Senior Development Director

Role: Senior Development Director, Full-time
Role Purpose: Scale up and lead Climate Cabinet’s fundraising strategy to accelerate our impact in climate, democracy, and policy.
Location and Travel Expectations: Remote in the U.S., based near San Francisco, CA, Seattle, Washington, or New York, NY preferred. This role involves up to 20% expected travel for funder meetings, major events, and team meetings and retreats. Evening hours are occasionally required to fulfill the duties of this position.
Timeframe: Priority deadline for applications is November 30th, 2025. Target start date is January 2026. We recognize senior fundraising transitions can require notice. While this is our preferred start date, we are able to flex for the right candidate.

About Climate Cabinet

Climate Cabinet helps state and local champions win on climate. We support high-impact, under-the-radar offices who have “outsized impact” on our ability to solve the climate crisis - from clean energy buildout to zero-carbon transportation. These leaders drive progress regardless of who is in the White House. 

We are a dynamic, passionate team of experienced climate experts with staff on-the-ground across the country and a remote-first workplace. We create a clear, kind culture of agency and growth—sharing expectations openly, giving space for initiative, and supporting one another as full people to build their climate movement leadership in service of our climate mission.

Role Summary

We’re looking for a Senior Development Director to help us shape the future of clean energy and climate progress. Reporting to and working very closely with the Executive Director, this new role will scale and lead Climate Cabinet’s fundraising growth strategy over the next several years—designing fundraising strategies, cultivating foundation relationships, building scalable systems, and delivering impact throughout both policy and politics. This role serves as the organization’s most senior fundraising leader and has decision authority over the foundation strategy and Development operations. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced development leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, systems-building, relationships, and storytelling. You are motivated by leveraging the strong foundation we’ve built and leading a Development Team composed of two direct reports, the Director of Major Gifts and the Development and Operations Manager, to help funders see how their investment drives climate and democracy impact. Few development roles offer the chance to drive impact across multiple different types of organizations, including both nonprofit and political organizations. Join us if you’re ready to work across our organization to shape one of the most unique development portfolios in the climate space at local, state and national levels! 

Responsibilities

Foundation Strategy & Narrative Leadership

• Synthesize funder and field trends to shape a forward-looking fundraising strategy.
• Lead and execute all foundation fundraising efforts, including proposals, reports, and budget narratives.
• Translate complex ideas into clear, fundable concepts that connect program impact to funder priorities.
• Identify and package new funding opportunities in response to time-sensitive inquiries.

Development Team Leadership & Systems Design

• Lead the Development Team and drive impact through fundraising strategy, relationships, goals and performance across 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and other distinct legal entities. 
• Manage and coach two direct reports (Director of Major Gifts and Development & Operations Manager), setting priorities, supporting growth, and ensuring alignment across the development function.
• ​​Design the development function for scale, building from a startup foundation to durable systems, processes, and rhythms
• Build and maintain systems for proposal creation, reporting, and tracking—enabling collaboration across Development, Finance, Programs, and Comms.
• Partner closely with the Executive Director on narrative coherence and high-level funder relationships.
• Represent the Development function in organization-wide planning and cross-functional alignment.

What Success Looks Like

• Climate Cabinet’s funding narrative reflects its bold vision for impact in climate and democracy.
• Foundation fundraising strategy drives the next tier of 501c3 and 501c4 philanthropic investment (six- to seven-figure grants) and achieves or surpasses goals for sustained institutional partnerships.
• Development goals are consistently met or exceeded.
• Development systems enable clarity, accountability, and shared ownership.
• Proposals and reports reflect exceptional narrative quality and strategic alignment.
• Team members operate with autonomy, collaboration, and growth.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Fundraising Strategy & Vision-Setting: Synthesizes funder trends, program priorities, and the climate-policy landscape.
• Systems Leadership & Adaptive Execution: Builds, scales and improves full donor/funder lifecycle systems—including funnel/tracking (“moves management”) for both individual givers and foundations.
• CRM & Technology Fluency: Proficient with CRMs and fundraising platforms, leveraging technology and AI to enhance pipeline management and impact tracking.
• Grant Writing & Storytelling Excellence: Writes and edits compelling grants, reports and presentations that clearly connect funding to impact and inspire investment.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Demonstrates a growth mindset—seeks feedback, iterates processes, experiments with new tools, and fosters team learning.
• Climate Philanthropy Expertise: Deep familiarity with climate, clean energy, democracy, and policy philanthropy; 10+ years in foundation fundraising with a proven record securing six- to seven-figure grants.
• Compliance & Multi-Entity Fundraising Experience: Fully fluent in nonprofit and political funding structures, rules, and compliance.
• Operational Leadership & Cross-Team Collaboration: Defines team workplans, decision boundaries, and narrative standards across impact areas; leads a high-performing development function and collaborates across teams.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary Range: $145,000-$198,000, commensurate with skills and experience.
  The national base range for the role is $145,000-$165,000, and we apply geographic adjustments for high-cost labor markets such as Seattle, NYC, and SF Bay Area. (Internal Level for Role: 4)
  
  
• The position offers a competitive benefits package, including: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, with the organization covering nearly 100% of employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums; Unlimited PTO; Basic life insurance and long-term disability; Health FSA and Dependent Care FSA; 401k program enrollment; Paid parental leave; Computer reimbursement stipend.

Application Process

• We are accepting applications via Greenhouse on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of November 30, 2025. Include a resume, LinkedIn page, and answers to our application questions:
• Why do you want to work at Climate Cabinet and in this role? (200 words max)
• Describe a fundraising strategy you’ve led that helped an organization grow or adapt. (200 words max)
• Share an example of how you’ve built or improved a scalable fundraising system or process. (200 words max)
• Where are you based?

• All applications submitted by that date will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy no later than December 18th. 
• The interview process will include approximately three Zoom interviews and reference checks.
• Target start date is January 2026. We recognize senior fundraising transitions can require notice. While this is our preferred start date, we are able to flex for the right candidate.

You should apply! We encourage applications from people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, women, first-gen and low-income people, and members of marginalized communities. Furthermore, if you don’t meet the exact job qualifications listed but feel called to the work — please apply. There are many ways to have developed the expertise necessary to excel in this position.

Climate Cabinet is an equal opportunity employer. Climate Cabinet believes every employee has the right to work in an environment free from unlawful discrimination. Consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, Climate Cabinet provides all employees and applicants with equal opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship. This includes employment decisions related to hiring, promotions, transfers, disciplinary action, termination, and training. Climate Cabinet will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment.

Want to learn more about Climate Cabinet? Check out our recent interview on Volts and climatecabinet.org.