Development Director

About the Role

Data for Progress is seeking a Development and Partnerships Director to lead the organization’s fundraising and partnerships work across our 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4).

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development and Partnerships Director will play a central role in strengthening and growing the organization’s funding through foundation fundraising, major and small donor cultivation, institutional partnerships, and selected fee-for-service opportunities aligned with the organization’s mission and capacity. The Director will identify, cultivate, and advance key funding opportunities; grow and manage a portfolio of donors and institutional partners; and support the Executive Director and relevant staff in prospecting, stewardship, and relationship management over time.

This role will work closely with staff across the organization to strengthen fundraising systems, improve stewardship and reporting, and ensure Data for Progress is well-positioned to communicate the impact of its work. The Director will also work closely with the Communications Director to strengthen external materials, and with the COO and relevant staff to support revenue planning, grant management systems, and longer-term fundraising strategy.

The ideal candidate will be a strong fundraiser and relationship-builder with excellent judgment, operational discipline, and the ability to build trust with donors and partners across the progressive ecosystem. They will bring a proactive, thoughtful approach to identifying opportunities, moving them forward, and building lasting relationships that support the organization’s long-term growth and impact.

Location

Data for Progress is a remote-first organization. Staff have the option to work in person at our Washington, D.C., office.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the organization’s fundraising and partnerships pipeline across c3 and c4 work, including philanthropic and selected fee-for-service opportunities to support a $4+ million budget
• Identify, cultivate, and advance new and existing opportunities across foundation grants, individual giving, institutional partnerships, and selected fee-for-service opportunities
• Grow and manage a portfolio of donors and institutional partners
• Build and maintain systems for tracking opportunities, deadlines, next steps, renewals, and relationship history
• Own proposal and reporting calendars, and coordinate with internal teams to gather needed information and move proposals and reports forward
• Ensure timely stewardship, reporting, and relationship follow-up
• Prepare the Executive Director for key meetings, asks, and closing opportunities while independently managing and leading funder conversations as appropriate
• Work with internal leadership to align new opportunities with organizational priorities and capacity
• Help manage and advance partnership inquiries and selected fee-for-service opportunities in coordination with the Executive Director, COO, and relevant staff
• Work closely with the Communications Director to strengthen external materials and better communicate the impact of Data for Progress’s work to funders and partners
• Partner with the COO and relevant staff on revenue planning, grant management systems, and longer-term fundraising strategy

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in fundraising, development, partnerships, external affairs, or revenue development
• Strong track record of managing fundraising pipelines, donor or partner relationships, and proposal processes
• Experience securing or advancing foundation, donor, or institutional funding opportunities
• Strong writing and communication skills, including experience preparing proposals, donor materials, or external-facing communications
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple opportunities and deadlines at once
• Experience coordinating across internal teams to move opportunities from prospecting through stewardship and reporting
• Ability to work effectively with senior leadership in a fast-paced environment
• Strong judgment, initiative, and follow-through
• Commitment to progressive values and to the mission of a progressive organization

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit development and institutional fundraising
• Experience working across multi-entity or mixed-revenue organizations
• Experience in political, advocacy, research, public policy, or other mission-driven environments
• Experience with small-dollar fundraising strategies, including building email lists and creating giving campaigns
• Experience managing both philanthropic and partnership-based revenue opportunities
• Experience working in or alongside progressive organizations
• Familiarity with polling, research, or communications-driven organizations

Equal Opportunity

Data for Progress is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status.

If you are excited about this role but do not meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply.

To Apply

Please fill out form to submit your application, which will include:

• A resume
• A brief statement of interest (no more than 400 words) describing why this role interests you and how your experience prepares you to lead development and partnerships in a progressive research organization
• One 1-2 page sample that reflects your professional writing. This could be a proposal excerpt, donor memo, partnership memo, or another relevant piece of fundraising-focused writing. Confidential information may be redacted

No cover letter is required. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

Application closes July 20, 2026 at 1pm EDT.