Director of Development & Communications at The War Horse

The War Horse strengthens our democracy by holding the powerful accountable and improving the public’s understanding of the true cost of military service. We publish hard-hitting investigations, vivid features, and first-person reflections that have a lasting positive impact on service members, their families, and the public.

We are seeking a highly collaborative Director of Development & Communications to lead and integrate our fundraising and communications strategies at a pivotal moment of growth. This leader will drive revenue generation while shaping how The War Horse tells its story—ensuring that our impact, journalism, and voice resonate deeply with donors, partners, and the broader public.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker and creative problem-solver who can align development and communications to expand our reach, strengthen our brand, and grow a sustainable base of support.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Development & Communications will lead The War Horse’s fundraising strategy, the growth of our development team, and the maximization of stewardship, identifying new prospects and forging dynamic partnerships, while raising $2-2.5M on an annual basis.

Integrated Strategy & Organizational Leadership

• Lead a unified development and communications strategy that drives revenue growth, strengthens brand visibility, and deepens audience and donor engagement
• Set and oversee ambitious and realistic fundraising and communications goals aligned with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability
• Serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, growth, partnerships, and culture
• Ensure alignment between editorial impact, audience growth, and revenue strategy while maintaining clear boundaries around editorial independence

Development Strategy & Revenue Growth

• Oversee the growth and management of the funding pipeline, ensuring sustainable increases to the number, value, and sources of support
• Create multi-faceted fundraising strategies for every level of donor that include consistent stewardship, proactive communication, and compelling messaging
• Build and manage relationships with major donors, foundations, and partners; lead the development of major proposals, reports, and stewardship strategies
• Partner with leadership to align fundraising initiatives with short- and long-term product and programmatic goals
• Partner with the board to strengthen fundraising engagement, including supporting a Board Philanthropy Committee that shepherds an annual “Give/Get” program among members
• Liaise with the board of directors on fundraising matters, including through quarterly updates about major donor conversations, events, and grant opportunities

Communications & Narrative Leadership

• Lead The War Horse’s external communications strategy, including brand positioning, messaging, and storytelling
• Shape and elevate how the organization communicates its impact to donors, partners, and the public, including but not limited to an Annual Report, Quarterly Impact Reports, and cases for support (written and visual)
• Oversee the development of compelling, cohesive messaging across donor communications, newsletters, and public-facing materials
• Design and lead integrated campaigns that connect fundraising goals with storytelling and audience engagement, and inspire major and multi-year gifts
• Develop innovative approaches to membership and donor engagement that strengthen long-term support
• Oversee the design and maintenance of external communications platforms and tools (e.g., website, social media, newsletters) to ensure community accessibility and engagement

Project & Event Management

• Oversee departmental and project budgets; shape data-driven organizational projections
• Oversee the strategy and execution of events that deepen relationships with donors and expand The War Horse’s network
• Manage cross-team projects to facilitate development-related proposals, reports, and events
• Collaborate with leadership and staff to demonstrate to donors how their gifts support high-quality journalism, while maintaining clear boundaries between editorial independence and revenue generation

Administration, Systems & Management

• Lead a newly aligned Development and Communications team; design, recruit, and manage new hires who will assist with scaling community engagement, fundraising efforts, grant management, internal and external communications, membership strategy, and data management
• Manage the organization’s online giving platforms and profiles (e.g., GoFundMe Pro, Charity Navigator, Candid, Benevity, PayPal)
• Help design the structure and oversee the maintenance of the CRM, ensuring appropriate data management, accurate documentation of gifts, and analysis of giving trends
• Oversee a connected development tech stack that delivers strong donor data, automations, and impact measurement tracking with ease

QUALIFICATIONS

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual with extensive fundraising and management experience to grow in a bold organization with a decade of impact. We seek someone who:

• Has at least eight years of fundraising and communications experience with direct responsibility for prospecting, stewarding, and managing a portfolio of individual and institutional donors.
• Has management and strategic planning experience, and works effectively as an individual contributor and team member; is self-directed, independent, and collaborative with a multidisciplinary team.
• Views fundraising as an opportunity to nurture your talents and be deeply invested in sharing them to benefit the professional growth of the members of The War Horse team.
• Embraces creativity and experimentation, with a thoughtful approach to resource allocation that balances investment in new ideas and in our core work.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time, salaried, remote position. Compensation is $127,000 to $134,000 per year, along with a growing benefits package that includes a 401 (k) with matching, employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision coverage, digital privacy services, and more.

APPLY

To have a direct impact on the veterans and military families we serve, submit your cover letter and resume to View email address on click.appcast.io.