Organization Overview
Climate Defiance is a bold and strategic nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the urgent climate crisis in the United States. The organization works to end reliance on fossil fuels and elevate climate change as a top political and social priority through a combination of mass mobilization, nonviolent direct action, and strategic communications. Climate Defiance engages communities, policymakers, and activists to hold decision-makers accountable, advocating for systemic change at a national level. Their approach is unapologetically ambitious, focused on both grassroots energy and high-profile public visibility.
Founded with a vision to drive measurable impact on climate policy and awareness, Climate Defiance has successfully developed an effective event model, featuring prominent speakers including climate leaders, legal experts, progressive politicians, and cultural figures. The organization is seeking a Director of Development to play a central role in strengthening its fundraising capacity and ensuring the sustainability of its programs.
Position Overview
The Director of Development will serve as a senior fundraising strategist, responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive development program that includes major gifts, mid-level donations, and small-donor engagement. This role requires a strategic thinker who can also execute, combining vision with operational expertise. The Director will work closely with the Executive Director and other leadership team members to build relationships with donors, develop fundraising strategies, and oversee the day-to-day operations of the development function.
This position is ideal for an experienced fundraising professional who is passionate about climate advocacy and is energized by working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. Candidates should have experience managing portfolios of individual donors, securing major gifts, and building sustainable fundraising infrastructure for growing nonprofit organizations. The position is remote, but candidates should be located in or near Philadelphia, PA, or other major U.S. cities due to frequent travel for donor meetings and events.
Key Responsibilities
The Director of Development will take a leading role in building and managing Climate Defiance’s donor programs. Responsibilities include:
- Fundraising Strategy and Donor Portfolio Management
- Develop and execute a strategy to grow the organization’s individual donor program, with a focus on four- and five-figure gifts.
- Manage a portfolio of 75+ current and prospective donors, cultivating relationships through in-person meetings, phone calls, virtual conversations, and written communications.
- Identify new donor prospects through events, supporter databases, and other research, ensuring a robust and expanding donor pipeline.
- Support small donor fundraising campaigns and initiatives to broaden the organization’s base of individual supporters.
- Team Leadership and Collaboration
- Supervise a development team member responsible for event planning and a smaller portfolio, providing mentorship, training, and ongoing support.
- Collaborate with the Executive Director to strengthen their fundraising efforts, preparing them for high-value donor conversations and solicitations.
- Actively participate in organizational leadership, contributing strategic insights to guide organizational priorities and fundraising initiatives.
- Systems, Operations, and Data Management
- Build and maintain systems to track donor relationships, gifts, and engagement activities.
- Ensure accurate and efficient use of the donor database, analyzing trends and metrics to improve fundraising effectiveness.
- Develop stewardship workflows that ensure donors feel valued and engaged, enhancing long-term retention and loyalty.
- Event and Donor Engagement
- Attend and engage in donor-facing events, facilitating introductions, one-on-one meetings, and relationship-building opportunities.
- Represent Climate Defiance with professionalism, clarity, and discretion at high-profile gatherings and public events.
Qualifications
- Minimum of five years of experience in nonprofit development and individual giving programs, with demonstrated success managing donor portfolios.
- Proven ability to secure major gifts, ideally in the range of four- and five-figure donations.
- Experience cultivating and stewarding meaningful relationships with donors, including identifying high-capacity prospects.
- Results-driven, entrepreneurial mindset, capable of thriving in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
- Willingness to travel frequently (35–50%) to support donor meetings and events.
Preferred Qualifications
- Eleven or more years of experience in fundraising is preferred but not required.
- Background in advocacy, grassroots organizing, or campaign-based nonprofit work.
- Experience fundraising specifically for environmental causes or climate change initiatives.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary ranges from $80,000 to $100,000, depending on experience. Benefits include unlimited vacation (with 20 days plus Christmas week encouraged), comprehensive group health coverage, and a 401(k) plan with a 7% employer contribution. The position is remote, with a preference for candidates in major urban areas to facilitate travel for events and donor meetings.
Application Process
Candidates interested in applying must submit their application to https://www.climatedefiance.org/jobs. Select the Director of Development position and click “Apply To Position.” Applications are due by Monday, April 20, 2026.
Climate Defiance is an Equal Opportunity Employer, actively encouraging applications from individuals historically underrepresented in nonprofit leadership, including women, gender non-conforming individuals, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
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