Sr Dev Associate I - Political Fundraising

CASA & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS: 

CASA’s mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. Our vision is a future where we stand in our own power, our families live free from discrimination and fear, and our diverse communities thrive as we work with our partners to achieve full human rights for all. CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Virginia, and nationally, they are separate organizations with their own boards of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS: 

CASA’s Development Department raises funds from foundations, government agencies, individuals, corporations, congregations, unions, and partner organizations to ensure CASA's financial sustainability.

POSITION SUMMARY: 

We are seeking a motivated development professional to join our team as Sr. Development Associate of Institutional Giving I. The Sr. Development Associate is responsible for a variety of work in the development department, including managing a portfolio of funder relationships, conducting grant writing and grant administration, developing budgets, assisting in event planning, and providing support for other department activities as needed. This position will steward a portfolio including a variety of types of institutional funders, including AmeriCorps, local and state government agencies, private foundations, corporate funders, and federal grants. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Grant Writing / Coordination for institutional funders 
• Draft proposals, letters of intent, and reports to institutional funders.
• Collaborate with program staff and finance to develop budgets for grants and proposals and make necessary adjustments and modifications, as needed, post-grant award.
• Coordinate with accounting staff to ensure accurate grant reporting periods and supported work, and collaborate with program directors to gather and report data for grant reports.
• Conduct prospect research and develop plans for soliciting / cultivating donors/prospects. Research potential funding sources, including foundations, corporate, government prospects and relevant RFPs, NOFAs, and other forms of competitive bids, with a focus on government funding. 
• Develop and maintain relationships necessary to executing the work effectively, including relationships to key personnel associated with institutional funders as well as key internal relationships with CASA programmatic staff executing the funded work
• Grant Management
• Staff in the Sr. Associate I and II positions play a variety of roles within CASA’s institutional fundraising structure, including ‘grant lead’, ‘grant manager’, and ‘grant support’. In contrast to the Sr. Associate II role, the Sr. Associate I role will more often manage or support grant processes as opposed to playing the grant lead role, though the work will be a blend of all three roles.
• The Sr. Associate I position is critical to ensuring outstanding stewardship of already-secured grants and contributes to securing new grants. The Sr. Associate I is a capable grant writer and project administrator who is building towards the more advanced skills of funder relationship management, project scoping and budgeting, and project leadership.
• The Sr. Associate I role will be responsible for a small to moderate portfolio of grant work based on their experience, capacity, and skill. This portfolio of work will be defined by a combination of programmatic area of work, geography served, and/or type of funder as organizational needs demand. Smaller portfolios are usually a combination of a programmatic area and geographic area – for example, legal services in Maryland. At CASA, a small-to-moderate portfolio of work means managing or leading at least 20 grants annually (playing the ‘grant lead’ role on at least 25%) and/or at least $750,000 in grant value annually.
• Manage relevant grant/proposal paperwork including grant agreements, reports, correspondence, and payments, as well as deadlines for proposals and reports through Salesforce software.
• Coordinate contract execution and grant compliance for selected portfolio of funders.
• Collaborate with CASA staff to ensure timely, high quality, and consistent proposals and reports.
• Develop expertise regarding CASA’s work generally and specifically the principles, ongoing projects, and goals related to assigned portfolio(s) of work.
• Cultivate, build relationships with, and oversee moves-management for a selected portfolio of institutional funders.
• Administrative / Operations Support 
• Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date database, documenting contact information, giving history, key stakeholders, and preferences for institutional funders such as foundations, corporations, and government entities.
• Assist with office administration including filing, managing supplies, processing and tracking funder and donor payments, and responding to inquiries, ensuring smooth operations and efficient workflow.
• Other: 
• Collaborate on the planning of various events, which may encompass fundraising activities involving sponsors, managing sponsor relationships, and organizing event logistics.
• Actively engage in mandatory CASA and CASA in Action rallies, actions, and events, demonstrating a commitment to the organization's mission and objectives. This may involve participating in community outreach initiatives, advocacy campaigns, public demonstrations, or other activities aimed at advancing CASA's goals and supporting the communities it serves.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE: 

• Two (2) years of prior experience fundraising in the non-profit sector, including grant writing, relationship management, and event planning; one (1) year can be replaced with experience in any of the following areas:
• Project Management: Track record of effective project management, including planning and execution, budget management, and coordination with diverse stakeholders to achieve project goals.
• Fundraising and Sales in for-profit/corporate Sector: Background in sales roles within the for-profit sector, with a focus on revenue generation, client relationship building, and contract negotiation to drive business growth.
• Marketing and Public Relations: Proven experience in marketing or public relations positions involving the creation and implementation of marketing campaigns, management of social media platforms, and cultivation of stakeholder relationships.
• Consulting: Experience in consulting roles, providing strategic guidance to clients, managing projects from inception to completion, and delivering solutions that meet client needs.
• Bachelor’s degree required or comparable experience, advanced degree a plus. 
• Valid US Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: 

• Passion for contributing to a social justice organization dedicated to immigrant rights, including a strong alignment with CASA's mission and the ability to compellingly communicate its value to donors.
• Highly organized and efficient, “can-do” attitude, flexibility, commitment to teamwork, high degree of personal initiative. 
• Strong project management skills, including successful experience prioritizing and managing multiple tasks efficiently and completing follow-up. 
• Experience with developing grant proposals, especially writing grant narratives
• Detail-oriented with high expectations of the quality of work that comes out of the development department. Ability to work efficiently in occasionally stressful environments. 
• Strong verbal and written communications and excellent interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of professionally and convincingly engaging donors and partners.
• Strong computer & technology skills required – ability to manage Microsoft Office and online database systems. 
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/French (written and spoken) preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit. 

The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk for extended periods, specifically in connection with mandatory participation in actions, events, and rallies.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

ADA: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

OSHA: This position is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens. 

This is a union position, represented in collective bargaining by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America, Local WBNG 32035 - Communication Workers of America (CWA). If you are offered and accept this position, you will be invited to become a member of the union. All bargaining unit positions require membership or agency fee payer status. 

CASA, Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status and national origin. 

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.  

CASA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective 01 February 2022, requiring COVID‑19 Booster vaccination(s) for all employees and prospective employees, AmeriCorps members, and paid or non-paid internships. In accordance with CASA's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees, AmeriCorps members and interns, and their families, CASA members and visitors, and the community at large from infectious diseases that may be reduced by vaccinations. In making this decision, the executive leadership team reviewed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, CASA’s Legal Counsel and local health officials. All prospective employees will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation prior to the first day of employment with CASA. AmeriCorps member candidates will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation at the time of presenting proof of citizenship and SSN eligibility.