Director of Development

About The Just Trust 

Founded in 2021 with a historic seed investment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The Just Trust serves as a philanthropic intermediary dedicated to advancing bipartisan criminal justice reform at both state and national levels. By mobilizing resources and amplifying the work of nonprofit organizations, policy experts, and advocates, we collaborate across political lines to catalyze public safety and shrink the footprint of the justice system. Our strategic investments support visionary leaders, diverse organizations, and transformative campaigns to ensure that bold ideas for reform become enduring systemic change. 

Our Vision

Our vision is to transform the justice system into a just and compassionate engine that fosters public safety for all—one where we hold each other to account, treat each other with dignity, and where the strength of our communities keeps people from entering the system in the first place. 

Our Hiring Approach 

At The Just Trust we know that our collective success is dependent upon building out a team that includes a diverse set of talented people. This includes those who have been directly impacted from the communities we serve—individuals with arrest or convictions histories,  family members of justice impacted people, crime survivors, law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders and corrections officials. In addition, we believe in building teams with people from different backgrounds, diverse experiences and political beliefs, and who are not afraid to challenge each other's assumptions or contribute fresh perspectives. To that end, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups, and value the unique perspectives that a diverse and inclusive team brings to our work.

If this sounds like the place for you, keep on reading.

The Opportunity

The Just Trust seeks to hire an experienced Director of Philanthropy to oversee and lead all primary aspects of fundraising for our organization's growth and long-term sustainability. This role will report to our Chief Innovation Officer and will work closely with the CEO and Board to leverage our $350M seed investment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and build an ideologically diverse community of philanthropic leaders and organizations who want to work together toward measurable impact on public safety innovation and responsible, durable justice reform for the next 20 years.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned  fundraising professional who has experience with diverse fundraising strategies, strong relationships with a broad range of donors, and a proven track record of raising funds from both U/HNW individuals and foundations. Our candidate is highly proficient in relationship cultivation, ongoing donor engagement, and cross-functional collaboration as it relates to nurturing a culture of philanthropy within our organization. They are skilled at leveraging our many organizational assets for fundraising including: criminal justice reform issue expertise and knowledge of the political and field landscape, compliance and grants management excellence, measuring impact and programmatic evaluation, strategic communications, and our people (notable Board members and Leadership.) They are excited to help our organization move from a single, large funder, to a true philanthropic intermediary where we are engaging, activating, and learning from the shared wisdom of a diverse community of donors who, like us, see a pathway to durable and responsible change in the criminal justice system. The ideal candidate is excited by the idea of working on a small, hard working team focused on a big vision, aware of and constantly monitoring challenges, and not afraid to get their hands dirty and get work done. They will also work closely with Marketing and Communications to strengthen narrative and messaging with key stakeholders. Most importantly, the Director of Development will have the adaptability to be able to work with an ideologically diverse pool of major donors (UHNW and HNW).

Essential Duties 

Under the direction of the Chief Innovation Officer, create a comprehensive fundraising strategy and annual operating plan that promotes mission achievement and organizational sustainability.  

Execute TJT’s operating plan to achieve strategic fundraising goals. (80%)

• In collaboration with CEO and CIO, develop and set a fundraising strategy that includes a diversified portfolio of funding resources to support TJT’s  mission, vision, and annual goals.  
• Work closely with the CEO to steward TJT donors and cultivate new potential partners. Schedule and facilitate donor and potential donor meetings, calls, and visits to solicit funds and other resources on behalf of the organization.
• Plan and implement foundation, corporate, and individual donor cultivation, stewardship, outreach events & activities, including donor research and grant submissions.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications on donor communications.
• Leveraging research and the network of TJT, identify, expand, cultivate and manage a portfolio of 75+ qualified major partner prospects. 
• Plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising donor cultivation events and priority campaigns. Partner closely with key programmatic staff to develop and implement priority fundraising campaigns.
• Stay informed on major milestones in the criminal justice field, as well as accomplishments of existing grantees.
• Lead and inspire staff and board to participate in philanthropic activities, as appropriate.
• Support a culture of philanthropy across TJT. Collaborate with the marketing and communications and program teams to develop fundraising materials and campaigns.
• Represent the organization at events, meetings, and conferences to promote fundraising initiatives and build relationships with potential donors.

