Director of Development and External Affairs

Director of Development and External Affairs Position Summary

The Director of Development and External Affairs will lead Public Knowledge’s day‑to‑day fundraising and engagement work, including spearheading an overall strategy; building external funder relationships; and identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.

Full‑time / Exempt

Washington, DC

Chief of Staff

• President & CEO on fundraising strategy, major donor engagement, and overall revenue priorities
• Chief Operating Officer on revenue tracking, development record‑keeping, and grant invoicing to ensure accurate financial documentation and alignment with budget needs
• Communications, Finance, and Policy Teams to align messaging, proposals, and reporting

• Create, implement, and monitor a comprehensive fundraising strategy
• Translate the Public Knowledge mission and programs into fundraising initiatives that garner financial support
• Increase the organization’s annual revenue by over $2 million in 3‑4 years, through revenue from foundations, corporations, and individuals
• Lead and coordinate the development of innovative concepts, grant proposals, and reports; manage the entire process to ensure high‑quality writing and a consistent organizational voice
• Ensure that all fundraising is conducted in a consistent manner according to the organization’s values and funding policies

• Communicate with donors and supporters on a continual basis to establish effective stewardship
• Provide training to empower the Board and Public Knowledge staff to identify funding opportunities and transfer conversations accordingly
• Coordinate virtual and in‑person meetings to cultivate donor and prospect relationships
• Cultivate multiple modes of giving, with a focus on Board giving that appropriately optimizes the Board’s networks
• Coordinate external networks to strengthen participants’ engagement with the organization

• Create a transparent workflow that allows for greater collaboration and education across departments
• Maintain a portfolio of Major Giving donors and prospects, while assisting in the identification and qualification of new donors and prospects
• Ensure proper donor recognition in all publications and oversee accurate donor lists for those publications
• Work with Finance team to prepare annual revenue budgets and track progress toward goals
• Ensure the organization’s fundraising practices comply with all financial and fiduciary best practices
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree, advanced degree, or equivalent lived experience
  • Examples could include nonprofit management, public administration, business administration, communications, finance, accounting, or philanthropic studies
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage, inspire, and connect with diverse stakeholders
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, about Public Knowledge’s fundraising goals and its policy priorities
• Significant writing experience sufficient to produce compelling funding proposals, reports, and donor communications
• Experience with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems, with a willingness to learn new technologies as needed
• Ability to conceive, plan, and execute a major gifts program, including annual giving, special events, and special projects/campaigns
• Experience in developing and operationalizing fundraising strategies to take an organization to a new stage of growth and impact
• Commitment to Public Knowledge’s public interest mission
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to produce high‑quality results on tight deadlines
• Experience with technology policy preferred

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Base annual salary from $100,000 – $121,000 depending on experience, plus excellent benefits and opportunities for professional growth.

Public…