Director of Development

Sick Cells seeks a Director of Development to lead and grow our sponsorships, contributions, partnerships, and grant funding. This role will be responsible for building and managing strategic relationships, expanding our fundraising portfolio, and securing resources in support of our mission. Sick Cells is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to improve the lives of individuals and families  affected by sickle cell disease (SCD) through community engagement, policy action, education, and systems change.

This is a hybrid position, with two in-office days per week in Washington, D.C. Occasional travel, weekend, and evening work is required. This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development and fundraising strategy, including annual giving, major gifts, program support, and special campaigns.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors, providing regular communication and tailored engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Sick Cells team to develop compelling appeals, stewardship content, and campaign messaging.
• Lead and expand prospecting activities to identify and research prospects for new sponsors, giving, and donors.
• Build and maintain stakeholder relationships, including soliciting and closing gifts.
• Partner with the CEO and Board to identify and engage individuals and supporters.
• Collaborate with team on creative engagement opportunities for donors, ambassadors, and partners.
• Monitor fundraising progress against goals and prepare regular reports and forecasts.
• Manage Corporate Advisory Council, including membership, meeting scheduling, material creation, and new member recruitment.
•  Build and maintain strong relationships with patients, caregivers, community leaders, and advocacy organizations to align fundraising with community needs.
•  Lead social media and marketing outreach for giving campaigns and donor reach.
• Support grant proposals and reports related to program initiatives.
• Maintain donor data in database.
• Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support organizational priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5-6 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, OR an Associate's Degree or certification with 6-7 years’ work experience, with a strong emphasis on donor relations.
• Experience in industry partnership engagement.
• Demonstrated success in securing gifts and managing a portfolio of donors.
• Comfort with fundraising databases/CRMs and digital fundraising tools.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Commitment to Sick Cells’ mission and values and understanding of communities impacted by SCD.

Benefits

This is a full-time, direct-hire position. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, ranging from $90,000 to $100,000. The benefits package includes health, vision, and dental insurance, 403b 1% match, professional development, and generous paid leave.

How to Apply

To apply, please send a current resume and cover letter to employment@sickcells.org, with “Director of Development” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.