Development Director

About Economic Policy Institute (EPI)  

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a nonpartisan nonprofit that uses rigorous economic research and analysis to advance policies that promote a fair and just economy where workers thrive, power is shared equitably, and structural racism and gender inequities are dismantled. EPI’s research influences national, state, and local economic policy debates and is widely cited in the media.   

Job Title: Development Director 

The Development Director will lead EPI’s fundraising strategy and operations, deepen and expand philanthropic support, and bring outstanding organizational and process-management skills to ensure fundraising systems, timelines, and workflows are effective, disciplined, and scalable. This is a senior leadership role that will collaborate across departments to build a sustainable, diversified revenue base for EPI’s mission-driven work.  

The Development Director supervises two staff— the Associate Director of Development and the Senior Development Associate—and is a part of the senior management team, reporting to the Executive Vice President. 

This position is in our Washington, DC office and is on a hybrid schedule with in-person work at least two days per week (currently Tuesday and Wednesday). 

What You Will Do 

The main responsibilities of the Development Director: 

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy and annual work plan to meet revenue goals.  
• Equip senior leaders with timely tools, well-researched briefings, and accurate analysis for effective donor conversations. 
• Partner with the President, Executive Vice President, and senior leadership to align fundraising priorities with organizational strategy. 

Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship 

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new and existing donors including foundations, high-net-worth individuals, small dollar donors, and unions.  
• Oversee stewardship plans that strengthen donor loyalty and long-term support. 

Grant Writing & Management 

• Lead proposal development, submissions, and reporting to institutional funders.  
• Ensure timely acknowledgment of awards, compliance with funder requirements, and high-quality impact reporting. 
• Work closely with EPI’s Finance team to ensure grant tracking and management is aligned and accurate. 

Support Board Engagement on Fundraising 

• Support EPI’s President in engaging and informing the Board on development, fundraising goals, pipeline health, and stewardship strategies.  
• Communications & External Representation 
• Work closely with communications staff to craft compelling fundraising collateral, impact reports, donor stories, and case statements.  
• Represent EPI at events, meetings, and in networks that advance visibility and fundraising outcomes. 

Team Management & Infrastructure 

• Design, implement, and continuously improve development systems, processes, and workflows to support efficient fundraising operations, strong coordination across teams, and clear accountability. 
• Ensure high standards of organization, documentation, and project management across proposals, donor engagement, reporting, and stewardship. 
• Provide ongoing guidance and motivation to the development team and provide oversight to consultants as needed.
• Evaluate the development team's performance and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth at varying points in their career trajectories. 

Who You Are 

Desired qualities and experience: 

Proficiency in: 

• Demonstrated success in securing and stewarding institutional donors.  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proposal and case statement writing. 

• Outstanding organizational, process-management, and project-management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage complex fundraising pipelines, deadlines, and cross-departmental collaboration. 

• Strong attention to detail alongside the ability to prioritize, plan, and execute multiple workstreams simultaneously 

• Commitment to EPI’s mission of economic justice, equity, and policy impact 

• Knowledge of national philanthropic landscape and funder priorities in economic justice, labor, and equity.  

• Familiarity with donor CRM platforms (e.g., Raiser’s Edge).  

• Experience supporting senior leadership in fundraising roles.  

• A spirit of curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning that supports a deep understanding of EPI’s research, policy priorities, and organizational strategy. While program staff and senior leadership typically lead funder briefings, the successful candidate will develop the insight and institutional knowledge needed to identify strategic fundraising opportunities, shape compelling cases for support, and design proactive fundraising strategies aligned with EPI’s priorities. 

Experience: Minimum 7–10+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience with a strong track record of meeting and exceeding revenue goals. 

EPI is a unionized workplace with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). 

This position is not in the bargaining unit and reports to the Executive Vice President.  

The Development Director supervises unionized staff— the Associate Director of Development and the Senior Development Associate—and is a part of the senior management team.  

Compensation & Benefits 

The salary for this position ranges from $145,000-$175,000, dependent on experience, plus benefits.   

EPI offers an excellent benefits package, including generous paid time off, a 9.25% employer-provided 401k retirement contribution, partial tuition reimbursement, twelve weeks of parental leave, and fully employer-funded medical, vision, dental, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance for individual employees.  

As a condition of employment, EPI requires all staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination which meets the guidelines as defined by D.C. Health. 

To Apply 

Submit your resume and a thoughtful cover letter detailing your experience designing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies. In particular, please focus on highlighting your work with institutional giving, annual campaigns, small donor contributors, events, and planned giving. Please provide a sample fundraising success story or summary of a major proposal you led. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

EPI believes that having a diverse and inclusive workplace not only strengthens the institute’s work but is also essential for understanding and creating economic policies that support all working people. We encourage applicants who bring lived experience and nontraditional backgrounds to apply to our positions. 

EPI is an equal opportunity, fair chance, affirmative action employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior history of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, caregiver status, or other categories protected by law.  

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