ABOUT WITNESS

WITNESS is a global organization that helps people everywhere harness the power of video and technology to tell their stories, document the truth, and defend human rights. With growing threats to human rights and its defenders, along with the proliferation of manipulated media, how can we ensure that critical voices are heard, amplified, and protected? How do we establish the authenticity of video when the truth is constantly in question?

In this volatile landscape, WITNESS deploys its global team of over 50 people, spread across five continents, to ensure that technology works for, not against, human rights.

PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE

The Director of Development will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising plan and overseeing all organizational fundraising and resource mobilization efforts. The role will frame the organizational mission and programs to funders, oversee all fundraising relationships, including expansion of the donor pipeline, and own a portfolio of key donors and institutional communications. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Development plays a key role in ensuring the financial sustainability of the organization and the success of its programs. This role works closely with the Executive Director, reporting to the Deputy Executive Director. The Director of Development will also work with the Director of Global Programs to collaborate on funding opportunities that support the budgeted expenses of the programs.

We are looking for someone with extensive experience in fundraising strategy, team management, and donor cultivation and engagement across a diverse range of prospects. They will be highly organized, proactive, and adept at managing diverse tasks and shifting priorities in a dynamic, global, and remote work environment. A deep understanding of the fundraising landscape and a strong interest in the intersection of human rights and technology will also be important for success in this role.

Preferred locations: United States or United Kingdom (other countries in Europe would also be considered)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: February 10, 2025

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Leads on developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes government grants, foundation, major gifts and corporate giving and special events, to ensure the financial health of the organization from a funding perspective, and align with the organization’s mission and values, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and relevant departments.
• Cultivates and proactively engages a portfolio of relationships with existing and prospective donors, including seeking new supporters for WITNESS from their network.
• Oversees revenue projections and adapts plans and projections responsively based on internal and external changes; plays a lead role in both short- and long-term financial revenue planning for the organization, working closely with the Director of Finance; ensures that projections are in line with organizational strategy and anticipated revenue from a diversity of sources.
• Monitors and analyzes fundraising data to evaluate performance and adjust strategies as needed. This involves tracking donor engagement and retention rates, analyzing revenue streams, and making strategic decisions that help the organization achieve its fundraising goals.
• Identifies fundraising opportunities and prospective donors to expand the pool of sustainable supporters and advance the organization’s mission and goals.
• Leads on the creation of compelling framing and positioning of WITNESS’ mission and programs to funders, including in written documents and through direct engagement with key funders and allies.
• Represents WITNESS externally at donor-facing events and at non-funding related meetings and special events and in online fora, as appropriate.
• Stays abreast of and ahead of developments and opportunities in the broader philanthropy landscape including by identifying trends, new donors and fundraising strategies e.g. through regular peer “connector” calls and other networking opportunities, briefing all relevant organizational stakeholders as needed.
• Works closely with the Finance team in developing long-term revenue strategies, projections, budgets, and expense reports for funding partners, and in developing budgeting strategies and institutional best practices for fundraising.
• Plays a key role in the creation and management of internal Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) criteria from a funder’s perspective, liaise with the Program lead on M&E to align funder reports and proposals, and help facilitate the flow of impact data and stories between program staff and funders.

Management

• Manages day-to-day functions of a team of fundraising professionals, providing guidance, training and support as needed. This includes setting annual goals, workplans and expectations for individual team members, monitoring performance, and providing feedback
• Oversees writing of fundraising proposals and reports and all aspects of grants compliance, and leads on writing, as needed
• Oversees planning and execution of special events
• Oversees maintenance of a global donor database and operational strategy, which tracks and supports donor engagement
• Continuously assess and optimize workflows to improve efficiency and impact.

Communications & Outreach

• Work closely with the Communications & Engagement team to develop and execute effective donor communications and marketing materials
• Contributes to big-picture thinking around institutional framing, messaging and strategic priorities

• Regularly presents WITNESS’ fundraising strategy and planning to the staff and Board to increase philanthropy and fundraising literacy on the team, fostering a culture of participatory fundraising, and ensuring alignment of programmatic and institutional priorities

Senior Leadership Team

• Co-responsible for and contributes to conceptualizing and operationalizing the organizational strategic vision, organizational strategies, goals, plans and budgets to achieve WITNESS’ mission and vision.
• Contributes to and helps shape strategies and decisions related to organizational design and team structure, security and risk profile, DEI and culture, and financial sustainability and resourcing

• Ensures the consistent practice and shaping of an inclusive and effective leadership culture throughout the organization and holding ourselves responsible to organizational values
• Leads on the annual and multi-year fundraising and resource generation strategies, in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team

From time to time, the role will require completing additional duties commensurate with the level of this position, as needed and requested by the Executive Director or Deputy Executive Director. This is a full time, exempt position and requires evening, morning and occasional weekend hours.

Please note that this position description serves as a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, or work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and updated as needed to align with the evolving needs of WITNESS, at the sole discretion of management.

PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to: Deputy Executive Director, working closely with Executive Director
• Supervises: Directly supervises and mentors the Institutional Giving Senior Manager and Individual Giving Manager
• Oversees: Development team of 6 staff
• Works closely with: Finance, Program, Operations, Communications & Engagement teams
• Strategic peer fundraising allies; Institutional (foundation and government) program officers, philanthropists, Board members, and other representatives
• External consultants

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Work Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in fundraising, grant writing and management; strong knowledge of funding landscape, particularly in the human rights, tech, AI and social justice fields; demonstrated experience in building and cultivating donor relationships; demonstrated skill in building organizational support from institutional, governmental and/or individual sources, including international funders. A strong network of donor relationships, preferably in the human rights and technology sectors, especially in the U.S. and the European Union.
• Strategy: Proven experience with strategic planning and ability to create and execute on short term and long term fundraising strategies and scenario planning as well as communications strategies·
• Leadership & Management: 7+ years of demonstrated excellence in managing managers and teams, strong organizational and leadership skills to manage complex projects and oversee multiple priorities across regions and teams; strong interpersonal coaching skills
• Communications/Interpersonal Skills: Strong writing, editing and presentation skills, including the ability to craft clear, persuasive messages across various channels and audiences (including through video), in line with the organization’s values; demonstrated experience developing donor messaging and institutional framing; excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; experience and comfort with public presentations, networking and representing organization externally.
• Framing/Positioning: Demonstrated ability to compellingly and creatively frame program strategies and ideas tailored to donors and other audiences/partners.
• Human Rights/Advocacy: A strong commitment to human rights values, advocacy, principles, and to the mission and vision of WITNESS.
• Exceptional written and spoken English skills; proficiency in additional languages is a plus. Native English is not required.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and proactively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• High level of computer literacy and proficiency with digital communication and collaboration tools, including Google Workspace, Zoom, Notion, and Slack.
• Flexibility to accommodate early morning or late evening calls, based on timezone differences.
• Ability to travel, including internationally, up to 25% of the time, depending on where the individual is based.

LOCATION

We are a globally distributed, remote workforce. For this role, we strongly prefer candidates based in the United States or United Kingdom (or possibly other European countries), given the location of the direct reports for this position. The successful candidate must have the legal right to work in the location where they will be based.