Development Officer

We Make The Future and We Make the Future Action (WMTF/A) is an implementation home for the Race Class Narrative (RCN) and other empirically based messaging research. We integrate strategic communications with coalition building to drive legislative, electoral and cultural progress. By collaborating with researchers, content creators, and community-based organizations, we help social justice leaders tell compelling, evidence-based stories that advance a better future for people of all races, abilities, and genders.

We execute our work via three core pillars.

1. Support and fund participatory research and messaging development - commission and guide evidence-based public opinion research that builds a multiracial movement. This research centers People of Color while also motivating and persuading as many white people as possible on our solutions.

2. Recruit and build alignment among partner organizations at the national, state, and local level - create a community of aligned movement organizations at the local, state, and national level who can be the repeaters of a shared narrative and messaging that addresses race and class.

3. Implement research by creating and adapting content for organizing, communications, and policy - create a bridge between research and implementation, by working with partners to produce, distribute, and inspire content for their respective communities.

The Development Officer will work closely with the Co-Executive Directors to ensure WMTF/A attracts and maintains donors that support our strategic plans. This dynamic and strategic Development Officer will oversee the entire grant cycle—from research and funder cultivation to application and reporting—ensuring that WMTF/A meets all funder commitments and stays on track. They play a key role in ensuring the organization is financially sustainable.

Primary responsibility is to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, and special events.

• Partner with the Co-Executive Directors to create a fundraising strategic plan for the next 3–5 years.
• Lead the creation and implementation of a comprehensive prospecting plan, overseeing the research and identification of potential new funding partners to meet the short and long term strategic needs of the organization.
• Track ongoing progress to fundraising goals, assess progress, and troubleshoot as needed.
• Collaborate with team members to leverage their insights in creating compelling grant proposals, reports, and fundraising materials, while identifying impactful stories and highlights to attract new donors and expand our support base.

• Direct a portfolio of existing and new foundations, corporate, and individual relationships to meet annual fundraising goals by end of fiscal year.
• Serve as the primary point of contact to foundation partners, ensuring responsiveness, strengthening relationships, and keeping them informed of our work.
• Serve as a thought partner and support to the Co-EDs to ensure their time is best leveraged in fundraising, primarily around donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Schedule, prep, and accompany Co-EDs and other staff for funder meetings, so they are equipped to deliver compelling and effective pitches, updates, and report-outs.
• Represent WMTF/A at key donor and foundation meetings and events and collaborate with Co-EDs and other staff to design briefings for foundations and other external stakeholders.
• Own all grant writing, reporting, and other materials to keep our funders informed and engaged in our work.
• Work with team members to incorporate their insights into grant writing, reporting, fundraising materials, and external communications, and to surface impactful highlights and stories.

• Develop and maintain accurate donor data and grant management systems to ensure timely follow-through on communications and commitments.
• Oversee tracking and documentation of grant deliverables.
• Maintain a calendar of grant proposals and…