The Ruckus Society is currently accepting applications for two positions:
1. Development Associate (applications due May 25)
2. Program Director (applications due July 13)
Both job announcements follow:
1. DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
The Ruckus Society is seeking a skilled Development Associate to begin mid-June 2007 in our Oakland office.
The Ruckus Society is a nonprofit organization which has been providing training and action support in creative nonviolent direct action to progressive communities and individuals for over ten years. Ruckus works with communities moving towards a vision of sustainability and self-determination by supporting fearless leaders to develop realistic visions of change and directly confront those in power.
Overview of Position:
The Development Associate is a Part Time position that will manage the internal aspects of the organization’s program outreach and fundraising development needs.
We are looking for someone who has experience with development, and who wants to eventually evolve into a Full Time Development Director.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Individual Donor Development
• Plan and oversee direct mail campaigns and fund appeal mailings
• Develop a system for donor development and growth
• Help plan a pledge system and fund appeal timeline to grow number of small donors / membership
• Set up fundraising meetings with major donors/prospects, and keep track of notes on specific donors/communication history
Foundation Research
• Find new foundations to fund different Ruckus initiatives
• Update and research changes in our current foundation pool
Grant Writing
• Keep up to date on deadlines for Letters Of Inquiry (LOIs) and Proposals
• Manage the writing of proposals and cover letters for grants
• Keep up to date on changes within foundations about grants
• Follow up with calls, updates, and required status reports
Processing Mail & Data Entry
• Open donations and read all mail about fundraising and grant opportunities
• Enter giving history and donor information into database and edit database changes
• Send thank you notes and premium gifts
• File foundation info and update
Data Management
• Enter data and maintain contact info from all outreach efforts and donor records
• Manage database for program and fundraising needs
Media Archiving
• Develop system for tracking and capturing all external media about Ruckus
• Assist in documentation and archiving system for internal Ruckus media
Skills & Experience Requirements:
• Passionate commitment to the principles of nonviolent struggle for social change
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Demonstrated research skills
• Proven experience in organizational fundraising; familiarity with current foundations and nonprofit fundraising landscape
• Grantwriting experience: the ability to pull together many different perspectives and content into one cohesive, powerful document
• Attention to details and calendars; the ability to keep others on schedule/on task
• Computer Skills essential: MS Word, Excel, Email, Online Research; familiarity with Democracy in Action a plus
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to initiate projects and see them through to successful completion
• Proven ability to hold coworkers accountable (in a gentle and mutually respectful way)
• Ability to work independently, manage many tasks simultaneously and prioritize
• The ability to help Ruckus staff and board see the fundraising thread through all of our work
• Reasonable grasp of issues at the nexus of globalization, corporate power, ecology, democracy, race, and gender
• Sensitivity and commitment to diversity
• Flexibility and humor desirable
Compensation:
$28,000 annual salary for a 4 day work week
Health benefits including Blue Shield medical, acupuncture/chiropractic, dental and vision
Generous vacation package
Job Location:
Oakland, CA
Reports to:
Executive Director
Application Requirements:
Please send a cover letter and resume to ruckus@ruckus.org by May 18th, with the subject line: “Development Associate” and your last name. (ie, Subject: Development Associate – Roberts)
Interviews will be conducted in the first week of June. We are looking for someone to start mid-June, but start date is flexible/negotiable.
At this time, we are unable to cover the costs of interviewee travel, or relocation for this position.
The Ruckus Society is dedicated to fostering the leadership of those most affected by the injustice and oppression we struggle against. Therefore, in all of our initiatives, we aim to prioritize the voices and visions of youth, women, people of color, indigenous people and immigrants, poor and working class people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people, and other historically marginalized communities.
2. PROGRAM DIRECTOR
The Ruckus Society is seeking an experienced Program Director to begin at the end of the summer, 2007, in our Oakland office.
The Ruckus Society is a nonprofit organization which has been providing training and action support in creative nonviolent direct action to progressive communities and individuals for over ten years now. Ruckus works with communities moving towards a vision of sustainability and self-determination by supporting fearless leaders to develop realistic visions of change and directly confront those in power.
Overview of Position:
The Program Director is a full-time position responsible for the external outreach and fundraising development needs of the organization. The P.D. will be a member of the program team and development team, supporting the Executive Director in public outreach, promotion, and fundraising efforts.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Public Representation for Ruckus Programs & Development
• Attend networking and program events as a public face of Ruckus programs
• Participate in inter-organizational events (ex: speak on relevant panels about Ruckus initiatives)
• Publicly promote Ruckus programs and projects, with the purpose of gaining partnerships from other groups, as well fundraising support
Program Management and Development
• Manage and promote Ruckus core programs
• Develop new programs as Ruckus grows, beginning with the launch of a new program area based in climate justice work
• Generate training and action support opportunities for Ruckus through media and relationship-building with allies and local organizations
Network Development and Prospect Identification
• General outreach
• Identify prospective program partners and connect them with other Ruckus program staff for direct follow-up
• Identify prospective major donors and coordinate follow-up plans with Development Associate and Executive Director
Fundraising
• Represent Ruckus programs at foundation and major donor meetings
• Work with development team to generate program content and messaging language for grant proposals
• Support Executive Director in maintaining major donor relationships
Media
• Pitch external media pieces for Ruckus programs and initiatives
• Cultivate a media list, and capture contact info for database
• Maintain relationships with friendly media for ongoing support
Skills:
• Passionate commitment to the principles of nonviolent struggle for social change
• Critical, developed analysis of issues at the nexus of globalization, corporate power, ecology, democracy, race, sexuality, and gender; and experience working on these issues
• Excitement about developing and launching new program work based in climate justice
• Diversified communication skills – the ability to communicate effectively with everyone from folks organizing on the ground to funders in the professional world
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Experience in nonviolent direct action, campaigning, and grassroots organizing
• Highly self-motivated; an energizing and encouraging force for the people you work with
• The ability to turn every event into an opportunity to bring more activists, organizers, funders and others into the Ruckus family
• High-level networking skills: the ability to “work the room”; a promoter who can build relationships
• The ability to balance the focus of program and fundraising needs
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to initiate projects and see them through to successful completion
• Proven ability to hold coworkers accountable (in a gentle and mutually respectful way)
• Ability to work independently, manage many tasks simultaneously and prioritize
• Sensitivity and commitment to diversity
• Flexibility and humor desirable
Compensation:
$35,000 starting annual salary
Health benefits including Blue Shield medical, acupuncture/chiropractic, dental and vision
Generous vacation package
Job Location:
Oakland, CA, with travel as a necessary part of the work
Reports to:
Executive Director
Application Details:
Please send a cover letter and resume to ruckus@ruckus.org by July 13th, with the subject line: “Program Director” and your last name. (ie, Subject: Program Director – Roberts)
We are looking to hire someone by mid-August, but start date may be flexible/negotiable.
The Ruckus Society is dedicated to fostering the leadership of those most affected by the injustice and oppression we struggle against. Therefore, in all of our initiatives, we aim to prioritize the voices and visions of youth, women, people of color, indigenous people and immigrants, poor and working class people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people, and other historically marginalized communities.