Oversee all fundraising operations and administration (10%)

• With technical support from the Finance and Operations Department, ensure maintenance of comprehensive donor records in Bloomerang (TJT’s CMS), coordinate funding requests, prep donor materials and maintain efficient development systems.
• Participate in the annual organizational budgeting process to provide input into the fundraising budget. 
• Maintain and track the fundraising budget. 
• Work closely with the Finance and Operations Department to ensure appropriate communications with current donors, compliance, state registrations, etc. 
• Identify, select, and effectively manage consultants in order to ensure deliverables are met. 

Regularly evaluate the philanthropic strategy for the organization. (10%) 

• Regularly evaluate philanthropic strategy and operating plan, propose adjustments and course corrections as necessary.
• Make strategy recommendations to the CEO & CIO, C-Suite leaders, and the Board based on experience and a deep understanding of TJT’s strategic goals.
• Provide regular reports to the board and staff, including occasional presentation to the boards, at staff retreats, and at staff meetings.  

Essential Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record in cultivating, soliciting, and securing 6-8 figure investments from UHNW/HNW individuals and family offices, including multi-year commitments
• Successfully managed and executed a strategy to raise $20M+ annually, or significant growth through a capital campaign or other major initiative.
• 10-15 years of experience in fundraising and major donor relations/solicitation
• Strong leadership and project management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently in a remote work environment as well as part of a team
• Proven track record of successfully planning and executing fundraising campaigns
• High level of proficiency in donor management and CRM software (experience with Bloomerang a plus)
• Passion for the organization's mission and values, especially criminal justice reform and working across political and ideological divides
• The ability to thrive in a dynamic and rapidly growing organization that requires you to flex between strategic, operational, and tactical levels
• Human centered person that believes in justice and human potential
• Ability to travel domestically up to 30% to meet with potential donors, partners, or professional industry and organizational events

Preferred Qualifications

• Has an outside of the box, entrepreneurial mindset
• Negotiation skills
• Corporate and UHNW family office experience 
• Experience with: Asana, GSuite, Slack,  Bloomerang

The person holding this position may also work part-time for a coordinated project, The Just Trust for Action, a 501(c)(4) organization, under a resource sharing agreement between The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action. The responsibilities under that position will be overseen by The Just Trust’s CEO. An understanding of the compliance considerations for 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 organizations is preferred. 

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time role, with a salary range for this role is  $170,000 - $200,000, depending on experience. 

• The Just Trust offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents. 
• We offer up to 10% employer match on 401k contributions
• Our company provides 4 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of personal time off as well as 10 paid holidays and 2 weeks of paid office closures. 
• All full-time employees are eligible for a $50 fitness and $50 internet stipend as well as a $75 monthly reimbursement for phone use. 
• A fully remote organization that has a deep commitment to transparency, employee development, and a people first culture - we work hard and we also have fun.

The Just Trust is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic and rewarding, and that enables every team member to realize the power of their potential. TJT’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all classifications protected by law or otherwise in the locality and/or state in which they are working. This is a new role for The Just Trust, we are open to a conversation about the title and responsibilities with candidates during the process. 

Physical Demands

• Able to work on a computer, including sitting at a desk, for extended periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation. 
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard.
• Able to see or read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids.
• Able to speak clearly and in audible tones on the phone and in-person and be understood by others.
• Able to hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone.
• Ability to travel 
• Able to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

The Just Trust recognizes that the use of AI tools can potentially assist candidates with the development of cover letters and applications. All employees of TJT are hired because of their 

skills and expertise and applicants should use AI only to augment their work, not create it.

The Just Trust recognizes that the use of AI tools can potentially assist candidates with the development of cover letters and applications. All employees of TJT are hired because of their skills and expertise and applicants should use AI only to augment their work, not create it.

Please send your cover letter and resume here.