[Hiring] Senior Director of Development @Unify America

Role Description

We are seeking a bold, relationship-driven, and deeply organized Senior Director of Development, Unify Ohio, to lead an ambitious civic fundraising effort in Ohio. Working in close partnership with the Chief of U.S. Democracy Leagues, this role builds the statewide funding base, equips local leaders to raise money in their own communities, and supports the pipeline of Ohio cities ready to plant, launch, and sustain a local Democracy League.

This role owns one big, hairy, audacious goal: $30 million raised by 2030 . That money is what turns Akron’s proof of concept into a statewide movement, engages tens of thousands across the state, and lays the groundwork for a statewide Ohio Civic Assembly. This Ohio Expansion Fund is designed to build and steward a statewide pooled fund that gives new Leagues predictable launch and early-growth resources.

You will be the Chief of U.S. Democracy Leagues’ closest partner on Ohio growth. Together, you’ll decide where Leagues launch and how they’re funded. You’ll build a statewide portfolio of funders who believe in Ohio, and you’ll coach local leaders so each League can raise its own money and stand on its own. You’ll spend a lot of time in Ohio communities—meeting civic leaders, foundations, executives, and elected officials—because Leagues grow through trusted local relationships, not cold outreach.

Key Responsibilities

• Statewide Campaign Strategy & Leadership:
  • Design and lead a multi-year Ohio campaign plan with annual targets, a gift-range chart, and a clear mix of foundation, corporate, individual, and public-sector support.
  • Turn Akron’s results and the statewide vision into a compelling case for support, proposals, pitch decks, and impact reports, working with our Creative and Strategic Relations teams.
• Giving & Advisory Growth Team:
  • Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward Ohio individuals, building a clear path from first gift to major and principal gifts, with a managed portfolio and regular moves plans.
  • Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward national, regional, or Ohio-based foundations and major corporations with a stake in Ohio.
  • Recruit and lead a statewide advisory growth team of business, philanthropic, and civic leaders—across the political spectrum and from every region of Ohio—who open doors, make introductions, give, and help raise.
• Expansion & Local Capacity Building:
  • Work with the Chief of U.S. Democracy Leagues to ensure each new League has a realistic, locally anchored funding plan before launch and a path to multi-year sustainability afterward.
  • Track what fundraising efforts are working across cities and feed lessons back into the expansion playbook.
  • Train and support local Executive Directors, boards, and steering committees to build their own donor bases, write grants, run campaigns, and steward funders.
  • Create repeatable tools—templates, prospect research guides, gift-range charts, pitch materials—that any Ohio League can pick up and use.
  • Coordinate statewide and local asks so Leagues aren’t competing for the same funders, and so statewide money unlocks local money rather than replacing it.
• Partnership, Systems & Reporting:
  • Serve as the primary relationship manager for Ohio funders, leading briefings, site visits, and Assembly observations.
  • Coordinate closely with fellow development leaders to align national and Ohio strategy and avoid duplicate asks.
  • Uphold Unify America’s nonpartisan commitments, including clear separation between funders and the independent recommendations of Civic Assemblies.
  • Keep the Ohio pipeline, campaign progress, gift agreements, and reporting deadlines accurate and up to date in HubSpot, with regular dashboards for leadership and the Board.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of progressive professional fundraising experience, with a proven track record of securing major individual gifts, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships ($100k+ level).
• Masterful grant writing, storytelling, and proposal crafting skills, with an ability to communicate complex civic concepts simply and persuasively.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate institutional giving trends, align program goals with funder priorities, and build multi-year revenue projections.
• Meticulous attention to relationships and the details that steward them forward, including CRM management (HubSpot preferred).
• Passionate about civic bridge-building, reducing polarization, and strengthening American democracy.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k match up to 5%.
• Internet and phone reimbursement.
• A healthy, appreciative, feedback-driven workplace.
• Flexible, self-managed PTO.

Ready to Apply?

If you are an ambitious development leader excited to build institutional support for Unify America in Ohio, we want to hear from you! Your application materials should include a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and grant writing track record, along with your resume combined into one PDF.

Let’s build something extraordinary together!