This position provides an exciting opportunity to continue the significant growth that Critical Exposure has experienced in the last 10 years. The ideal candidate will be passionate about our mission, driven, creative, persuasive, and poised to play a key leadership role. Strong applicants will demonstrate a proven ability in recruiting and managing individual and corporate donors, grantwriting, event planning, and communicating effectively with varied audiences through multiple channels.

Critical Exposure teaches youth how to use visual storytelling to document issues they face and how to run campaigns to make change in their schools and communities. Through partnerships with schools and community-based organizations, we’re building a new generation of civic leaders who have:

The tools to express themselves.
The creativity to imagine new solutions to old problems.
The belief that youth have the right and ability to fight for those solutions.
The skills to hold communities and public officials accountable.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising

Create and implement a comprehensive development plan to raise and grow a budget of $850,000. This goal will be achieved through foundation support, individual and major gifts, corporate sponsorships, special event revenue, grassroots outreach, and government funding.

Grantwriting & Management: Manage all aspect of foundation relations, including prospecting, grant writing, grants management and reporting, and cultivation/stewardship of program officers.
Individual Donors: Recruit/steward individual donors; maintain donor management system; work with Executive Director to solicit gifts; expand major donor initiative; and manage annual appeal.
Event Planning: Manage annual fall fundraiser and spring student photography exhibit.
Grassroots Outreach: Develop new revenue stream for grassroots funding; build base of new, diverse supporters; work with program team to implement student-led fundraising.

Communications

Develop and implement organization’s communications plan, focusing on a clear, compelling narrative regarding our impact on the young people we serve and their impact on the community, and consistently and effectively communicating with supporters and stakeholders in alignment with program needs and strategic goals. The role includes managing:

Marketing materials, incl. monthly e-newsletter, social media, postcards, brochures, calendars, etc.
Coordination of ongoing traveling exhibits of students’ photos throughout D.C.
Website, ensuring accurate, up-to-date information and featuring stories from participants.
Create opportunities for presentations of Critical Exposure’s work at conferences and events.
Build relationships with media, and create press packages for events and significant developments.

Operations

Manage and train two AmeriCorps VISTA staff members, interns, and volunteers; engage the Board of Directors, enlisting and motivating them to participate in fundraising and communications activities; oversee implementation of program evaluation and incorporate data into fundraising and communications; and work with the Executive Director and Program Director to develop and monitor the annual budget.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for candidates with the ability to effectively fill and grow this role. We expect that qualified candidates will have a minimum of 3-4 years of fundraising experience, 2-3 years of communications experience, a bachelor’s degree, and the following characteristics:

Significant experience in nonprofit fundraising, including demonstrated track record of raising funds from foundations, individuals, and corporations.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to adapt and communicate authentic messages to different audiences.
Strategic thinker and proactive problem-solver.
Creativity, initiative, and follow-through.
Attention to detail and ability to build and maintain systems/processes.
Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within Critical Exposure as well as develop external relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, and sense of humor.
Familiarity with the principles and practices of grassroots fundraising.

We are looking for candidates with passion for, and commitment to, the following:

Empowering youth to advocate for social change.
Developing innovative methods of supporting youth to be effective advocates for specific solutions to problems impacting their lives.
The power of youth and photography to serve as an effective advocacy tool and to compel decision-makers to take action.
The need to make public schools and communities more accountable to youth.
Undoing internalized, interpersonal and institutionalized forms of oppression.
Civic engagement as a key facet of positive youth development.

This is not an organization that provides social services to youth or advocates on behalf of youth. Applicants should understand the difference between providing direct services to youth and supporting youth to lead their own organizing campaigns.

The Development & Communications Director will report to the Executive Director. The position is full-time and based in Washington, D.C.

People of color and people from the D.C. area are strongly encouraged to apply. Critical Exposure is an equal opportunity employer.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to hiring@criticalexposure.org. Please put the position title in the subject line of the email.