The Organization
As one of the first Hispanic-led Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) programs for youth in the country, for over 40 years, Avenues for Justice (AFJ) has diverted thousands of Participants, ages 13 – 24, across New York City from a punitive criminal justice system to our community-based support program designed to help them lead successful lives. In addition to our core program of court advocacy, we provide our HIRE UP programs on a hybrid online and in-person platform at our Harlem and Lower East Side Community Centers for workforce training, education, mental health wellness and mentoring. AFJ works with nearly 400 participants each year who are ATI court-involved, diversion, formerly incarcerated, in the process of reentry or at-risk of contact with law enforcement or involvement with the criminal justice system. On average, only 6% of our ATI court-involved Participants are reconvicted within three years of enrollment to our program.
Position Overview
Overview of the Position: The Development Manager will support the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in implementing corporate, foundation, government, special events and individual funding strategies at Avenues for Justice. They will be responsible for writing high-quality and compelling correspondence, letters of inquiry, proposals, and grant reports for institutional funders, managing the proposal writing process, maintaining a comprehensive monthly foundation tracker and identifying new mission-aligned prospects. Additionally, the Development Manager will support the COO in maintaining and evolving Avenues for Justice’s approach to a robust fundraising program that raises over $2 million annually through a combination of major gifts, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, and fundraising special events. The Development Manager will manage a small, but mighty fundraising team charged with maintaining and evolving Avenues for Justice’s creative approach to increasing revenue and in-kind support to fulfill the organization’s mission.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
· Researches, identifies, and cultivates new donor prospects, performs high-quality and strategic prospect research
● Gathers grant information internally and through market research. Prepares draft and final proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, correspondence, and other accompanying materials, including budgets and financial attachments.
● Works with COO, development consultants and program staff to develop persuasive proposal strategies, narratives, and language for new programs and initiatives.
● Help to create and maintain a robust and accurate grant proposal template to streamline the grant writing process at Avenues for Justice.
● Maintains an accurate grants calendar, tracking all grant deliverables and timelines. Ensures that all institutional gifts and activities are properly entered in the AFJ tracker and database.
● Interacts with funders via email, phone, and in-person (as needed) to develop and deepen relationships through formal and informal touchpoints and stewardship.
● Works with the COO and development consultants to enhance fundraising operations.
● Assists the COO and the development team in the development and creation of all press materials, publications, including press releases, publications, annual report, and weekly newsletter/blog.
● Assists the Communications and Data Specialist in maintaining the website and utilizing social marketing tools to generate visibility for the organization’s messaging initiatives.
● Promotes visibility and support through ongoing networking with funding sources, government agencies, and other potential corporate partners as assigned by the COO.
● Assists the COO in the development of all donor reports, monthly and quarterly fundraising reports, and budget modifications.
● Assist the COO and development consultant in supporting all Board of Director, Board committee and Advisory Council activities, including sending out meeting notices, developing agendas, development and program reports; monthly board correspondence updates and preparing supporting materials.
● Work with development team and event planner in all fundraising initiatives, including grant writing, special events, holiday/end-of-year appeal, planned individual giving campaign, donor cultivation and acknowledgement.
● Take an active role in identifying and cultivating new funding sources.
● Track and report on all fundraising expenses by reconciling database with bookkeeper.
● Plan and create materials and coordinating details for agency special events.
● Support the Junior Board’s efforts, such as cultivation events, fundraisers, and other initiatives that help to raise the organization’s profile.
● Arranges and preparing for visits from individual donors and institutional funders.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.
QUALIFICATIONS
Commitment to our hashtags of #ServicesNotCells and #JobsNotJails. Our goal is to keep youth and young adults out of prison through a three-fold mission to: 1. Intervene to divert and reclaim young people from lives of crime. 2. Provide an overloaded court system a reliable alternative to incarceration. 3. Make New York City a safer place for everyone.
● 5-8 years of nonprofit fundraising, development and program experience in institutional and individual giving is highly desirable.
● Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
● Donor database experience is required
● Excellent prioritization and organization skills and a proven ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
● Excellent written communication skills with the ability to connect to a variety of audiences
● Superior interpersonal skills, engaging professionally with colleagues, donors, and community members
● Respect for confidentiality of donor information and a strong sense for donor ethics
● Outstanding project management skills with careful attention to detail and can manage multiple projects simultaneously
● Proven strength in administration, financial management, human resources management, program development, board support, special events, public relations, social marketing, technology and fundraising is required.
● Is passionate about and committed to working in the nonprofit sector.
● Proven strength in administration, financial management, program development, board support, special events, public relations, social marketing, technology and fundraising is required.
● Strong computer literacy in Word, Excel, Salesforce, QuickBooks, etc.
● Knowledge of website development and social media; Word Press strongly preferred.
● Ability to work autonomously; think strategically; and be proactive.
● Must demonstrate flexibility, professionalism, creativity, compassion & a sense of humor.
● Can foster and maintain a positive morale and a sense of teamwork among staff
● Spanish fluency is a plus.
Full time, Monday-Friday schedule; with virtual/remote work flexibility, some occasional evening work and weekend work will be required.
How To Apply
All interested candidates should email a 1) cover letter; 2) resume; and 3) one to two samples of grants proposals and/or development fundraising reports to: info@avenuesforjustice.org