Development & Partnerships Director at Data for Progress | Remote Opportunity | Apply by 14 July 2026

The Development and Partnerships Director role at Data for Progress represents a high-impact leadership position within a mission-driven research organization focused on shaping public opinion and advancing progressive policy solutions. The organization is widely recognized for producing rigorous polling, message testing, focus groups, and analytical research that helps advocacy groups, policymakers, and movements make evidence-based decisions.

This role sits at the intersection of fundraising strategy, partnership development, and organizational growth, requiring a leader capable of driving revenue generation while strengthening long-term institutional relationships.

About Data for Progress and Its Mission

Data for Progress is a research organization dedicated to measuring and moving public opinion through high-quality data and policy analysis. Its work supports progressive movements by translating complex political and social issues into actionable insights.

The organization focuses on:

• Public opinion polling on key policy issues
• Message testing to support advocacy campaigns
• Focus groups to understand voter perspectives
• Research-backed policy analysis
• Strategic communication support for progressive movements

By combining rigorous research methods with practical political application, the organization plays a critical role in shaping modern progressive strategy.

Role Overview: Development and Partnerships Director

The Development and Partnerships Director is responsible for leading all fundraising and partnership efforts across both the organization’s 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities. This includes designing development strategies, managing donor relationships, and expanding institutional support.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading overall fundraising strategy and execution
• Managing relationships with foundations, donors, and institutional partners
• Developing long-term partnership pipelines across sectors
• Aligning fundraising strategy with organizational priorities
• Supporting grant writing and donor communication strategies
• Identifying new funding opportunities in the progressive ecosystem
• Overseeing revenue growth across multiple funding streams

This role is central to ensuring financial sustainability while enabling the organization to scale its research and policy influence.

Core Skills and Experience Required

The ideal candidate is typically an experienced development professional with a strong background in nonprofit fundraising, partnerships, and strategic communications.

Essential qualifications include:

• Proven experience in fundraising or development leadership roles
• Strong track record in securing institutional and philanthropic funding
• Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships
• Ability to design and implement long-term fundraising strategies
• Strong written communication and proposal development skills
• Familiarity with political or policy-oriented organizations (preferred)
• Experience working across 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) structures (advantageous)

In addition, strong analytical thinking and the ability to interpret policy-driven research are considered valuable assets in this role.

Key Responsibilities in Practice

In day-to-day operations, the Development and Partnerships Director engages in a wide range of strategic and operational tasks.

These include:

• Developing donor engagement strategies tailored to different funding audiences
• Writing and reviewing grant proposals and funding applications
• Maintaining relationships with high-value donors and institutional funders
• Collaborating with research and communications teams to craft impact narratives
• Monitoring fundraising performance and reporting on revenue progress
• Representing the organization in donor meetings and strategic discussions

The role requires both high-level strategic thinking and hands-on execution.

Strategic Importance of the Role

The Development and Partnerships Director plays a critical role in ensuring that Data for Progress can continue producing high-quality, independent research. Without sustained funding and strong partnerships, the organization’s ability to influence public discourse and policy outcomes would be limited.

The position contributes to:

• Expanding the organization’s research capacity
• Increasing the reach of progressive policy messaging
• Strengthening institutional credibility in the policy space
• Supporting long-term financial sustainability
• Enhancing collaboration across progressive networks

By securing diversified funding sources, the director helps reduce financial risk while enabling innovation in research methodologies.

Compensation and Organizational Structure

The role offers a competitive salary range of $115,000–$130,000, depending on experience. It is a full-time, exempt position and sits outside the bargaining unit.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of July 14, 2026.

Applicants are required to submit:

• A resume
• A statement of interest (maximum 400 words)
• A professional writing sample (1–2 pages), such as a donor memo or proposal excerpt

No cover letter is required, and applications are evaluated based on demonstrated experience and writing quality.

Why This Role Matters

The Development and Partnerships Director role is more than a fundraising position—it is a strategic leadership function that enables evidence-based political research to reach wider audiences and influence decision-making processes.

The broader impact includes:

• Strengthening democratic engagement through data-driven insights
• Supporting progressive advocacy organizations with actionable research
• Ensuring that public opinion research remains accessible and affordable
• Building bridges between researchers, funders, and policymakers

Conclusion

The Development and Partnerships Director position at Data for Progress offers an opportunity to shape the future of progressive research funding and partnership development. Through strategic leadership, relationship management, and fundraising expertise, the role ensures that high-quality research continues to inform policy debates and support movements working toward social and political change.

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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of  emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.