Libraries Without Borders US (LWB US)

Compensation

Full Description

ABOUT LIBRARIES WITHOUT BORDERS US Libraries Without Borders US (LWB US) is the American branch of the international nonprofit, Bibliothèque Sans Frontières. Since 2014, we've partnered with public libraries and community organizations to ensure everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, has access to a library: a safe place to learn, create, and connect to vital resources. Rooted in the belief that access to information is a fundamental right, we work alongside institutions and excluded communities to remove barriers, reimagine what—and where—a library can be, and co-create solutions that are grounded in community leadership. Today, we pursue this mission through two interconnected pathways: • Community Programs that directly serve people who have been systematically excluded—economically disadvantaged communities, racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous populations, refugees, and immigrants—by expanding access to literacy, learning, and cultural memory. • Institutional Partnerships that help libraries and community organizations strengthen their capacity to equitably serve all populations through training, technical assistance, and shared learning. Our approach remains deeply collaborative and rooted in the values that have guided us from the start: • Community-led: We center the voices and needs of those we serve. • Place-based: We meet people where they are; in libraries, schools, laundromats, and trusted community spaces. • Evidence-informed: We use data to design, adapt, and scale what works. • Justice-oriented: We build community agency through access to knowledge and information. POSITION SUMMARY The Director of Development & Communications is a key member of the senior leadership team and the principal architect of LWB US’s resource development strategy. We are seeking a bold, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven leader with a proven track record in building development infrastructure, securing six- and seven-figure investments, and elevating nonprofit visibility. This is a high-impact role for someone energized by possibility, eager to roll up their sleeves, and ready to build lasting partnerships that fuel growth. The Director leads all aspects of fundraising and communications—including major donor engagement, grants, partnerships, institutional fundraising, and strategic storytelling—and will partner closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to build a culture of philanthropy across the organization. Key Responsibilities Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement • Design and lead the implementation of annual and multi-year fundraising plans aligned with strategic growth. • Build a robust pipeline of individual donors, major gifts, foundation partners, and corporate sponsors. • Oversee donor cultivation, stewardship, acknowledgments, and CRM systems. • Drive revenue diversification and unrestricted fundraising to support both programs and core operations. Institutional Fundraising & Management • Lead prospecting, proposal writing, and grant reporting. • Maintain a proactive grants calendar and coordinate with program and finance teams on deliverables. • Cultivate and sustain long-term relationships with institutional funders. Strategic Communications & Brand Visibility • Lead the development of compelling narratives across digital and print channels. • Manage organizational communications, including newsletters, annual reports, and donor campaigns. • Oversee social media strategy and engagement, driving content creation, growth, and analytics. • Ensure consistent brand messaging and high-quality storytelling across platforms. Collaboration & Leadership • Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and organizational growth. • Partner with the Director of People, Operations & Finance to align fundraising with internal capacity, systems, and team development. • Work cross-functionally to surface stories, program impact, and team wins, translating them into compelling donor-facing content and visibility assets. • Supervise communications staff and manage vendor relationships, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with development goals. • Equip and coach staff and board members to participate meaningfully in donor engagement and fundraising activities. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR • 10–15+ years of progressive nonprofit development and communications experience, including senior-level responsibility for revenue strategy, donor engagement, and external positioning. • Proven experience building, restructuring, or scaling a development function, including systems, pipelines, staffing, and board engagement. • Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure investments from individuals, foundations, and institutional partners, with accountability for annual and multi-year revenue targets. • Experience serving as a strategic advisor to an Executive Director and Board, including coaching board members on fundraising, donor stewardship, and relationship management. • Experience fundraising within education, libraries, literacy, or adjacent learning ecosystems, or a demonstrated commitment to education as a public good and the ability to build credibility in these spaces. • Exceptional writer and editor who can craft compelling cases for support and adapt messaging for diverse audiences, including donors, partners, and the public. • Skilled relationship builder with high emotional intelligence, political savvy, and a strong commitment to equity and community-led work. • Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor staff and consultants, fostering high-performing, values-aligned teams. • Strong command of CRM systems and analytics tools (e.g., Salesforce, Network for Good, Little Green Light), with the ability to use data to inform strategy and decision-making. • Entrepreneurial, self-directed leader who thrives in growth-stage organizations and is comfortable balancing strategy with hands-on execution. • A sense of humor is a must. We value leaders who can do serious work without taking themselves too seriously. DETAILS This is a remote-eligible role with a strong preference for candidates based in the Washington, DC–Maryland–Virginia (DMV) region, to support in-person collaboration, work sessions, and relationship-building. Frequent travel required. Full-time, salaried position with benefits: • Salary range: $90,000–$100,000 • Monthly work-from-home stipend • Monthly health expenses reimbursement • 20 days of PTO, inclusive of sick days • Annual professional development stipend • 401(k) plan with employer match TIMELINE • Applications will be accepted until Jan 30, 2026 • Anticipated start date: March 2026 INTERESTED? Please send an email with the subject line, “Director of Development & Communication” to jobs@librarieswithoutborders.us, and include the following information: • Resume (1-2 pages) • Cover letter (1 page) • Portfolio of fundraising materials (PDF or links), which may include: • Sample grant proposals, bids, or cases for support • A brief summary for each sample describing your role, the funding source, and the outcome (e.g., awarded, amount, multi-year) • Materials may be redacted to protect confidential information • Writing sample (2–5 pages) demonstrating donor- or funder-facing writing (e.g., proposal narrative, case statement, or donor communication) • Contact information for 2-3 professional references DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION LWB US is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strive to be a workplace where people thrive by being themselves and are inspired to do their best work every day. We would like to see our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflected in the candidate pool for this position.