KABOOM! has been building playgrounds in partnership with communities across America, particularly those that have experienced racialized disinvestment. In the past 27 years, KABOOM! has built or improved 17,000+ playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million community members, and brought joy to over 12 million kids nationwide.
KABOOM! works to achieve playspace equity so that every child in every community has access to a great place to play. Too often, kids of color are disproportionately impacted by a lack of access to high-quality playspaces. A financially stable organization with more than 65 staff members (known as Boomers), KABOOM! teams up with communities so that every child can have access to the same opportunities to thrive.
KABOOM! centers its work around three core values: Racial Equity, Community, and PLAYce. To advance playspace equity, KABOOM! is committed to eliminating racial disparities in access to quality playspaces caused by disinvestment which has, and continues to, disproportionately impacts kids and communities of color.
At the heart of the KABOOM! Community Engagement Model is a process which empowers communities. KABOOM! brings together diverse partners to drive resources to systems with limited access to quality playspaces, while ensuring communities guide the process, designing the physical playspace itself, and determining the impact we’ll achieve together. This results in an incredible space that aims to inspire active play and foster belonging.
The Opportunity:
The Senior Director of Development is an experienced leader who is strongly committed in making a transformative change by addressing the inequities that exist for kids in communities across the country. This position will play a vital role in securing new sustainable funding streams for KABOOM! by creating a major donor program and shepherding prospects through every phase of the moves management cycle. This role will focus exclusively on cultivating long-term institutional relationships, managing large, multi-year grants, while also pursuing large opportunities from major donors within our ‘25 in 5 Initiative’ markets. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned, strategic frontline fundraiser to help us grow support from individual donors and foundations.
Led by a VP of Development, we are a close-knit and hardworking crew of directors and senior directors of development, and a development associate. We partner closely with the executive team, partnerships team, and finance team to advance smart fundraising strategies. The Senior Director of Development role is a remote position with occasional travel to the DC-region and cities where funders and donors live and work.
Responsibilities:
- Lead a portfolio of existing and prospective national funders and donors with the capacity to make five, six, and seven-figure contributions to KABOOM! to gradually secure $5+ million annually towards a $33 million annual organizational goal.
- Develop the fundraising strategy to identify, cultivate and secure funding from high-level foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.
- Collaborate with colleagues to develop compelling proposals, reports, budgets and other fundraising materials.
- Serve as a thought partner with the VP of Development in specific areas of subject matter expertise.
- Stay abreast of philanthropic trends and proactively explore partnerships with mission-aligned organizations and funders in the public and private sectors.
- Actively contribute to our equity-informed and inclusive work culture by taking an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Engage in peer mentoring within the Development team and across the organization.
- Ability to travel approx. 30% within the United States and Canada.
- Provide guidance and coaching, as needed, to help achieve the organization’s funding goals
- Fully embrace our organizational values of partnership, humility, equity, play, and accountability.
Ideal Candidate:
KABOOM! is looking for an experienced strategic leader who can build meaningful partnerships with a variety of funders, including local and national corporations, national, regional, and state-focused foundations, and individual philanthropists within a portfolio of new and existing prospects.
- At least 10+ years of direct fundraising experience.
- Bachelor’s degree is required.
- Proposal writing experience; some event planning experience a plus.
- Adept at using Salesforce or similar, Microsoft Suite, Google Docs, Teams.
- Deep knowledge of national philanthropic networks and organizations – particularly those in the health, education, climate, and early childhood development funding communities.
- Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting with aggressive deadlines; management of multiple priorities and projects while balancing long-term goals.
- Exceptional and persuasive written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills with the ability to effectively interface with staff, community leaders, and senior-level executives.
- A sharp mind, top-notch critical thinking, and organizational capabilities, adept at quickly absorbing information from various angles, always keeping an eye on the big picture while maintaining superior attention to detail.
- High level of integrity, trust, and accountability along with excellent judgment, intuition, and common sense, as well as the right blend of professional confidence with a keen sense of diplomacy.
- Collaborative, team-oriented work style with self-motivation and drive to get the job done.
Location & Travel:
- The Senior Director of Development role is a remote position with a preference for candidates in the DMV area.
- Occasional travel (30%) within Canada and the United States.
DRiWaterstone is proud to lead this search on behalf of KABOOM!.
