Director of Development
Borealis Philanthropy
Minneapolis, MN
Anticipated Start Date: 04/01/2026
Description
The Director of Development manages and mentors staff, coordinates fundraising efforts across departments, and guides the organization toward new funding opportunities that support the expansion and long-term sustainability of Borealis’ programs and services. They solve complex problems, steward donor partnerships, and serve as a key ambassador for Borealis across the philanthropic landscape.
Responsibilities
Organizational Leadership and Strategy
The Director of Development serves as a member of the Management Team, providing organizational leadership in alignment with organizational values and vision, including:
Serving as a visible and active member of the leadership team, contributing strongly to cross-disciplinary teamwork, collaboration, and organizational planning
Managing resources, removing barriers, and providing creative solutions to staff and stakeholders to support organizational goals and objectives
Bringing a forward-thinking perspective to strategy discussions, ensuring Borealis remains responsive to emerging social justice movements, shifts in the philanthropic sector, and opportunities for impact
Leads Fundraising Strategy and New Business Development
The Director of Development establishes development strategies and leads staff in designing and implementing donor engagement efforts, including:
Cultivating, stewarding, and owning relationships with donors, including identification, outreach, and stewardship
Manage campaign budget, timeline, and project plans including campaign design, materials, and prospect lists
Planning and conducting events and other opportunities to engage donors, present Borealis’ case for support and secure philanthropic commitments
In partnership with the VP of Advancement and cross-departmental teams, identifying and evaluating new funding opportunities rooted in the intersectional nature of Borealis’ program pillars
Bring innovation, experimentation, and strategic insight to new fundraising and long-term sustainability planning
Steward Fund Contributors
The Director supports the cultivation of existing and prospective donors across funding pillars at Borealis, including:
Supporting program staff to document engagement with donors and ensuring the effective development and implementation of a CRM as a development management tool
Partnering with VP of Advancement and other staff to identify growth goals for funds, and to create and implement annual fundraising plans
Providing strategic insight and guidance to ensure donor relations remain aligned with Borealis’ values, program goals, and long-term vision
Narrative Creation and Communications Alignment
The Director of Development partners closely with the Communications Director to shape clear, compelling organizational and fund-specific narratives, including:
Developing and maintaining boilerplate language for fundraising, donor engagement, and external collateral
Crafting storytelling that highlights fund priorities, grantee impact, and the broader vision driving donor investment
Creating and stewarding standard language and messaging frameworks to ensure consistency across all Borealis communications
Aligning narrative strategy with fundraising goals, donor expectations, and organizational values
Department Vision, Leadership, and Oversight
The Director is the internal leader of the Development Department, including:
Supervising, coaching, and mentoring Development staff
Developing and managing the Development department’s annual work plan and budget.
Creating and maintaining department policies, procedures, and development systems
Cultivating a collaborative, accountable, and values-aligned culture
Other Duties
As a member of the Borealis staff, the Director of Development performs certain functions that are not specific to their job, but support the organization as a whole. This Includes:
Submitting and approving expense reports and approving timecards by stated deadlines
Attending all staff meetings and required trainings and events
Participating in organizational development and change processes, including serving on committees or special project teams
Modeling Borealis’ culture and values; align outcomes, practices, and communications within the organization’s culture
Leading special projects and other duties as assigned
Requirements
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in related field, Masters preferred
Ten (10) years experience in fundraising and business development for nonprofits or philanthropic entities
Five (5) years of previous supervisory experience leading staff
Experience with CRMs, Salesforce preferred
Experience using systems and tools such as Zoom, Google Suite, Slack, and Asana
Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Personal/ Behavioral Attributes)
Deep knowledge of fundraising, donor cultivation, stewardship, events, budgeting, and institutional giving
Strong commitment to staying current on emerging trends, innovative practices, and movement-aligned approaches within philanthropy
Ability to work collaboratively and build relationships within a diverse virtual work environment
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate conflict and hold complex conversations
Ability to conduct prospect research and engage both individual and institutional funders
Demonstrated leadership with the ability to coach, direct, and inspire diverse staff toward shared goals
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to assess and mitigate risks to the organization
Strong project management skills from visioning to execution
Ability to manage change, perform under pressure, and balance multiple strategic and tactical priorities
Commitment to Borealis’ mission, vision, and values, including a belief in the power of intersectional social justice movements
Salary Range and Employee Benefits
$142,000 - 212,000 annually
How to Apply for this Job
About the Organization
From Black-led movement-building, to queer and trans liberation, to disability justice and inclusion, community organizers are working every day to bring about transformational change. Borealis Philanthropy exists to listen to, invest in, and support them. Our staff of experts come from the communities we serve, and bring their lived experiences, values, and visions to the work of supporting community-driven change through grantee and funder collaboration.
As a philanthropic intermediary, Borealis Philanthropy builds bridges between funders and organizers by creating opportunities for impact-driven investments. We team with funders to conceive, develop, and implement grantmaking initiatives that resource the many innovative organizations within each of our respective grantmaking funds. In partnering with philanthropy, we remove barriers to funding for grassroots organizations and invest in intersectional movements building a future that serves all of us.
WOC is not responsible for the content of job postings.
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