If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!
PNP Staffing Group is excited to have been retained by GRIP Training Institute to lead their search for a Development Director.
Salary: 120,000 – 140,000
Comprehensive Benefits: See below
Location / Schedule: Mostly remote in Oakland, CA
The Organization:
The GRIP program has been developed over 25 years of direct work with thousands of incarcerated people, mostly people with violent offenses, and their victims/survivors. The program started at San Quentin State Prison and now offers an in-depth journey where the participants are able to understand and transform their violent behavior and replace it with an attitude of mindfulness and emotional intelligence.
We believe that the best and most effective way for GRIP to attract and sustain the investment needed to fulfill its mission is through building a robust and collective community of people and organizations inspired by and committed to healing the impact of systemic and individual violence. We build deep personal relationships, and complement that with a rich mix of fundraising methods and tactical tools, to invite support from individuals, private foundations, and government and public entities.
Our development team is the source of energy and love that enables transformational giving to happen. For us fundraising is not a transaction, it is transformation. We take committed and right action each day to support the GRIP team in inviting transformational gifts that will change the human story towards compassion, healing, and accountability. We are grateful for the donations, and the people that provide them, and treat each as partners in this work.
Position Overview:
As the GRIP Training Institute sets out to scale its program and impact, the Development Director will provide mission-driven leadership and strategy in all aspects of fundraising including campaigns, events, communications, prospect research, donor stewardship, and donor communications. The Director collaborates closely with the Executive Director, staff, and Board of Directors to promote the organization’s mission and values and grow the base of donor support.
The Development Director will lead and implement a range of strategies, spearheading development efforts by reflecting the values of GRIP of relationship, healing, human connection and gratitude as GRIP continues to grow and expand its reach and impact throughout California. They will report to the Executive Director, manage three fundraising staff members (Senior Advisor of Partnerships and Growth, Grants Manager, and Development Associate), and serve on the Domain’s Leadership team. The Development Director will have a passion for restorative justice as well as a commitment to racial equity and applying an equity lens to the work and relationships.
Key Responsibilities:
The Director will be responsible for a wide range of functions, including but not limited to:
● Sustainable Fundraising Strategy and Execution: Carry out our multi-year fund development strategies that balance short-term impactful action with long-term strategic thinking, in collaboration with executive leadership. Ensure through a variety of strategies that the organization raises the needed funds each year for sustainability and growth (in 2026: minimum $2.6 million and growing each year).
● Domain Infrastructure and Team: Build and lead the Development team including effectively deploying existing resources of board leaders and executive leadership, identifying and securing additional staff/contract resources needed to deliver on the strategy. Oversee management of existing systems and development of new systems to create efficiencies and improve analysis, reporting and communications needed to meet fundraising targets.
● Culture of Gratitude: Ensure that our fund development strategy is in line with our core value of human compassion and our commitment to transformation. The Development Director will embody and model a culture of gratitude and generosity, individually and systemically, ensuring that we appreciate our donors, partners, and ourselves, so that the way we raise funds is a reflection of these values.
● Donor Cultivation and Stewardship: In collaboration with our Senior Advisor, Partnerships & Growth, sustain and grow our individual and major donor program. Design and lead the team in cultivation/stewardship of donors to create a committed group of lead donors for GRIP. Lead planning and oversee execution of fundraising events that cultivate new major donors and deepen investment of existing donors.
● Foundation and Government Grants: In collaboration with our Grants Manager, build on the successful track record of government grant funding and aligned foundation support to lead the development and implementation of the strategy to sustain and grow Foundation and Government Grants. Support key relationships with foundation and CDCR funding decision-makers. Oversee grant writing efforts.
● Donor Communications: In Partnership with the Executive Director, build out and execute a communication strategy with multiple touch points for various donor groups. Lead and partner with other GRIP staff to implement the plans across the organization, which includes designing, writing, and disseminating materials across various platforms (social media, website, brochures, presentations, newsletters, holiday cards, action alerts) and large scale fund-raising campaigns.
● Budget Ownership and Projections: In collaboration with our Deputy Director, Finance & Operations, create and manage the domain’s expense budget, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and financial parameters. Create and maintain fundraising projections for our leadership team and Board to ensure data-driven decision making.
● Board and Fund Development Committee Liaison: Serve as primary point of contact to the Board of Directors regarding fundraising activities, and support the onboarding of our new fund development committee.
● Messaging, Public Representation and Strategic Partnerships: In collaboration with ED and Senior Advisor, Partnerships & Growth, develop key messaging to catalyze and inform donor giving at multiple levels, leveraging online and offline vehicles. Represent GRIP at key events and meetings that expand our opportunity to cultivate strategic relationships among aligned coalitions and collaborating organizations to promote shared learning, greater advocacy and expanded field development for criminal justice reform.
● Collaborative Organizational Leadership: Contribute to the leadership team, collaborating with other Domain leaders to ensure organizational excellence is achieved across the organization. Present and engage with the board on fundraising strategy.
Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in work experience.
● 10+ years of fundraising experience (ideally at organizations with budgets of $3m and above), and 5+ years of experience at a director-level capacity.
● Demonstrated experience in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts from individual donors; adept at building strong prospect lists and developing lasting relationships with donors to ensure ongoing support.
● In-depth understanding of philanthropic networks in the Bay Area and throughout California.
● Experience managing communications, marketing, and social media strategies.
● A proven track record of leading a development team through growth periods.
● Exceptional people management skills; ability to establish credibility and trust among staff and a wide array of stakeholders; has managed and developed teams to have shared ownership and deliver high-quality results.
● Handle sensitive information with a high degree of professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
● Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail and follow-through.
● Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and juggle shifting priorities in a fast paced environment. Experience at a fully remote organization is a plus.
● Willingness to explore process improvements, potentially by leveraging AI and learning new systems and technologies.
● Practice emotional intelligence and self-awareness; handle conflict skillfully.
● Strong understanding of the impact of systems of oppression on communities of color.
● Willingness to travel to prisons and other remote locations for events and meetings.
● Must possess a valid CA driver’s license and liability insurance.
● Capacity to get cleared to enter California state prisons.
● Desired attributes: lived experience connected to incarceration and violence, and experience with restorative justice practices.
Benefits:
The GRIP Training Institute offers its staff competitive benefits, including 100% paid health and dental/vision insurance, 401k plan, 15 days PTO, generous paid holidays and office closures during winter breaks, as well as professional development.
GRIP’s office is located in the Restore Oakland building. The schedule is mostly remote, with expectations for meetings in the East Bay and travel for fundraising purposes throughout California.
GRIP is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. We strongly encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented communities and people impacted by the criminal justice system.
To apply: Please send a resume and tailored cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience to: Wade Savitt, Executive Recruiter with PNP Staffing Group. wsavitt@pnpstaffinggroup.com