Development/Strategic Advancement Director

May 28

Women Enabled International
Remote; candidates should be able to overlap with business hours (9am to 5pm) in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone for a minimum of four hours each day.

Anticipated Start Date: July/August 2026

Description

Remote; candidates should be able to overlap with business hours (9am to 5pm) in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone for a minimum of four hours each day.

The Director of Strategic Advancement has chief responsibility for the organization’s fundraising efforts, designing and implementing a comprehensive strategy to fund a $4 million annual operating budget, increase reserves, and sustain the mission. As a critical member of the Leadership Team, the Director of Strategic Advancement will play a pivotal leadership role in advancing WEI’s mission to defend human rights and strengthen justice, dignity, and inclusion worldwide.

Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with senior leadership, board members, and global partners, the Director will lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and cultivate meaningful relationships with institutional donors, foundations, individual philanthropists, and allied partners. This role requires a strategic and entrepreneurial fundraiser who can communicate a compelling vision, mobilize resources across diverse constituencies, and help sustain and grow the organization’s global impact.

The ideal candidate will bring a deep commitment to ethical fundraising practices, sound judgment, and professionalism, ensuring that all donor engagement and revenue generation efforts reflect the organization’s values, integrity, and accountability to the communities it serves.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Partner with the Director of Development to implement WEI’s development strategy to advance the organization’s mission and programs; coordinate day-to-day fundraising activities related to soliciting, securing, and stewarding institutional and individual support.

Key responsibilities include:

Institutional Giving

Develop and manage a portfolio of institutional donors, supporting stewardship, renewals, and proposal development in alignment with WEI’s programmatic objectives. Draft and coordinate high-quality grant proposals, reports, and concept notes, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and timelines.
Supervise the tracking of grant cycles, deadlines, and deliverables, ensuring accurate documentation and internal coordination. Oversee prospect research and the preparation of detailed funder profiles to inform strategic outreach.
Collaborate with the Programs and Communications teams to ensure the strategic incorporation of data, stories, and impact insights into funder materials. Monitor philanthropic trends relevant to WEI’s mission areas, including human rights, gender equity, and disability justice.

Individual Giving

Oversee the planning and execution of annual donor campaigns, including messaging, segmentation, layout, and coordination with Communications for visual and digital assets.
Supervise the development of donor-facing content and ensure timely acknowledgments, recognition, and follow-up communications. Oversee the management of WEI’s donor database, ensuring data integrity and tracking of all contributions and donor touchpoints.
Oversee the functionality and content of the online donation platform, ensuring a seamless donor experience. Plan and execute board giving efforts and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.
Provide strategic and operational support to Executive Director and other organizational leaders (board and staff) to mine their networks and cultivate potential major donors (individuals, family foundations, corporations)

Donor Engagement & Communications

Oversee personalized, timely communication with donors to foster ongoing engagement and appreciation. Respond to donor inquiries with professionalism and care, maintaining strong relationships.
Oversee the development and execution of newsletters, updates, and invitations in partnership with Communications.
Collaborate on the development of donor-centered content and design for the Annual Report and other key publications, ensuring alignment with fundraising and development goals.
Collaborate with Communications to ensure relevant fundraising and development content on WEI’s website and other external channels.

Planning, Budgeting, and Development Operations

Contribute to organization-wide annual planning and budgeting cycle and periodic strategic planning processes. Develop and own departmental expense budget.
Work with the Executive Director to set annual fundraising goals, monitor progress, and evaluate performance. Ensure the maintenance of a development calendar and grant tracker to ensure alignment across teams and timely execution of responsibilities.
Supervise the creation and standardization of fundraising reports and dashboards to inform internal planning and decision-making.
Liaise with Finance on revenue tracking, proposal budgets, and reporting requirements. Oversee maintenance of accurate donor and prospect records, including biographical data, gift history, and engagement notes.

Leadership & Supervision

Lead the Strategic Advancement team and oversee the implementation of WEI’s fundraising goals. Serve on WEI’s Leadership Team, develop a strong rapport and clear communication with fellow Directors, and consistently manage up to the Executive Director.
Supervise and strengthen the Strategic Advancement Coordinator's capacity to carry out day-to-day fundraising operations and effectively implement fundraising strategies to meet area goals.
Provide guidance to colleagues across teams to integrate fundraising considerations into program, communication, and organizational development initiatives.
Model a solutions-oriented, accountable, and collaborative approach, contributing to a culture of shared leadership and continuous learning.

Requirements

Experience & Education Requirements

Minimum 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, preferably within the international human rights, gender justice, disability justice, or social justice sectors. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred but not required. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in place of formal education.
Demonstrated success securing and managing 6–7 figure grants and gifts from private foundations, multi- or bilateral funders, and/or high-net-worth individuals.
Strong strategic thinking, written communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to translate complex programmatic work into compelling fundraising narratives for varied audiences.
Proven ability to independently manage complex, multi-faceted workstreams with strong attention to detail, competing priorities, deadlines, and organizational strategy. Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making skills, including experience developing thoughtful and creative approaches to fundraising and organizational challenges.
Experience guiding, mentoring, or collaborating across teams, including supporting consultants, staff, or cross-functional partners in achieving shared goals. High degree of accountability, initiative, discretion, and self-direction, particularly within lean, remote, or minimally hierarchical work environments.
Ability to manage sensitive information and donor records with professionalism, confidentiality, and care. Proficiency with donor databases, CRM systems, and data management tools.
Familiarity with Keela, Airtable, and project management platforms a plus. Proficiency with office software (e.g., Microsoft Suite), internal communications platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.), and collaborative remote work tools Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse teams, partners, funders, and external stakeholders.
Deep commitment to human rights, gender equity, disability justice, and the mission and values of WEI. Fluency in English is required. Bilingual Spanish language skills are strongly preferred; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.

Working Conditions

This role operates in a flexible, remote work environment. Occasional travel may be requested for conferences, activities, and stakeholder engagement. Alternatives to travel may be possible as a reasonable accommodation.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

Starting at $110,000*

*Annual salary is dependent on experience and reflective of a position based in our headquarters of Washington, D.C. Salary may be subject to a locality adjustment depending on work location.

How to Apply for this Job

Interested candidates are requested to submit their resume, cover letter, and 3 references through the following application portal:

Apply Now

We will accept applications through June 21st, 2026.

About the Organization

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