Development Officer, New Business Development

Oxfam is a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. We offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action. We demand equal rights and equal treatment so that everyone can thrive, not just survive.

Manage US foundation fundraising and donor stewardship for a portfolio of donors and donor prospects supporting domestic and international projects focused on fighting inequality through climate action, economic and racial justice, humanitarian response and women’s rights and gender justice. The Development Officer is responsible for identifying competitive funding opportunities, stewardship and renewal of potential humanitarian donors, coordinating emergency fundraising giving and regular engagement, and collaborating across teams to align fundraising strategies with programmatic goals and ensure effective knowledge management and compliance.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

New donor acquisition (35%): Acquire new US-based foundation donors with a minimum six-figure giving capacity.

• Research assigned donor prospects and recommend realistic strategies for solicitations.
• Identify areas of mutual strategic interest between donor prospects and Oxfam programs.
• Develop cultivation materials, including meeting briefs, talking points, and concept notes.
• Serve as Oxfam’s external representative at donor events and meetings.
• Conduct research to identify and qualify competitive funding opportunities, including open calls, letters of interest, requests for proposals (RFPs), etc.
• Create, refine and manage processes to distribute competitive funding opportunities across the Oxfam confederation and garner interest, track submissions and their outcomes.

Donor stewardship & renewals (30%): Manage and grow assigned portfolio of existing US-based foundation donors.

• Lead stewardship activities for a portfolio of existing donors including fostering strong donor relationships through ongoing communication, tailored engagements, and ensuring high quality and timely submission of grant reports.
• Identify opportunities to grow existing relationships including through renewed and increased giving. Lead engagement efforts for additional funding; including the preparation of meeting briefs, talking points, and concept notes. Lead proposal development efforts and processing renewal and new funding grant agreements.
• Prepare, write, and edit compelling donor-facing materials (concept notes, grant proposals, grant budgets, letters, reports, and briefings) as needed.
• Collaborate with the finance and program staff to develop budgets for project proposals.
• Maintain an up-to-date set of guidelines on donor requirements and an overview of key risks, terms, and conditions to provide effective support in grant management and ensure accurate audits and strong compliance.
• Monitor narrative and financial reporting requirements in collaboration with program and finance staff and coordinates preparation of reports for timely submission to donors.
• Elicit program and policy staff agreement on meeting reporting obligations to donors prior to submission of proposals. Assure plans and systems are in place to gather the required project and financial information for reporting according to agreed timetables. Provide ongoing guidance for donor reports.
• Manage program and policy team, finance, support functions, and Oxfam affiliate/country staff relationships to ensure donor expectations are clearly understood and consistently fulfilled.
• Undertake donor-related travel to represent Oxfam and to nurture and expand donor relationships.

Emergency response fundraising and stewardship (15%): Maximize fundraising performance during a humanitarian crises.

• Coordinate with the Oxfam America humanitarian team to collect and prepare information for donors and donor prospects on Oxfam’s emergency response efforts and financial needs. This includes writing, editing, and sharing draft materials with IFP team members within 24-48 hours of disaster’s onset.
• Proactively educate and engage active, lapsed, and prospect donors on Oxfam’s emergency response efforts to build readiness for future giving. This includes developing and distributing bi-annual emergency newsletters as part of Oxfam’s donor engagement strategy.

Knowledge Management (15%): Maximize fundraising performance through managing programs and operational knowledge.

• Proactively engage with Oxfam country/affiliate teams across the confederation and learn about their work for fundraising purposes; share knowledge with IFP colleagues as applicable.
• Be well versed in Oxfam programs and as needed, serve as a resource to staff regarding program knowledge.
• •Collaborate with program and policy staff to make programs and initiatives marketable to funders.
• •Maintain a thorough understanding of applicable Oxfam policies and practices, as well as relevant donor restrictions and be able to effectively communicate those to Oxfam colleagues globally.
• •Maintain timely records of donor engagement activities in Oxfam’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system (Salesforce)

Perform other related duties as required (5%)

POSITION EXPECTATIONS

• Demonstrate Continuous Learning: Stay current with relevant professional standards, trends, donor management, compliance, and tools related to fundraising, stewardship, and donor engagement. Actively engage in learning opportunities to improve performance and effectiveness.
• Collaborate Effectively Across Teams and Partners: Build and maintain strong relationships across diverse, cross-functional internal teams and with external stakeholders such as Oxfam affiliates, partners, country offices, and donors. Contribute to a supportive, team-based culture focused on fostering strong relationships with donors and high-quality donor experience.
• Commit to Equity and Inclusion: Apply gender justice, racial equity, and inclusion practices in all work areas. Contribute to a workplace culture that centers equity.
• Promote a Safe and Accountable Culture: Uphold Oxfam’s safeguarding standard and policies. Support a safe, respectful, and accountable environment for staff, vendors, donors, and the communities we serve.
• Supports Impact-Driven Fundraising: Bring creativity, flexibility, and attention to detail to Resource Development activities. Uses a donor-centered approach and adapts strategies to strengthen supporter relationships and fundraising results.
• Travel and Work Schedule Flexibility: May require occasional evening or weekend work for donor events or campaign deadlines. Minimal travel expected.

• Certification in related field(s) (preferably in a field related to writing, communications, political science or international relations), or associate’s degree, or a combination of education and experience.
• 3-5 years of related experience with successful donor prospecting, donor stewardship, proposal development and grants management for US foundation donors.
• Superior writing, oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong time management, organizational, planning, and administrative skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Software, including Microsoft Excel.
• Proficiency with Salesforce.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic analysis and project planning.
• Ability to work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to use discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
• High degree of initiative and commitment to goal attainment and quality standards.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and practices relative to US foundations.
• Knowledge of restricted funding budget construction and interpretation.

PREFERRRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to communicate in French or Spanish.
• Experience in an issue-oriented non-profit organization or in an international development organization.

Salary Range - $70,000 - $75,000

DC Union - Band F

Oxfam America is a Gender Just organization and an equal opportunity employer. We have a zero tolerance policy for any sexual harassment, exploitation, and/or abuse. We welcome all persons to apply and do not discriminate. We take measures to prevent discrimination against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

We are an E-Verify employer.

For more information, please click on the following links:
E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish
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