founded in 2004 with the mission of building the national will to expand opportunity in America. Focused on moving hearts, minds and policy over time, the organization works with social justice groups, leaders, and movements to advance solutions that expand opportunity for everyone. Through active partnerships, The Opportunity Agenda synthesizes and translates research on barriers to opportunity and corresponding solutions; uses communications and media to understand and influence public opinion; and identifies and advocates for policies that improve people's lives. To learn more about The Opportunity Agenda, go to our website at http://www.opportunityagenda.org. The Opportunity Agenda, a project of Tides Center, values a diverse workplace and encourages students with non-traditional experiences and from historically underrepresented groups to apply.

To apply, please e-mail a cover letter (necessary to be considered) and resume to intern2@opportunityagenda.org. No phone calls please.

LAW AND ADVOCACY INTERNSHIP - SUMMER 2013

The Opportunity Agenda is seeking candidates with a demonstrated commitment to social justice and equal opportunity, strong research and writing skills, and the initiative to take on new and innovative assignments. A sense of humor and a dose of modesty are essential.

Law students will assist in legal research and writing to develop The Opportunity Agenda’s Law and Advocacy campaigns. Past research topics have included the application of international human rights laws to state constitutional and statutory jurisprudence; analysis of, and advocacy around, existing state and federal policies to promote equality across race, gender, income, and other characteristics; new approaches to addressing subconscious and structural bias in the law; and policy solutions for promoting immigrant rights and economic opportunity. This work will address racial justice, women’s rights and reproductive justice, immigrant rights, and anti-poverty themes. The work will be supervised by The Opportunity Agenda’s Associate Counsel and Director of Law & Advocacy.

Terms: Our full-time summer internships are 10-12 weeks in length and are located in New York City. Interns participate in the full range of activities of the staff of The Opportunity Agenda during the course of the summer, and work with leading members of the social justice advocates community. Some work may be completed offsite. This is an unpaid internship; students are encouraged to seek public interest grants or fellowships from their home institutions. The Opportunity Agenda values a diverse workplace and encourages students with non-traditional experiences and from historically underrepresented groups to apply.

Deadlines: Please forward an electronic resume, one-page cover letter, and short writing sample (5-10 pp., 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, one-inch margins) to Annie J. Wang, Associate Counsel, at awang@opportunityagenda.org. In the email subject line, please state “Summer 2013 Law and Advocacy Internship.” Please, no phone calls. All applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Volunteer Opportunities

Pro Bono Legal Assistance

The Opportunity Agenda strives to bring our unique communications, research, and advocacy strategy to multiple issues.  As part of The Opportunity Agenda’s goal to marshal the public will to demand equal access to the American Dream, we provide our local partners with legal and policy support that connects our research and communications efforts to specific policy solutions.  Our work focuses on identifying the policies and practices that will address the diverse needs of the community, that embody the values of opportunity that we seek to promote in all public policies and that will, in turn, fuel further demand for expanding opportunity in other sectors.  Our aim is to provide information and analysis regarding effective solutions to community leaders, advocates, and institutions seeking to implement promising practices.

We are also researching ways of integrating human rights standards into U.S. law.  In collaboration with experts in the field and pro bono law firm partners, we will pursue other potential policy levers designed to build public dialogue and political will to address human rights as a cornerstone of opportunity. 

We are grateful to our current and past law firm partners including:  Schulte Roth & Zabel; Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP; DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary; Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP.  Our legal work is chaired by Bill Lann Lee, former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Clinton administration and shareholder at Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson, P.C. in Oakland, California, and by Juhu Thukral, Director of Law and Advocacy at The Opportunity Agenda. 

If you are interested in learning more about pro bono opportunities for research on opportunity, human rights, and the law, please e-mail your resume to Annie Wang, Associate Counsel, at awang@opportunityagenda.org.