Director of Advancement

PALS is a growing nonprofit that creates inclusive camp experiences for individuals with and without Down syndrome. Our programs are led by volunteers and have been designed to change attitudes, transform lives, and inspire a world of belonging. As an organization committed to a more inclusive world, we recognize the importance of having our community reflect the areas we serve. The importance of our mission—the need for young people both with and without Down syndrome to find connection and purpose—requires us to build a community beyond that of the typical camp world. This is an exciting opportunity for an eager and creative Development professional to join the PALS team as we build towards a bold and targeted 2025 Strategic Plan.

The Director of Advancement will drive efforts to build sustainable and growing contributed revenue to support PALS’ mission. The Director will plan, organize, and direct all of PALS’ fundraising, including grant writing, major gifts, the annual giving campaign, and grassroots initiatives led by volunteers. The Director will maintain the donor management system, and work to strengthen relationships with its greatest supporters. This position will be responsible for managing a small team including a Development Coordinator and a part-time Associate.

The Director of Advancement reports to the Executive Director and, as a member of the leadership team, directs the organization’s fundraising and public engagement efforts. With a primary focus on donor strategy, the Director of Advancement leads the advancement team in development, communication, and brand management efforts. The advancement team serves to engage current and new supporters, increase financial investment in PALS, and build an increasingly strong and diverse network of partners across the country. The Director of Advancement works with the Executive Director to cultivate and request major contributions and support from individuals.

Responsibilities & Desired Outcomes

1. Design and coordinate the execution of an annual fundraising operation earning at least $750,000 in year one, with growth goals every year.
2. Evaluate the current effectiveness of a grassroots fundraising and annual giving campaign, proposing new ideas to best engage the full PALS community in fundraising efforts.
3. Guide and hold accountability for PALS marketing efforts and mission promotion work to ensure professional, inspiring, and strong branding in all external communications.
4. Research, identify, and steward institutional partnerships on a national level, specifically with corporations, universities, and mission-aligned organizations to bolster both fundraising and participant recruitment efforts.
5. Manage the Development Coordinator, supporting their goals to align efforts to further develop PALS’ reach.
6. Report to and work with Executive Director, prepare reports on team progress, problem-solve as needed and lead other administrative projects

    

Skills & Experience we are looking for:

• Utilize specific development experience. We need a development professional who can bring insights and takeaways from past experience to their job.
• Passion for being a teammate. You are part of a small staff team, and a large PALS community. We need someone who can communicate and collaborate with all of the PALS network.
• Communicate effectively in person, via email, on video chat, and at public events.
• Bring professionalism and confidence. PALS is at a critical stage of development, and we are looking for a leader who can set and meet clear timelines, manage simultaneous projects, and react appropriately and thoughtfully when new situations arise.
• Believe in PALS’ mission. Working for PALS requires a connection to our mission. This might be experience in the Down syndrome or disability community or a strong passion for inclusive communities. PALS is personal for so many of us, and we refer to that motivation as our “Why PALS.”
• Be structured and creative. Working for PALS at this stage in our life cycle requires someone who is able to build and execute within strong processes and structures, and someone who is willing and able to think creatively and experiment with new ways of engaging our community.
• We need someone who is self-motivated and proactive. We need someone comfortable with technology needed to do this job including, but not limited to: Google Workspace, Salesforce, Asana, and zoom.

PALS is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workspace. We recognize that this takes consistent work and are committed to continual improvement. We believe that diverse ideas, cultures, and traditions reflect the broad diversity of the U.S. and are essential to building our vision of a community of belonging. PALS encourages applicants to describe in their cover letter the unique contributions they, as individuals with diverse experiences, would bring to the organization. We particularly encourage BIPOC (Black people, Indigenous peoples, and People of Color) to apply.

Terms & Compensation

This position is full-time, at-will, and with an expectation of approximately 40 hours/week with a salary range of $70,000 - $90,000. The employee will work remotely and will need an appropriate work space where they can make phone calls, participate in video conferences, and work independently every day. PALS is a fully remote team and this position may live anywhere in the country, with a preference for residing in or near one of PALS Hubs (CA, WA, OH, IL, and the east coast from ME to NC). This position will require travel to meet with donors and expand fundraising and partnership opportunities when it is safe and appropriate to do so. PALS will provide the employee with a laptop, a $50 monthly reimbursement for internet/cell, and a monthly $350 reimbursement for health care premium.

To Apply:

• Submit a resume and cover letter to hiring@palsprograms.org
• In your cover letter, please include not only your experiences and skills, but also specifics about this job that excite you.
• Optional: In lieu of a cover letter, you may submit a 2-4 minute self-recorded video telling us a bit about yourself and why you are interested specifically in this job.
• In addition to the resume & cover letter, complete an application here