Managing Director of Advancement

THE CHISHOLM LEGACY PROJECT SUMMARY:

The mission of the Chisholm Legacy Project is rooted in the Just Transition Framework. The project serves as a vehicle to connect Black communities on the frontlines of climate justice with resources to traverse the path from vision to strategy to action plan to implementation to transformation. In support of frontline leadership, the project seeks to link movements and mainstream entities with the tools necessary to advance systems change centered in equity and justice. With Black women on the frontlines of advancing systems change, this project ensures that these leaders have the support they need as they transform society from extractivism to a living economy that cares for sacred relationships between people and with Mother Earth, through regenerative, cooperative, democratic systems.

SUMMARY OF the POSITION:

The organization seeks a Managing Director of Advancement (MDA) with a commitment to supporting Black Liberation and a willingness to be on a learning journey joining an institution that is grounded in Black Liberation, Climate Justice, and Just Transition. The central focus of the MDA is to lead the development and communications functions of the organization within an integrated strategic framework aligned to advance systems change toward a Just Transition. The MDA will accomplish this by increasing awareness of and engagement with TCLPs work and by securing the financial resources required to support the organizations mission and strategic priorities.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Planning

• Design and implement a comprehensive multi-year development and communications strategy aligned with organizational values, priorities, and growth goals.
• Develop the organizations written development philosophy with operationalized guiding principles.
• Design and implement key strategies and infrastructure to broaden the base and variety of major donors (individual and institutional) and increase donor engagement through a variety of values-aligned pathways.
• Design and implement a cultivation plan to establish TCLPs inaugural endowment fund.
• Ensure effective budget creation for funding sources and ongoing budget management and cash-flow forecast.

Communications and Narrative Strategy

• Lead a culturally rooted and resonant communications strategy that centers the voices of Black frontline communities and lifts narratives of abundance, cooperation, regeneration, and a caring economy.
• Oversee external communications across all platforms ensuring consistent and values-aligned messaging and strategically aligned framing.
• Lead external visibility efforts, including search-optimized digital content, to strengthen the organizations reach and influence to advance systems change.
• Write speeches, press releases, op-eds, talking points, presentations, and other written materials that increase awareness of the organizations mission and work.
• Oversee editing, literary review, and policy research for drafted publications, ensuring accuracy, rigor, and alignment with organizational strategy and values.
• Lead crisis and rapid response communications in coordination with senior leadership.

Fundraising

• Identify and pursue highly aligned funding opportunities to grow and diversify TCLPs funding portfolio, strengthening the foundation of its financial sustainability.
• Utilize established relationships to make strategic introductions to TCLP and connect the organization with prospective values-aligned funders.
• Attend selected high impact convenings to forge new strategic connections, make strategic introductions, invite opportunities for potential funding, and raise awareness of TCLPs work.

Prospecting and Solicitation

• Design and implement an informed cultivation plan for new and existing prospects, including actionable strategies toward solicitation and stewardship.
• Identify, research, evaluate, and manage funding prospects.
• Lead the development of compelling grant proposals, letters of intent, and other written materials, ensuring alignment with grant requirements, program goals, and strategic objectives.
• Create profile summaries of prospective fundersincluding intersecting interests, past giving, and suggested messagingto guide leaderships donor engagement.
• Regularly track progress toward budgetary and engagement goals and report to executive leadership and Board.

Relationship Cultivation and Stewardship

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective funders through strategic outreach and stewardship, including supporting the Executive Director in relationship management.
• Maintain funder portfolio management, ensuring timely moves management, relationship tracking, and alignment with missional goals.
• Develop and implement a donor acknowledgment protocol and messaging that ensures that every donorno matter the contribution amount or donor type (individuals, institutions)feels seen, honored, valued, appreciated, and kept we…