Job Information
- Location: Charlottesville/VA or within Appalachian Region
- Close Date: 09/01/2026
- Hiring Organization: Appalachian Voices
- Contact Name: Amanda Leech
- Contact Email: hr@appvoices.org
- Job Website
Description
Position Details
The Director of Strategic Advancement will work closely with organizational leadership to ensure that fundraising revenue from institutional donors meets the needs of the organization. The Director will execute strategies to steward existing institutional funding partnerships, and to identify, cultivate and solicit new philanthropic partners, working closely with Appalachian Voices’ senior leaders to connect funding opportunities to organizational programs. A premium will be placed on the development of written work products of the highest caliber that compellingly and efficiently communicate Appalachian Voices’ complex work to expert foundation audiences.
The Candidate
The ideal Director of Strategic Advancement will be results-oriented and tirelessly committed to the mission of Appalachian Voices. The organization has been successful in building longstanding relationships with many highly impactful institutional funders. The stewardship of these relationships at the highest level and the organization’s ability to develop new foundation partnerships are equally important. This will require a dedicated professional capable of developing a deep and sophisticated understanding of the organization’s multiple programs and delivering top-notch written presentations of our work to an audience of professionals and experts in our field who are focused on impacts and outcomes. Appalachian Voices seeks intellectual rigor, energy and the ability to communicate clearly, compellingly and concisely in the successful candidate who will partner closely with senior leadership to ensure the continued robust support for our work from institutional funders.
Responsibilities
Implement Grants Fundraising Strategy
- Draft hard-hitting grant proposals and reports to compellingly describe the work of Appalachian Voices’ programs, and oversee the development of other ancillary requirements for the entire grant portfolio.
- Package programs for impactful presentations to funders.
- Work closely with staff to prepare strategy and briefing documents for meetings with foundations.
- Work closely with program teams to obtain accurate and up-to-date information on program activities, including qualitative and quantitative data.
- Strategically research foundations for potential funding partnership opportunities.
- Stay closely attuned to philanthropic trends and identify, assess, and successfully pursue new funding opportunities.
Build and Steward Relationships with Existing and Potential Funders
- Build professional relationships with foundation program officers and staff to understand their organizational objectives and to keep them well-informed of achievements and goals.
- Provide informal updates on Appalachian Voices work to funders throughout the year.
Engage with Leadership in Strategic Thought Partnership about the Organization’s Programs and Communications
- Develop deep familiarity with Appalachian Voices’ vision, objectives, theory of change, and strategies.
- Engage with senior leadership to support programmatic planning and work with program leads to ensure effective reporting of their work toward grant objectives and deliverables.
- Ensure that written and oral communications with institutional funders reflect a deep understanding of what we do and why, informed by this engagement at the strategic level.
Broader Development Program Support
- Supervise Grants Writer and Coordinator and ensure proper oversight and management of tracking systems and databases for the grants portfolio.
- In collaboration with senior leadership, and with assistance from Grants Writer and Coordinator, develop annual fundraising plan for grants program and complete annual analysis of the program’s performance.
- Prepare reports for executive leadership and the board of directors on grants program, and present on the program at meetings of the board of directors.
Broader Organizational Support
- Participate in larger organizational projects when expertise and knowledge is applicable.
- When feasible, offer support on high-level communications projects/tasks.
Qualifications
- Previous fundraising and/or program experience with a proven track record of institutional donor cultivation and acquisition.
- Bachelor’s degree is required.
- Strong oral and exceptional written communication skills, with a proven ability to excite and inspire potential partners for a cause; proposal writing and editing skills are essential.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic thought leadership as it relates to foundation relationships and partnerships.
- Proven ability to secure gifts from strategically aligned foundations.
- Ability to manage and develop members of a small staff team
- Dedication to the organization’s mission and willingness to develop/expand expertise in the environmental space.
- Exceptional organizational skills and judgement are necessary to manage competing priorities and long-term projects.
Salary/Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position. Appalachian Voices offers competitive compensation and benefits that include employer-paid health care, vision, and dental policies with options to include family members at a reduced cost; short- and long-term disability plans; an optional flexible spending account; generous paid vacation and parental leave; flexible working hours; and an employer-matched retirement plan.
Salary is commensurate with experience; however, the expected annual salary range is between $100,000 and $120,000. Appalachian Voices is committed to equity in pay practices.
Application Instructions
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until this position is filled. For early consideration, candidates shall apply by September 1. Using this application link, please complete the application and submit a resume and a brief cover letter that addresses why you are interested in the role.
