About U.S. Digital Response
U.S. Digital Response (USDR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps governments and organizations respond quickly and efficiently to support the critical needs of the public.
Leveraging an amazing internal team along with a network of pro-bono technical experts, USDR addresses and uncovers solutions for common, systemic challenges that public servants are facing. We operate with humility and deep respect for our partners and believe that modern and resilient technology applied in the public interest can deliver people-centered services at the speed of need.
Since March 2020, USDR’s projects have impacted people in 47 U.S. states and territories. We've built deep partnerships with over 500 government and nonprofit partners, strong expertise across more than 550 projects, and repeatable processes to solve some of the most pressing challenges in order to help state and local governments meet the critical needs of people today, while building digital resilience to withstand the crises of tomorrow.
Learn more about our recent work in our 2023 annual impact report.
About Fundraising and Development at USDR
U.S. Digital Response is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and, as such, we rely on the generosity of external funding sources to sustain our organization. To date, our work has primarily been funded by private foundations.
In 2025, we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of USDR’s founding during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis. As we look ahead to the next five years, we aim to build on the strong momentum we have created and broaden our impact. Achieving our mission requires sustained support from a continually growing and diversified revenue base.
About the Role
The Development Director at USDR will shape and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies to secure long-term, multi-year revenue, with a focus on major institutional donors and foundations. Working directly with the CEO, this senior leader will oversee all aspects of development, including relationship building, strategy execution, and donor communications. The role includes setting and achieving annual revenue targets, building and maintaining funder relationships, and ensuring compelling communication of USDR's unique impact in the public interest tech ecosystem. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer and serves on the senior leadership team.
You’re excited about this opportunity because you will…
Provide Strategic Leadership - 40%
- Lead all of USDR’s contributed and philanthropic revenue generation efforts, with a focus on institutions, foundations and major donors
- Partner with CEO and Executive Team to set annual and multi-year fundraising targets aligned with USDR’s long-term goals and mission
- Develop and implement a coordinated, year-round fundraising strategic plan and timetable, and monitor ongoing results vs. targets
- Provide strategic guidance on funding opportunities to inform resource allocation and program development
- Represent fundraising to USDR’s leadership team and organization, sharing best practices with the ethos that “fundraising is a team sport”
Plan and Execute Revenue Generation Efforts - 40%
- Drive revenue goals in collaboration with the Executive Team, program leadership, finance, and marketing
- Develop and execute a comprehensive, multi-faceted development effort encompassing prospecting, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship
- Partner with program leaders to develop and align earned revenue strategies with the overall development effort, ensuring a coordinated organizational approach to sustainability
- Strengthen relationships with existing funders and oversee comprehensive donor communications strategy
- Create high-quality, donor-specific pitches, grant applications, and proposals that effectively communicate USDR's value proposition for different funder segments
- Establish and implement best practices for funder cultivation and stewardship across donor segments
Lead Project Management - 20%
- Lead project management across development efforts, facilitating internal fundraising meetings and cross-functional collaboration
- Oversee CRM and grant tracking/reporting efforts, ensuring accurate donor information, timely reporting, and proactive pipeline management
- Partner with the marketing team and program leadership to generate compelling content that showcases USDR's impact
- Coordinate quarterly reports and personalized correspondence with individual and foundation donors
We’re excited about you because you have/are…
- 10+ years of professional fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in securing $10-20M+ annually in institutional funding
- 5+ years of experience leading and managing high-performing development teams
- Demonstrated track record of meeting ambitious revenue goals and building sustainable donor relationships
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with ability to craft compelling donor narratives
- Strong process orientation and exceptional project management capabilities
- Strategic thinker with ability to align fundraising initiatives with organizational mission
- Experience working collaboratively with executive leadership and boards
- Proven success in building and maintaining cross-functional relationships
- Thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments
- Deep commitment to USDR's mission and vision
What you’ll get:
- A competitive salary, consistent with similar roles in other tech non-profits in major U.S. metropolitan cities. The annual salary range for this role is $190,000 - $210,000 depending on experience.
- Full health, dental and vision benefits (USDR pays 100% of the cost for our employees and 80% of the cost for their dependents).
- 401K with a matching contribution of up to 3 percent of your pay with $1 for each dollar you contribute and for more than 3 percent and up to 5 percent of your pay with $0.50 for each dollar you contribute.
- An equipment reimbursement for the purchase of a computer and peripheral devices of up to $2,000 along with a Work from Home allowance of $100 each month to support employees as they navigate working from home.
- A discretionary budget of $500 per year per employee for learning and development along with an organization-wide L&D budget to support individuals and teams with work-related learning and development expenses
- A supportive community where everyone can thrive and find a balance between working hard to make a difference and taking care of themselves. This means that we are committed to a fully remote work environment (for US-based employees) along with flexible schedules and time off policies that work with your life.
About USDR Salary Practices
At USDR, we aspire to be an organization where our employees not only sustain, but thrive. We compensate every employee based on the belief that they are fully performing in their role – meaning they demonstrate our values, perform the responsibilities, and meet the expectations of their individual role.
Each job at USDR is leveled based on the business need for the role, and the salary band is determined based on market data for similar roles in the tech industry.
New hires who signal full proficiency toward the job requirements will likely be offered the mid-point of our salary range.
Work Authorization
All USDR staff members work remotely in support of flexibility, wellness, and work-life balance. At this time, USDR is only hiring candidates who reside in the United States, and who have and maintain active U.S. Work Authorization.
USDR uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all new employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.DHS.gov/E-Verify.
Equal Employment Opportunity
U.S. Digital Response is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse staff. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation), disability status, protected veteran status, political party affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We encourage and welcome all interested potential applicants, regardless of background or prior experience volunteering with U.S. Digital Response, to apply.
Please note that the EEO questionnaire included in our job application is dictated by federal government regulations, and does not reflect USDR’s position on gender inclusivity.