The Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice is seeking a Development Director or Development Associate to support our advocacy efforts to create a more socially and economically just Hawaiʻi. We are seeking an experienced fundraising professional who can develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy, while helping to raise critical resources we need to power our research, advocacy, and community engagement. Working collaboratively with the Executive Director and other key staff, the development director and/or development associate will be responsible for developing and stewarding individual donor relationships, as well as managing and growing Hawaii Appleseed’s grant portfolio.    

About Hawai‘i Appleseed

Hawai‘i Appleseed is committed to a more socially and economically just Hawai‘i, where everyone has genuine opportunities to achieve economic security and fulfill their potential. We change policies, systems, and narratives by conducting data analysis and research, educating policymakers and the public, engaging in collaborative problem solving and coalition building, and building community leaders.

The issues we work on—housing, food, fair wages and taxation, transportation, and racial and indigenous equity—are important because they ensure people have access to shelter, sustenance, and the means to survive and thrive individually and collectively. 

We are seeking a Development Director or Development Associate who can contribute to this effort by developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that leverages both grants from private foundations, as well as individual giving from community members. 

Detailed Duties and Responsibilities: 

Fundraising Strategy

• Create two annual fundraising appeals (summer and year-end) and at least one annual fundraising event.

• Maintain a fundraising strategy document outlining annual goals, timelines, and tactics.

• Develop and implement an annual fundraising strategy aligned with organizational goals.

Donor Relations

• Work closely with ED to grow and steward existing individual and corporate donor relationships by:

  • Identifying and coordinating donor and program officer touchpoints throughout the year

  • Engaging board members in fundraising and donor cultivation activities

  • Manage donor data using Monday.com, including:

    • Tracking donations and donor contact information

    • Coordinating acknowledgment letters and other donor communications

Grants 

• Identify and conduct background research on prospective grant funders.

• Track grant prospects, proposals, reporting requirements, and deadlines using Monday.com

• Collaborate with program staff to develop grant proposals, budgets, and narrative and financial reports.

Financial Management/Operations

• Coordinate grant-related contracts, including drafting agreements, managing invoices, and tracking spending.  

• Coordinate with accounting team to:

  • Provide financial reports and documentation to funders as needed

  • Submit invoices to funders as needed

  • Schedule and participate in quarterly financial meetings with ED

• Maintain organized records of grant-related materials

Qualifications

The right candidate will have the following strengths and qualifications:

• Strong commitment to equity and inclusion, and to Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s mission, vision, and values.

• The Development Associate position requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as business, marketing, communication or public administration. The Development Director position requires at least five years related experience, two of which may be substituted with a graduate degree in a relevant field. 

• An understanding of the unique social, political, cultural, and systemic issues that affect Hawaiʻi’s communities.

• Strong information management skills, including the ability to track and monitor existing grants and prospective grants, forecasting revenue, and maintaining a detailed donor database

• Exceptional written communication skills, in particular in communicating complex issues using language appropriate to non-experts.

• Critical thinking skills, including the ability to synthesize policy information for funders and potential funders

• Strong intra-personal skills that can cultivate and steward relationships with individual donors, foundation program officers, and key community partners

• Comfortable managing both up and down the the organizational hierarchy 

• Rigorous attention to detail and highly organized

• Facility with key computer software programs. 

• Ability to work well in teams and with coalition partners.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, year-round position and the successful candidate will either live in or relocate to Hawai‘i. Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s office is located in Honolulu, but there is potential for the person filling this position to work remotely from a neighbor island. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, within the range of $60,000 to $75,000 for a Development Associate, and $77,000 to $90,000 for a Development Director. The position also provides comprehensive benefits including health care, paid holidays and personal leave and a 401(k) match up to 5% of annual salary.

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, resume and a writing sample (demonstrating analytical and writing skills) to jobs@hiappleseed.org. The position will remain open until filled.

The Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice is seeking a Community Organizer to support our “people first'' advocacy work aimed at advancing economic justice for Hawaiʻi’s working families.

About Hawai‘i Appleseed

Hawai‘i Appleseed is committed to a more socially and economically just Hawai‘i, where everyone has genuine opportunities to achieve economic security and fulfill their potential. We change systems to address inequity and foster greater opportunity by conducting data analysis and research, educating policymakers and the public, engaging in collaborative problem solving and coalition building, and advocating for policy and systems change.

The work of Hawai‘i Appleseed is about people. The issues we work on—housing, food, wages, state budget and taxation, and racial and indigenous equity—are important because they ensure people have access to shelter, sustenance, and the means to survive and thrive individually and collectively. Addressing these issues requires the knowledge and expertise of the people that have first-hand experience and live with the adverse consequences of our flawed systems. 

Core Responsibilities

The Community Organizer position is responsible for helping to build a grassroots, people-centered movement for Hawaiʻi residents. The Community Organizer will work directly with Hawaiʻi Appleseedʻs Director of Community Engagement, to support our “people first” approach across Hawaii Appleseed’s priority issue areas. 

Under the guidance of the Director of Community Engagement, specific responsibilities include:

• Conducting at least 5-10 one-on-ones per week to build strong relationships with community leaders and people with lived experience of economic insecurity primarily on Oʻahu (and neighbor islands as possible)

• As a result of one-on-ones, identifying potential leaders and building and maintaining a contact list of statewide individual and organizational advocates in each issue area.  

• Maintaining consistent communication with potential leaders and developing their leadership skills by keeping them engaged in our advocacy work

• Organizing and facilitating power-building trainings, community listening sessions in both rural and urban communities, and other public actions based on the needs of the issue areas (including letter writing campaigns, sign-waving, press conferences, rallies/marches)

• Making logistical arrangements for all community engagement-related meetings and events

• Actively participating in the work of the Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s advocacy coalitions and helping to build community support for their identified policy priorities

• Coordinating and staffing tabling at community events as requested and approved

• Contributing to Hawaiʻi Appleseed management decision-making, equity agenda, and strategic planning and fundraising, as requested

• Regular reflection on organizing and community building including insights, challenges and opportunities and sharing them in conversation with Director of Community Engagement

• Other duties as assigned to support the mission of Hawaiʻi Appleseed.

Position Qualifications

The right candidate will have the following strengths and qualifications:

• Terrific listening and interpersonal skills

• Strong desire to connect and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds

• Strong commitment to equity and inclusion and the mission to ensure that all Hawaiʻi residents have opportunities to thrive economically and socially

• Relevant experience in community engagement and/or organizing preferred

• Knowledge of Hawaiʻi’s unique social, political, cultural, and systemic issues that affect policy and the well-being of marginalized communities

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing

• Proficient in MS Office, Google Suite

• Self-directed, while also being able to work well in teams and with coalition partners.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, year-round position and the successful candidate will either live in or relocate to Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, within the range of $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience. The position also provides comprehensive benefits including health care, paid holidays and personal leave and a 401(k) plan.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to jobs@hiappleseed.org. The position will remain open until filled.