Director of Development

About Our Organization: 

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing clean, affordable and reliable energy policies rooted in conservative principles. We work to promote solutions that drive economic growth, strengthen America’s energy security, and reduce emissions. We lead initiatives that include policy education and advocacy, research, communications, and partnerships that drive innovation across all-of-the-above energy solutions, including renewables, nuclear, natural gas, carbon capture and other advanced technologies.

 

Scope of Work:

CRES is seeking a strategic, detail-oriented Director of Development to lead the organization’s grants function, including grant administration and related development efforts, aligned with CRES’s strategic priorities.

This position requires strong grant writing and grants administration experience, sound project management skills, and the ability to coordinate across departments to ensure accurate reporting, budget alignment, and timely execution of deliverables. The ideal candidate is an excellent writer, highly organized, proactive, collaborative, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

This position reports to the Vice President of External Relations and is based in Washington, DC.

Responsibilities:

Grants Management:

 

• Lead the full lifecycle of grants, including prospecting, proposal development, submission, reporting, and closeout.
• Identify grant opportunities that align with the strategic priorities, revenue goals, and programmatic work of CRES and its affiliated organization, CRES Forum.
• Develop high-quality grant materials, including letters of inquiry, proposals, budgets, presentations, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with internal teams to gather programmatic, financial, and organizational information for proposals and reporting.
• Manage grant calendars, trackers, and internal systems to ensure timely submissions and compliance with deadlines.
• Oversee grant deliverables and reporting requirements, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with funder expectations.
• Monitor grant performance and compliance, including financial tracking and documentation requirements.
• Provide internal guidance to staff on grant requirements, timelines, and deliverables to support successful implementation.
• Prepare internal updates and reports for leadership on grant pipeline, performance, and outcomes.
• Maintain organized and accurate grant records and documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve grant processes, systems, and internal coordination.

 

Development: 

• Create and execute CRES’s annual development strategy, with a strong emphasis on grants as a core revenue stream.
• Maintain and grow a pipeline of current and prospective funders, including foundations, corporations, and other institutional donors.
• Support donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts in partnership with leadership.
• Develop donor-facing materials, including briefs, proposals, presentations, and stewardship communications.
• Analyze funding trends and identify opportunities to strengthen and diversify revenue streams.
• Partner with internal teams, including Communications, to ensure alignment of messaging and materials for funders.
• Support development-related events, meetings, and engagement opportunities.
• Represent CRES in external meetings and interactions with funders and partners, as appropriate.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and special projects tied to development and external relations.

 

Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills and Attributes:  

• Exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to coordinate across teams and synthesize complex information into clear, compelling materials.
• Strong organizational and workflow management skills.
• Ability to align funding opportunities with organizational strategy.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented approach. 

 

Education and Experience:  

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, nonprofit management, business, political science, English, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in grant writing, grants management, development, or nonprofit fundraising.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full grant lifecycle, including proposal development and reporting.
• Experience working with budgets and financial components of grants.
• Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with CRM or grants tracking systems preferred. 

 

Preferred:

• A background in energy policy  
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit, regularly identifying opportunities to advance the CRES agenda and maximizing those opportunities 
• Operating style suited to working in a start-up organization setting, where teamwork, initiative and resourcefulness are highly valued 
• Able and willing to travel occasionally 

 

Competitive Benefits: 

• Excellent health, vision, dental and prescription drug insurance 
• Generous paid time off, paid federal holidays, plus additional office closures during the week of Thanksgiving and between Christmas and New Year’s Day 
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 
• Retirement plan plus match 
• Paid short- and long-term disability insurance 
• Transportation benefit 
• Cell phone reimbursement 
• Hybrid work environment 

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Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

CRES is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CRES’ policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment and provides equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, or military status, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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How to Apply:

Please include “Director of Development” in your subject line and send your CV, one writing sample, and cover letter to: humanresources@cresenergy.com.