May 21st, 2025
African American Policy Forum
About the Organization
Founded in 1996, The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. We utilize new ideas and innovative perspectives to transform public discourse and policy. We promote frameworks and strategies that address a vision of racial justice that embraces the intersections of race, gender, class, and the array of barriers that disempower those who are marginalized in society. AAPF is dedicated to advancing and expanding racial justice, gender equality, and the indivisibility of all human rights, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Job Description
Job Title Director of Development
Position salary range: $130,000-$150,000
The African American Policy Forum seeks an inaugural Director of Development to play a pivotal role in building the infrastructure and strategy to sustain AAPF’s bold vision for racial and gender justice. As the organization continues to mature and develop strategies to ensure its resiliency, this leader will shape and execute a comprehensive fundraising program that aligns with AAPF’s values, voice, and intellectual leadership. This is a critical time for AAPF—and for the broader movement—and this role is designed for a development leader who brings the clarity, creativity, and conviction to help AAPF meet the urgency of the moment with sustained resources and strategy. The Director of Development position is made possible by recent catalytic investments from key funders and reflects AAPF’s commitment to professionalizing its internal systems and resourcing its ambitious agenda; the right candidate will recognize both the opportunity and the challenge of building a development function within a deeply intellectual, evolving, and mission-driven environment.
Reporting directly to Co-Founder and Executive Director, the Director of Development will serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and the entire organization, This leader will play a pivotal role in sharpening and communicating AAPF’s case for support, building and managing a high-performing development team, strengthening foundation relationships, and launching a new individual giving program to diversify and grow the organization’s funding base.
As the senior fundraising leader, the Director is responsible for preparing and implementing an annual fundraising plan and related collateral including projections, timetables, and deliverables, that will detail how AAPF will meet its philanthropic fundraising goals. They will oversee all fundraising activities and initiatives for AAPF, including grants management, individual giving, annual planning, corporate sponsorship, and reporting including assembling the organization’s end-of-year report. As the organization develops long-term plans for financial sustainability, key collaborators with the Director of Development will include the Executive Director, the Director of Finance and the Vice President of People and Culture.
Select Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that reflects AAPF’s mission, values, and evolving organizational priorities.
- Partner with leadership to clarify AAPF’s value proposition and develop compelling donor communications that translate AAPF’s intellectual work into funding narratives.
- Deepen and expand existing institutional relationships across family foundation, corporate, and government funders.
- Lead grant strategy and proposal development in collaboration with the Executive Director and Program staff, and ensure thoughtful stewardship, reporting, and compliance. Hire 1 FTE who will support this work.
Select Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in nonprofit development and fundraising; demonstrated effectiveness in cultivating, raising, and managing funds from institutional donors and individuals.
- Practical working knowledge of Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality to credibly ground and inform the organization’s fundraising strategy
- Demonstrated familiarity with AAPF mission, programs, and initiatives, with a willingness to deepen that knowledge to ensure alignment and strategic support through tailored fundraising content and outreach efforts
- Prior experience managing a team.
Additional information This position is a full-time hybrid role based in New York City. The expectation is for this person to be
in office three days a week, with Monday and Friday being remote days.