Summary Description
The Director of Development is responsible for building, executing, and scaling a comprehensive, year-round fundraising and donor engagement strategy to fuel long-term growth and policy impact. This role owns the development function end-to-end—strategy, execution, and results, and serves as a core member of the organization’s senior leadership team.
Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Development works closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership to cultivate high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and institutional partners. This role plays a critical role in advancing our public policy agenda by translating impact, ideas, and outcomes into compelling philanthropic partnerships.
The Director of Development is a highly visible, externally facing leader who represents the Cicero Institute nationally to donors, partners, and influencers across civic, business, and technology communities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Design and execute a comprehensive, multi-channel development strategy encompassing major gifts, foundations, events, and strategic partnerships.
Own fundraising performance, including goal-setting, pipeline development, forecasting, and reporting.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders, with an emphasis on leadership and transformational gifts.
Build and manage a robust donor pipeline that supports sustained growth and long-term financial stability.
Donor Relations & Stewardship
Develop and oversee a disciplined donor stewardship program that ensures consistent engagement, transparency, and impact reporting.
Personally manage relationships with top-tier donors and prospects.
Ensure donors have a clear understanding of the organization’s mission, policy priorities, and measurable outcomes.
Leadership & Board Partnership
Serve as a strategic partner to the President on fundraising strategy, donor messaging, and high-level solicitations.
Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors to activate networks, support donor outreach, and deepen relationships.
Prepare high-quality briefing materials, talking points, and strategy memos for leadership and board engagement.
Events & External Engagement
Plan and execute high-impact fundraising events, briefings, and convenings across the country.
Represent the Institute at national conferences, donor meetings, and external events.
Serve as a public-facing representative of the Institute to donors and partners.
Policy Integration and Narrative Alignment
Translate complex public policy goals and outcomes into compelling, donor-facing narratives.
Engage funders interested in policy reform, civic innovation, and systemic change.
Coordinate closely with policy, communications, and leadership teams to ensure alignment between fundraising efforts and organizational priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS Required
Proven success in business development and/or nonprofit, political, or issue-based fundraising.
Demonstrated success securing major gifts and managing senior donor relationships.
Experience working with or supporting public policy, advocacy, or civic-focused organizations.
Proven ability to cultivate relationships with senior leaders, philanthropists, and institutional partners.
Strong comfort serving as a public-facing representative and spokesperson.
Willingness and ability to travel extensively.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
High level of professionalism, discretion, and judgment.
Preferred
Experience working directly with a board of directors.
Background in policy, government, campaigns, or issue advocacy.
Familiarity with fundraising CRM systems and donor analytics.
Key Attributes
Strategic, entrepreneurial, and results-oriented
Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
Relationship-driven with strong interpersonal instincts
Mission-aligned and able to communicate complex policy ideas clearly
Confident engaging senior leaders, executives, and philanthropists
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Stay Informed Sign up to receive updates about our fight for policies at the state level that restore liberty through transparency and accountability in American governance.
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Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Development works closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership to cultivate high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and institutional partners. This role plays a critical role in advancing our public policy agenda by translating impact, ideas, and outcomes into compelling philanthropic partnerships.
The Director of Development is a highly visible, externally facing leader who represents the Cicero Institute nationally to donors, partners, and influencers across civic, business, and technology communities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Design and execute a comprehensive, multi-channel development strategy encompassing major gifts, foundations, events, and strategic partnerships.
Own fundraising performance, including goal-setting, pipeline development, forecasting, and reporting.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders, with an emphasis on leadership and transformational gifts.
Build and manage a robust donor pipeline that supports sustained growth and long-term financial stability.
Donor Relations & Stewardship
Develop and oversee a disciplined donor stewardship program that ensures consistent engagement, transparency, and impact reporting.
Personally manage relationships with top-tier donors and prospects.
Ensure donors have a clear understanding of the organization’s mission, policy priorities, and measurable outcomes.
Leadership & Board Partnership
Serve as a strategic partner to the President on fundraising strategy, donor messaging, and high-level solicitations.
Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors to activate networks, support donor outreach, and deepen relationships.
Prepare high-quality briefing materials, talking points, and strategy memos for leadership and board engagement.
Events & External Engagement
Plan and execute high-impact fundraising events, briefings, and convenings across the country.
Represent the Institute at national conferences, donor meetings, and external events.
Serve as a public-facing representative of the Institute to donors and partners.
Policy Integration and Narrative Alignment
Translate complex public policy goals and outcomes into compelling, donor-facing narratives.
Engage funders interested in policy reform, civic innovation, and systemic change.
Coordinate closely with policy, communications, and leadership teams to ensure alignment between fundraising efforts and organizational priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS Required
Proven success in business development and/or nonprofit, political, or issue-based fundraising.
Demonstrated success securing major gifts and managing senior donor relationships.
Experience working with or supporting public policy, advocacy, or civic-focused organizations.
Proven ability to cultivate relationships with senior leaders, philanthropists, and institutional partners.
Strong comfort serving as a public-facing representative and spokesperson.
Willingness and ability to travel extensively.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
High level of professionalism, discretion, and judgment.
Preferred
Experience working directly with a board of directors.
Background in policy, government, campaigns, or issue advocacy.
Familiarity with fundraising CRM systems and donor analytics.
Key Attributes
Strategic, entrepreneurial, and results-oriented
Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
Relationship-driven with strong interpersonal instincts
Mission-aligned and able to communicate complex policy ideas clearly
Confident engaging senior leaders, executives, and philanthropists
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Stay Informed Sign up to receive updates about our fight for policies at the state level that restore liberty through transparency and accountability in American governance.
#J-18808-Ljbffr