Director of Development

About Us

In 1845, Abigail Hopper Gibbons, Quaker abolitionist and prison reformer, founded The Women’s Prison Association (WPA). Established in response to the overcrowded and inhumane conditions in New York jails, WPA sought to support incarcerated women, who at the time were considered “unredeemable.” It was the first organization dedicated to the rights and rehabilitation of system-involved women.

Today, decarceration is our North Star. Based in New York City, WPA strives to make the incarceration of women obsolete. We operate on a gender-responsive, trauma-informed model of support that provides the essential services justice-impacted women need to remain in their communities, heal, and thrive.

WPA is at an exciting and pivotal moment in its evolution. In 2025, the Board approved a bold and transformative 5-year strategic plan centered around three impact goals:

1. Creating a comprehensive, high-quality service model, prioritizing housing support and essential care for justice-impacted women.
2. Weaving a robust community support network so that justice-impacted women receive the opportunities, services, and gender-responsive care they need.
3. Shifting public opinion and justice system practices and policies so that community-based support, and not incarceration, is the default response to contact with the criminal legal system.

The organization is in the first phase of strategic plan implementation. The Director of Private Giving (DPG) is a new role integral to generating the revenue needed to strengthen and build out our organizational capacity to effectively implement the strategic plan and advance our mission. As a member of the Impact Department, the DPG will report directly to the CIO and work collaboratively with the CEO and Board to develop a robust and successful fundraising plan.

Job Summary:

The Director of Development is a senior development strategist with deep experience creating and executing successful revenue generation in the nonprofit sector. They will lead the organization’s development operations, manage pipelines, and create a strategy and execution plan that supports revenue growth and long-term sustainability. This is an exciting leadership opportunity for a development professional that is motivated to build and lead our fundraising functions during a pivotal time of organizational growth.

The Director of Development will report to the Chief Impact Officer (CIO) and partner closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and staff to strengthen external relationships, expand funding opportunities, and align development efforts with organizational priorities. This role also serves as a key external ambassador to elevate the organization’s visibility and positioning with funders and oversees donor engagement and stewardship strategy, ensuring consistent and strategic cultivation of funders and other donors.

Using data, reporting, and technology, the Director of Development monitors fundraising goals against actuals, oversees and improves development programs tools, and informs strategy to ensure progress toward financial sustainability. This is a leadership role responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of development operations within a human services environment.

Fundraising Strategy & Growth

• Manage the full lifecycle of fundraising efforts, including prospecting, proposal development, submission, compliance and reporting, and closeout
• Oversee the design, implementation, and optimization of donor conversion funnels, leveraging CRM workflows, automation, and data insights to improve fundraising performance
• Define and drive a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities and revenue goals
• Provide strategic direction for donor communications, acknowledgments, and ongoing relationship-building efforts
• Identify, pursue, and secure funding opportunities across grants, foundations, corporate partnerships, and individual giving, events, and other sources

Fundraising Operations& Pipeline Management

• Oversee the development and submission of high-quality grant proposals and funding applications
• Ensure effective systems and processes are in place for grant tracking, reporting requirements, and compliance in coordination with program and finance teams
• Shape and oversee an active and organized pipeline of funding opportunities
• Oversee strategies for donor cultivation, engagement, and retention
• Ensure accurate and organized tracking of fundraising activities, pipelines, and outcomes through appropriate systems and tools
• Oversee private giving revenue and gift processing, ensuring donations are received, processed, reconciled, and acknowledged accurately and in a timely manner.
• Utilize systems and tools such as Salesforce and Zapier to manage donor information, donor funnels, and fundraising data
• Analyze performance and prepare reports to inform leadership and support decision-making

Stakeholder & Funder Management

• Build and maintain high-level relationships with foundation, corporate, individual donors, and government funders
• Partner with the CEO, CIO, and Board to support fundraising strategy, engagement, and relationship management
• Partner with program teams to align funding opportunities with program needs and priorities

External Relations

• Collaborate with Communications to ensure consistent messaging and materials that support fundraising and external engagement
• Work with Impact and Measurement functions to incorporate data and outcomes into proposals, reports, and storytelling
• Provide oversight of fundraising and donor engagement events in coordination with internal teams
• Identify opportunities to increase organizational visibility and strengthen external partnerships
• Stay informed of funding trends, opportunities, and best practices within the nonprofit sector
• Perform other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Certification Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a social justice related field; Master’s degree preferred
• Degree in Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Communications, Business, or a related field a plus

EXPERIENCE REQUIRMENTS:

• Minimum 8+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in developing a revenue generating strategy, grant writing and managing foundation and institutional funding, and the entire lifecycle of a grant
• Proven experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies and managing donor acquisition funnels
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with funders and external stakeholders
• Experience working cross-functionally with program, finance, and communications teams
• Experience in fundraising operations and/or development management
• Strong knowledge of donor databases and fundraising systems such as Salesforce NPSP or similar platforms
• Experience using tools to track fundraising activity, donor information, and reporting
• Familiarity with prospect research tools such as iWave or WealthEngine, fundraising platforms such as Givebutter or Classy, and grant research systems such as Instrumentl or Foundation Directory preferred

COMPETENCIES:

• Strong commitment to social justice and criminal legal reform.
• Ability to define and drive fundraising strategies that align with organizational priorities and deliver measurable results
• Ability to design, manage, and optimize donor conversion funnels to strengthen donor engagement, retention, and long-term giving
• Experience translating program data and outcomes into clear, compelling narratives for proposals, reports, fundraising campaigns, and external communications
• Ability to build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with funders, partners, and external stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and funding streams simultaneously
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop staff, providing clear direction, feedback, and accountability
• Ability to interpret data, track performance, and use insights to inform fundraising strategy and decision making
• Ability to work effectively with program, finance, communications, and leadership teams to align fundraising efforts with organizational needs
• Demonstrates ownership of work, follows through on commitments, and proactively identifies opportunities for growth and improvement
• Commitment to confidentiality, cultural humility, and professional integrity
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, particularly in high pressure or crisis situations

Classification & Work Arrangement

This is an exempt position with a hybrid work arrangement, requiring regular on-site presence of approximately 1–3 days per week. The hybrid schedule and on-site requirements may be adjusted based on business, operational, and organizational needs.

Compensation & Perks:

Compensation for this role is $105,000 - $115,000 annually commensurate with education and experience. WPA offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, employer paid dental insurance, generous paid time off along with 10 paid holidays, including paid holiday week between Christmas & New Year’s Day, 403(b) and paid leave, as well as: