Director of Development

Salary Range:

$120,000–$145,000 annually, based on qualifications and directly related experience

Location:

Hybrid or remote, preferably within Justice North's service area, with travel throughout northern Minnesota as needed

Position Type:

Full-time, exempt

About Justice North

Justice North is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization providing free legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout northern Minnesota. With more than 70 employees, eight offices, and an annual budget of approximately $10 million, Justice North serves 33 counties across more than 52,000 square miles. Our work includes housing, family law, public benefits, consumer rights, elder law, immigration, and other civil legal matters that affect the stability and well-being of the communities we serve.

Following the January 2026 merger of two longstanding legal aid organizations, Justice North is investing in the leadership, systems, and relationships needed to strengthen financial sustainability and expand access to justice.

Position Summary

Justice North seeks a strategic, experienced, and collaborative Director of Development to lead the organization's grants management, fundraising, and revenue development efforts. This newly created position is part of the senior leadership team and will play a critical role in organizational strategy, financial sustainability, and future growth.

The Director of Development will oversee a portfolio of approximately 30–40 active grants from federal, state, local government, private foundation, and other funding sources. This position will also lead efforts to diversify revenue, expand individual giving, strengthen donor and funder relationships, and establish effective development systems and processes.

Reporting to a Co-Executive Director, the Director will supervise the Data and Compliance Manager and Fundraising and Communications Lead. The position will collaborate closely with Finance, legal services leadership, and staff across the organization to align funding strategies with organizational priorities and ensure grant accountability.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and effective leader who is also willing to be hands-on, particularly in developing compelling grant proposals, analyzing financial and program data, and building strong relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Revenue Development

• Serve on Justice North's Director Team, contributing to organizational strategy, budgeting, planning, and decision‑making.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy focused on sustaining existing funding, diversifying revenue, and supporting long‑term financial stability.
• Partner with executive leadership, Finance, and legal services teams to identify funding priorities, assess organizational capacity, and pursue strategic opportunities.
• Develop multiyear revenue projections and funding strategies, identifying renewal opportunities, potential funding gaps, and financial risks.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including collaborative grants and partnerships with other organizations and government entities.

Grants Management and Accountability

• Oversee the full grant lifecycle for approximately 30–40 active grants, including prospecting, proposal development, writing, budgeting, reporting, renewals, and funder relationships.
• Personally lead the development and writing of significant grant proposals, reports, and other funding requests.
• Collaborate with the Director of Finance on grant budgets, financial reporting, revenue forecasting, and funding restrictions.
• Develop and maintain effective grant management systems to track deadlines, deliverables, expenditures, and compliance requirements.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for grant‑funded activities, partnering with legal services leadership and staff to ensure grant commitments are met.
• Train and support staff in understanding grant requirements, documenting outcomes, and taking ownership of grant‑funded projects.

Fundraising, Donor Development, and Communications

• Lead strategies to expand individual giving, strengthen donor retention, cultivate major gifts, and grow unrestricted revenue.
• Oversee fundraising initiatives, including the annual fundraising event, smaller events, sponsorships, and giving campaigns.
• Develop and maintain relationships with institutional funders, individual donors, community partners, and other supporters.
• Oversee the effective use of Justice North's donor management system to support fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and performance tracking.
• Collaborate with staff to translate organizational data, client outcomes, and impact stories into compelling grant proposals, donor communications, and funding presentations.
• Partner with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to support board involvement in fundraising and donor cultivation.

Team Leadership and Organizational Collaboration

• Supervise and support the Data and Compliance Manager and Fundraising and Communications Lead, establishing clear priorities, expectations, and performance measures.
• Build strong working relationships across departments and strengthen coordination among Development, Finance, and legal services teams.
• Promote shared accountability, proactive communication, and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate and improve development processes, technology, and reporting systems to increase efficiency and organizational effectiveness.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit development, grants management, fundraising, or a related field, including leadership and supervisory experience.
• Experience managing federal, state, and local government grants with complex reporting and compliance requirements.
• Experience working in legal aid, public interest, human services, or similarly complex nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated success managing complex grant portfolios and securing institutional funding.
• Exceptional writing skills, including significant experience developing competitive grant proposals, reports, and compelling funding narratives.
• Strong strategic planning, financial analysis, budgeting, and organizational management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with funders, donors, community partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Experience supervising professional staff and leading collaborative, cross‑departmental initiatives.
• Strong technological proficiency, including experience with grant management systems, donor databases, spreadsheets, and data analysis tools.
• Ability to use program data, financial information, and measurable outcomes to inform strategy and communicate organizational impact.
• Excellent judgment, organization, and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Commitment to Justice North's mission and the communities we serve.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success growing individual giving or other philanthropic revenue.
• Experience implementing or improving grant management and development systems.
• Knowledge of Minnesota's nonprofit, philanthropic, and public funding landscape.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

Why This Position Matters

Justice North has grown significantly in size, reach, and complexity. With a substantial grant portfolio, an expanding network of community partners, and opportunities to grow individual giving, the organization is ready to take a more coordinated and strategic approach to development.

This position offers an opportunity to shape a new department, build systems that strengthen organizational accountability, and serve as a key member of the leadership team. Success in this role means protecting and growing existing funding, developing new revenue streams, strengthening relationships with supporters, and ensuring Justice North has the resources to expand access to justice throughout northern Minnesota.

Compensation and Benefits

Justice North offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including employer-supported health insurance, retirement contributions, generous paid leave, and flexible work arrangements. Full-time employees work a standard 35-hour week.

Justice North is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Justice North is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the application or hiring process may contact Justice North Human Resources.