July 14th, 2025
Detroit Horse Power
About the Organization
Detroit Horse Power is set to construct an unmatched new facility that will scale its innovative equine-assisted social-emotional learning program for Detroit youth. The organization is looking for a purpose-driven, catalytic leader who will leverage their previous fund development experience to bring an enhanced level of sophistication to the organization’s development department. This comes at a critical time in Detroit Horse Power’s growing impact after launching our Stable Future Fund - a $2 Million campaign to support 18 months of expanded youth programming following our successful capital campaign. Join us as we prepare to open and operate the largest urban equestrian center in the nation and scale the unique youth programming that Detroiters deserve!
This full-time role will report to the Executive Director and include moderate travel expectations concentrated in metro Detroit. Key responsibilities will focus on driving fundraising activities across multiple stakeholder groups - individuals, foundations, and corporations. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of professional fundraising experience and the ability to routinize the organization’s development practices for consistent progression through the donor life cycle. In addition, the candidate must be able to embrace and articulate DHP’s mission to promote social-emotional learning and community transformation through the power of horses. DHP believes this position provides a great opportunity for an emerging development leader or a seasoned practitioner to apply their skills to a growing organization and maximize its potential for Detroit’s future.
Job Description
Position salary range: $70,000-$80,000
Position reports to: Executive Director
Key Responsibilities
●Builds and implements a cohesive annual fund strategy to deepen engagement at each stage of the donor life cycle using tangible, cost-effective and standardized methods.
●In the first 90 days, absorbs the organization’s history and current development efforts, particularly the Stable Future Fund. Uses this knowledge to serve as an articulate, passionate and visible spokesperson to communicate DHP’s mission, goals and accomplishments to donors, prospective supporters, and the broader community.
●Develops a comprehensive fundraising marketing calendar synced to the development goals in partnership with public relations partners.
●Engages, solicits, and stewards individual donors, corporations and foundations to maximize donor capacity. Enhances donor base by identifying potential funders and tracking existing supporters across these stakeholder groups.
●Supports Executive Director’s priorities to engage major donors, enabling him to achieve his fundraising goals and responsibilities.
●Leads all fundraising events, highlighted by the annual gala, focused on sponsorship and donor relationships. Coordinates with events specialist to ensure successful implementation of all event logistics.
●Leads Development Committee with elevated structure and purpose. Engages these volunteers and Board of Directors for strategic guidance and expanded network to grow organizational support.
●Manages external grant writer to prioritize upcoming applications, review and submit materials, and complete reporting requirements within deadlines.
●Understands organizational brand standards to deliver fundraising materials and direct mail appeal in a consistent organizational voice that communicates the impact on and experience of Detroit Horse Power’s participants.
●Directly manages Development & Operations Manager to support goals of this position, including to create impactful communication materials to support philanthropic efforts - monthly newsletter, regular social media, and annual report.
●Ensures ethical and appropriate financial administration of contributed income, including overseeing the donor and prospect records, gift processing and donor stewardship functions.
Skills & Qualifications
●Ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of nonprofit development experience that will translate donor development best practices into Detroit Horse Power’s context.
●Proven relationship manager who recognizes the importance of outreach and partnerships for advancing the organizational mission.
●Self-starter with strong initiative, while maintaining a willingness to work in a collaborative and team-based organization.
●Knowledge of the Detroit philanthropic community.
●Experience supervising staff preferred.
●Solid, persuasive writing & communication skills. Examples will be expected during review process.
●Experience with social media strategy and platforms.
●Understanding of marketing and public relations with experience developing inspiring and informative donor collateral.
●Experience with Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred.
●Embrace a culture of philanthropy and have a strong understanding of the donor development cycle.
●Passion for education, racial justice, and youth development.
●Ability to work with diverse groups of young adults in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial team environment.
Beyond DHP’s mission, the organization offers benefits that help our employees live their best lives and grow personally and professionally. We are always seeking to improve and evaluate our benefits to better meet and serve the needs of our people. Current benefits include: medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, ability to work from home, flexible work schedule, monthly technology reimbursement, casual dress code and unlimited PTO.
Detroit Horse Power is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Detroit Horse Power encourages people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); those who are first in their family to attend college; LGBTQIA+ community; and people from low-income backgrounds.
Qualified applicants should submit their resume and a letter of interest that highlights examples of fundraising achievements during the past 12-24 months to hiring@detroithorsepower.org by August 15, 2025.
Contact email for applicants hiring@detroithorsepower.org