Careers at ILSR

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit working to reverse today’s extreme levels of corporate concentration and advance policies to rebuild the economic capacity of local communities.

We use in-depth research, reporting, and data analysis to produce influential reports and articles. Our work illuminates the public policy decisions that have fueled concentration and shows how we can change the rules to create a more equitable and democratic future. Our analysis is frequently featured in national news media and sought out by policymakers. We work closely with a broad range of allies to move these ideas and policies.

ILSR Staff Celebrating Hard Fought Ping Pong Match — ILSR development director John Bailey (left) and communications associate Luke Gannon celebrate a hard fought table tennis match.

OPEN POSITIONS

Associate Director of Development (Full-Time, Remote)

The Associate Director of Development position will constitute half of a two-person development team at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and support ILSR’s mission and communications. The person in this position will plan, direct, and carry out the overall fundraising strategy for the organization. As part of this strategy, the person in this position will manage, maintain, and grow relationships with funding partners which include charitable foundations, organizations, government agencies, and individuals. This role demands a keen eye for detail, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. A background knowledge of the sectors in which ILSR works, including issues of economic justice and corporate concentration, would be a bonus.

The Associate Director of Development will report to ILSR’s Development Director and serve as an important member of the senior leadership team, charged with advancing organization-wide strategies. The person in this role will also be a member of ILSR’s finance team. They will interface regularly with ILSR’s initiative directors with the goal of maintaining and/or growing the revenue needed to support the organization and staff. ILSR’s most recent core budget is approximately $5 million/yr. While the person in this position can work remotely, being in close proximity to ILSR’s office in Minneapolis is a plus.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and résumé in a single PDF document to hiring@ilsr.org, addressed to John Bailey. The cover letter should include a mention of how you learned about the position. The subject line of your email should read “Associate Director of Development Application”. No phone calls, please.

This is a senior staff position that will play an integral role in the organization’s fundraising, program strategy, communications, and operations.

Note: If you’re excited about this position but feel you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications shown below, please apply. We are looking for enthusiastic and exceptional candidates, not candidates who check boxes.

Apply Now

Responsibilities:

Individual Donor Relations

Making updates and improving functionality of ILSR’s donor database (ensuring accuracy and data security, currently using Bloomerang CMS).
Developing and maintaining a strategic individual donor fundraising plan with ILSR’s Development Director.
Overseeing and generating monthly reports from ILSR online donation platforms (eTapestry, Bloomerang, PayPal, Network For Good, Atmos, etc.).
Researching and leading implementation of new strategies and improving existing strategies to attract new individual donors.
Providing updates on ILSR’s activities to existing donors in collaboration with ILSR’s Communications team (e.g. social media posts, quarterly donor e-newsletter, hard copy mailings, etc.).
Processing online donations, electronic funds transfers, and check donations which includes making sure any data is entered accurately (automatically or manually) in our Bloomerang database and the appropriate acknowledgement/thank you letters are prepared and sent.
Scheduling and participating in meetings with prospective funders and donors.
Contributing to fundraising status reports that are prepared for ILSR board meetings.
Coordinating and developing content in collaboration with ILSR’s Communications team for ILSR’s year-end annual report and year-end mailing.
Preparing material, coordinating, and implementing year-end mailings and messages to donors (hard copy and email).

General Fundraising

Research and Writing
- Conducting research and reporting on foundation and government grant prospects and potential individual donors.
- Creating grant proposals and grant reporting templates and initial drafts largely using and adapting existing materials.
- Attending regular meetings with the Communications team to address joint projects such as year-end fundraising and preparation and distribution of ILSR’s annual report.
Planning
- Developing and implementing program-specific and organization-wide fundraising plans including foundation, government, and individual support.
- Working with the finance team to develop and track core and growth budgets.
- Providing guidance on prospective funding sources related to ILSR program priorities and strategy.
Implementation
- Developing new fundraising strategies.
- Identifying prospective financial support, coordinating with program staff to build relationships, and soliciting contributions or grant support.
- Submitting all grant reports and proposals on time.
- Representing ILSR’s mission and work at any pertinent conferences and meetings.
Administrative Tasks
- All Associate Director-level staff at ILSR have some administrative responsibilities that will be assigned over time based on skills and organizational needs, usually not to exceed 10% of time.
- Working with our Google ads grant to develop online ads to drive web traffic to ILSR’s site.

Required Core Competencies:

Strong Collaborator
- The person in this position will work closely with researchers, writers, and designers across the organization to ensure that ILSR has a cohesive fundraising strategy.
Calm and efficient manager of a continuum of projects, and able to meet deadlines and maintain high-quality standards.
Exceptional writing, storytelling, and communication skills.
Creative mindset with a strong attention to detail.

Preferred Qualities and Skills:

3+ years nonprofit development experience.
Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
A commitment to building local power and fighting corporate control, racial equity, and social justice, and a passion for expanding our capacity to do good work.
Background in foundation fundraising and demonstrated success securing foundation grants.
Experience writing reports, proposals, or other documents for a private foundation audience.
Experience with a fundraising development software database platform (e.g. Bloomerang).
Strategic thinker, able to discern organizational content and projects that will be attractive to our funding partners.
Knowledge of the sectors in which ILSR is working.
Computer and web savvy.
Ability to work independently and routinely come together as part of a team.

Compensation:

This position is full-time and can be done remotely or based in ILSR’s Minneapolis office, where the Development Director and Finance staff are based. The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $105,000 depending on skills and experience. The position includes a 100 percent employer-paid health plan (you pay no premiums); generous vacation, holiday, parental leave; and a retirement plan available immediately with a matching contribution after two years of employment. We are a dynamic, fun, and friendly team dedicated to making the world a better place. ILSR takes professional growth seriously, and we happily invest in our staff.