Urban Upbound -

Director of Development Organization Background:

Founded in 2004, Urban Upbound is dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty in New York City public housing and other low-income neighborhoods. We provide underserved New Yorkers with the tools and resources needed to achieve economic prosperity and self-sufficiency through six integrated programs: Employment Services, College Access and Youth Development, Financial Fitness and Affordable Housing, Tax Prep and Income Support Services, Worker Cooperative Development, and inclusive banking through the Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union. Reports To Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Position Summary The Director of Development is responsible for leading Urban Upbound's comprehensive fundraising and resource development strategy. This executive leadership position is charged with identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic investments that advance Urban Upbound's mission of moving New Yorkers from poverty to economic mobility. The Director of Development will build and manage a robust fundraising pipeline across individual donors, corporations, foundations, government partners, and special events while strengthening Urban Upbound's brand and philanthropic presence throughout New York City and beyond. This position requires a highly strategic, relationship-driven leader with exceptional communication skills, a passion for community impact, and a proven track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts. Primary Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Develop and execute Urban Upbound's annual development and fundraising strategy. Establish measurable fundraising goals and key performance indicators (KPIs). Build a multi-year fundraising roadmap aligned with the organization's strategic plan. Present fundraising reports and pipeline updates to the CEO, executive leadership, and Board of Directors. Partner with executive leadership on long-term sustainability and growth initiatives. Major Gifts & Individual Giving Build and manage a portfolio of major donors and high-net-worth individuals. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $10,000 and above. Develop customized engagement and stewardship plans for major donors. Coordinate donor meetings, tours, presentations, and cultivation events. Support the CEO in securing transformational gifts and strategic partnerships. Corporate Partnerships Develop strategic partnerships with corporations throughout New York City and nationally. Secure sponsorships for Urban Upbound's annual Gala and signature events. Identify employee engagement opportunities, volunteer programs, and corporate giving initiatives. Build long-term relationships with corporate executives and CSR leaders. Expand partnerships supporting workforce development, financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, youth development, AI technology training, and economic mobility initiatives. Foundation Relations Develop and maintain relationships with private, family, and corporate foundations. Oversee foundation prospect research. Work collaboratively with grant writers to develop competitive proposals. Coordinate grant submissions, reporting requirements, and stewardship activities. Maintain a healthy pipeline of foundation opportunities. Government Funding Collaborate with program leadership to identify government funding opportunities. Support contract renewals, new RFP submissions, and agency relationships. Coordinate with government affairs partners when appropriate. Ensure compliance with reporting requirements related to development activities. Prospect Research & Pipeline Management Build and maintain a comprehensive prospect database. Continuously identify new funding opportunities. Develop prospect qualification criteria. Track all cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities using CRM software. Maintain an active pipeline with clear next steps for every prospect. Special Events Lead fundraising efforts for Urban Upbound's Annual Gala and other fundraising events. Secure sponsorships, table sales, journal advertisements, auction donations, and underwriting support. Coordinate donor recognition opportunities. Maximize fundraising revenue from all events. Donor Stewardship Develop comprehensive stewardship plans for all donor levels. Ensure timely acknowledgments, impact reports, and donor communications. Coordinate annual reports and donor recognition materials. Create meaningful engagement opportunities that deepen donor relationships. Marketing & Communications Collaborate with communications staff to develop compelling fundraising materials. Ensure consistent messaging across campaigns. Develop impact stories highlighting Urban Upbound's mission and outcomes. Support digital fundraising campaigns and annual appeals. Team Leadership Supervise development staff, consultants, and volunteers. Establish performance goals and accountability measures. Foster a high-performing, collaborative development team. Promote continuous professional development and best practices. Financial Management Develop and manage the annual development budget. Monitor fundraising revenue against projections. Prepare monthly fundraising forecasts and reports. Ensure responsible stewardship of donor investments. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred. Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience. Demonstrated success securing six-figure and seven-figure gifts. Experience with major gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, and fundraising strategy. Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills. Strong relationship-building and networking abilities. Experience using donor CRM systems. Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities. Commitment to Urban Upbound's mission of economic mobility and community empowerment. Preferred Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Experience working with workforce development, financial empowerment, housing, education, or community development organizations. Existing relationships with New York City philanthropic leaders, foundations, corporations, and government partners. Experience supervising development professionals. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) The Director of Development will be evaluated on measurable outcomes including: Annual fundraising revenue achieved. Number of major donor solicitations completed. Number of new major donor prospects identified. Corporate sponsorship revenue. Foundation proposals submitted. Foundation grant dollars awarded. Donor retention rate. Number of CEO donor meetings scheduled. Gala sponsorship revenue. Average gift size. Pipeline growth. Donor stewardship completion rate. Monthly prospecting activity. Return on investment for fundraising activities. Core Competencies Strategic Thinking Relationship Management Prospecting & Business Development Fundraising & Philanthropy Negotiation Public Speaking Executive Presence Leadership Project Management Financial Acumen Communication Collaboration Results Orientation Innovation Mission-Driven Leadership Urban Upbound Leadership Philosophy The Director of Development is expected to help transform Urban Upbound's fundraising model from raising dollars for individual programs to securing investments that fuel a comprehensive economic mobility movement. This leader will cultivate transformational partnerships that enable Urban Upbound to expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and create lasting pathways to financial stability for thousands of New Yorkers each year. Urban Upbound is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$100,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Education:

Bachelor's (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person