Taxpayers for Common Sense — Director of Development

Taxpayers for Common Sense

Director of Development

Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) seeks a Director of Development to provide vision and leadership in designing and executing the overall fundraising and marketing strategy for the organization.

Founded in Founded in 1995, Taxpayers for Common Sense, a 501(c) (3) nonpartisan budget watchdog, serves as an independent voice for American taxpayers. Our mission is to ensure that the federal government spends taxpayer dollars responsibly and operates within its means. At TCS, we believe that government waste costs more than just money. Misguided government subsidies do more harm than good by endangering public health, aggravating social and economic problems, and undermining true national security. We fight for a smart government that lives within its means. We believe in making decisions based on evidence and value. We believe that the decisions on how to spend our tax money should be transparent. And we believe we have a right – and a duty –to demand excellence and accountability from our government.

The core strategy of TCS has remained the same throughout our history: we eschew ideology and work with

individuals and organizations from all political perspectives in order to build support for common sense reforms. TCS works to transcend partisanship and attract the widest possible audience to help build something Americans can believe in: a government that inspires trust and makes more sense. TCS empowers the national and local media and citizen activists by providing them with the information, insight and necessary tools to help them report on and advocate for responsible spending priorities.

Additional information about TCS and our work may be found at: www.taxpayer.net.

Job Description:

Partnering with the Executive Director and staff, the Director of Development will lead and implement a program that currently raises over $2 million in foundation grants and individual donations.   This is a senior position in a highly effective, well respected and growing organization with a healthy financial position. The Director of Development will capitalize on our strong organizational position to manage, cultivate and steward the current donor base, while growing new financial support. Primary focus areas include creating a compelling development strategy, continuing institutional support, and developing a robust individual donor program.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing an integrated development program including foundations and individual donors. (TCS does not accept funding from corporations, labor unions, or government sources).
• Identifying strategies for expanding general support, both through expanding individual donations and creating a plan to market TCS’s work to attract broad, flexible foundation support.
• Writing compelling funding proposals, foundation reports, and regular communications for funders.
• Managing calendar of foundation proposals and reports, ensuring program staff is aware of all deadlines.
• Expanding TCS individual giving program both among major and lower dollar donors. Work with the Communications Director to develop marketing and outreach strategies (including budgeting for acquisition) to reach new potential donors.
• Producing regular financial reports and budgets for the President, board, and funders.

Qualifications include:

• Demonstrated experience in managing and implementing a successful fundraising program.
• A minimum of 7 years of fundraising experience.
• An understanding and commitment to TCS’ nonpartisan approach. Ability and willingness to work with people across the political spectrum.
• Experience fundraising in the policy, advocacy, and research arena is preferred.
• Exceptional writing skills. Strong oral communications, relationship building, and people skills.
• Ability to set and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated success in learning the details of an organization’s substantive work and applying that knowledge in drafting materials that communicate the organization’s achievements and mission.
• Ability to manage up, down, and laterally to engage colleagues in the collective task of fundraising.
• Track record of taking initiative and working independently.
• Honed organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Persistence, a sense of humor, and a willingness to pitch in as a member of small but highly dynamic team.

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter that outlines your interest in joining TCS, relevant work experience, and how you learned of the position; resume; and salary requirements to: jobs@taxpayer.net, subject line: TCS – Director of Development. No phone calls please.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

TCS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status in employment or the provision of services and benefits.