Chief Development & Engagement Officer

About EdVoice and EdVoice Institute

EdVoice is a 501(c)4 nonprofit education advocacy organization driving policy change to transform California’s public education system, so it effectively prepares all children for opportunities in college, career, and life. ​EdVoice engages in direct lobbying activities to influence the passage of key state legislation to combat the current system’s inequities. We lead grassroots advocacy and general awareness campaigns to raise up our policy priority areas each legislative cycle and provide strategic political funding through our EdVoice for the Kids PAC to leaders who prioritize the needs of students from low-income communities. 

Our sister organization, EdVoice Institute, is a 501(c)3 research and coalition-building organization that uplifts scalable solutions to improve academic outcomes for children from low-income communities. EdVoice Institute provides evidence-based policy recommendations across our key pillars to reshape public education in California so that all students have futures filled with opportunity. These efforts help build the overall political will for change and aid in persuading legislators to prioritize our areas of focus and policy proposals.

The Opportunity

EdVoice is seeking a results-driven and entrepreneurial Chief Development & Engagement Officer (CDEO) to amplify our impact by raising awareness about our policy priorities, expanding our community of advocates, and securing funding to sustain our initiatives. The CDEO will oversee fundraising and grantmaking, marketing and communications, community outreach and grassroots activation, and systems building. They will execute an integrated vision to attract, rally, and sustain our diverse network of donors, partners, and champions and work in close partnership with the CEO to collectively raise $2.2 million annually for EdVoice and $2 million for EdVoice Institute.

The ideal candidate is a passionate storyteller who is skilled in utilizing marketing tools to create engaging content, events, and communications to drive the action of donors and partners. They will also possess a deep understanding of fundraising and donor stewardship best practices and have a proven track record of thinking outside the box to generate funds. Most importantly, they are excited about the opportunity to galvanize community mobilization and significantly impact the lives of California’s most underserved students. 

Essential Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Execution (35%)

• Develop and implement a fundraising plan with clear goals, objectives, and strategies to raise $2.2 million for EdVoice and $2 million for its sister organization, EdVoice Institute, with the aim of doubling our organizational budgets in the next two to three years
• Provide direction and thought partnership to the CEO to drive the exploration of new fundraising sources and initiatives and facilitate the successful execution of solicitations
• Establish a system for identifying and attracting new potential donors with a focus on strengthening the pipeline of and retaining high-capacity, influential funders
• Research grant opportunities and partner with the Director of Marketing & Communications to prepare proposals for submission including writing and organizing materials, monitoring applications, and submitting progress reports
• Collaborate with the CEO and Director of Financial Management & Operations to ensure sustainable budgeting by creating and monitoring revenue projections, identifying key trends, and implementing strategic adjustments

Marketing & Communications (35%)

• Create and execute a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy in partnership with the Director of Marketing & Communications to elevate the brand identity of EdVoice and EdVoice Institute as a trusted voice for education policy reform and ensure consistent messaging across all channels
• Work alongside the Director of Marketing & Communications to create fundraising collateral aimed at increasing donations and engagement including annual reports, presentations, email communications, digital advertising, website content, and other marketing materials
• Support the Director of Marketing & Communications in building a strong social media presence that showcases relevant content to enhance community awareness of education policy issues and expand our audience across multiple platforms; monitor and test new approaches to ensure high engagement and reach
• Assist the Policy Team in creating informative and compelling content that effectively explains complex policy issues to diverse audiences in the form of infographics, social media graphics, and other visual aids
• Outline an effective media relations plan with the Director of Marketing & Communications that includes targeted outreach to key outlets, a streamlined process for managing media requests, and curated responses as necessary

Grassroots Network Activation & Donor Engagement (20%)

• In collaboration with the Policy Team, create and manage a multi-channel engagement plan that activates, grows, and sustains EdVoice’s grassroots network of supporters, community leaders, educators, and parents 

• Establish a targeted stewardship program including appeals, campaigns, special projects, and events to keep donors and supporters informed about EdVoice’s key priorities and successes, increase engagement, and cultivate annual giving commitments 
• Manage the development and execution of community-centric digital giving strategies that increase small-dollar revenue from campaigns and contribute to the expansion and diversification of our donor base
• Work with the Policy Team to implement programs, initiatives, and events to maximize the participation of our grassroots network in our advocacy efforts such as messaging elected representatives, participation in rallies, and attendance at legislative sessions
• Forge partnerships with education advocacy organizations and key collaborators to promote collective action on network engagement opportunities and build a robust coalition

Reporting, Analysis & Systems Building (10%) 

• Maintain and optimize the CRM system to effectively track and enhance interactions with supporters, partners, and key decision-makers; foster a data-driven decision-making culture by equipping staff with the skills to use tools and gather actionable insights
• Design and manage a donor and partner segmentation system with clear strategies for consistent engagement and incentives based on giving levels and/or political engagement levels
• Oversee the donor database, gift processing, acknowledgments, and recognition; establish processes to improve data integrity and track and analyze fundraising results
• Ensure the timely submission of grant performance reports in adherence with funder requirements 
• Partner with the Director of Marketing & Communications to measure the success of community engagement and online giving campaigns and use analysis to identify solutions and promote innovation
• Lead research efforts on philanthropic and marketing trends and the latest tools (e.g., AI) to innovate plans, systems, and practices 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• 10+ years of experience in fundraising, marketing, sales, or business development with at least 5 years of experience managing and developing a team
• A strong commitment to EdVoice’s mission of reshaping public education in California so that students from low-income communities have futures filled with opportunity
• Knowledge of evolving philanthropy and marketing trends within the education, nonprofit, political, and advocacy sectors 
• Track record of developing and executing highly successful digital fundraising campaigns
• Experience in utilizing CRM software and tools and skilled in refining organizational infrastructure for enhanced efficiency; commitment to using technology to enhance impact
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to track, analyze, and report on the performance of donor and community initiatives
• Efficient and detail-oriented, with a strategic thinking mindset; comfortable flexing between strategy and execution
• Ability to build strong cross-department relationships and actively collaborate while managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and meet deadlines
• High level of ethics, integrity, and accountability with the ability to exercise discretion
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus

EdVoice is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all races, national origins, ages, religions, creeds, veteran or disabled statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities, or gender expressions. Please visit our website for more information at www.edvoice.org.

Application and Hiring Process

We are excited to review your application! To apply, please submit your resume to resumes@leveledtalent.com. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so it is in the candidates’ best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Please note: Only applicants who submit materials through our search partner Leveled Talent will be considered.