PRIMARY FUNCTION:  A newly-created position, the Director of Development, Eastern-Central Region reports to the regional Executive Director, and works closely with the President & Founder.  The Director will manage current philanthropic and strategic relationships and develop new relationships within the philanthropic community to support Taproot’s ongoing operations and the expansion of services.  The Director of Development will be supported by a research and grant-writing team in New York and Chicago.

Qualifications:  Passion for the Taproot mission; advanced degree preferred; credibility in the region and in the grant-making community; significant achievement in a development leadership role; knowledge of institutional advancement and corporate and foundation relationship management; sustained history of involvement in the not-for-profit sector; successful high-level grant-seeking or grant-making experience; proven track record developing, cultivating, soliciting and closing large gifts ($50K+); ideally, leadership experience in an organization with a social focus; demonstrated ability to motivate a team of professionals; ability to think strategically and translate that thinking into targeted goals and actions; savvy about the field of capacity-building; intellectual curiosity; superior written, verbal and interpersonal skills; high energy; knowledgeable about NYC (and ideally, DC) corporate and foundation community; ability to interact with staff at all levels and forge collaborations with program team; self-motivated and goal-driven; entrepreneurial spirit; nimble, creative and flexible; superior organizational, time-management and follow-up skills, direct experience working with volunteers; commitment to travel regionally on behalf of Taproot.