About the Associate Development Director Position

Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) seeks an accomplished fundraiser to design and manage a comprehensive development strategy with a strong emphasis on major gifts, annual giving and donor engagement. The ideal candidate will have experience raising funds within Unitarian Universalist communities and/or for social justice initiatives. They will be skilled at cultivating donors, building strategic relationships, and analyzing data.

The position is full-time, exempt. Salary will range between $85,000 - $95,000, commensurate with experience, plus a generous benefits package including health, dental, long term disability, and retirement.

About BLUU

Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) is a spiritual community for Black Unitarian Universalists and for Black people who also have liberatory values. BLUU is committed to expanding the power and capacity of Black UUs within Unitarian Universalism; providing support, information, and resources for Black Unitarian Universalists; and justice-making and liberation for Black people through our faith. BLUU creates transformative experiences for Black people through worship, spiritual care, organizing, youth ministry, and other opportunities for social and spiritual connection. BLUU is Black founded, Black-led and centers queer Black leadership in all that we do.

BLUU’s work puts Blackness at the center of Unitarian Universalism. BLUU gives a spiritual home to Black people who have roots in many traditions but share values that all support Black liberation and self-determination in spiritual communities and beyond. Since BLUU’s inception, BLUU has held in-person convenings, organizing campaigns, and monthly worship. BLUU evolved from an informal gathering of Black UUs in 2015 to a thriving spiritual community and designated 501c3 organization.

For more about BLUU, visit BlackLivesuu.org .

Responsibilities :

• Develop a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organizational goals
• Establish measurable fundraising goals and regularly track and report progress
• Coordinate and oversee the planning, design, scheduling of all donor appeals, working closely with BLUU’s communications team.
• In consultation with communications staff, establish and maintain consistent messaging to inform potential, current and previous donors, volunteers, and staff of BLUU’s needs and successes
• Collaborate with the Co-Executive Directors and Development Committee to cultivate and maintain major donor relationships and fundraising organizational partnerships
• Maintain effective donor relations through timely acknowledgement letters, special mailings, telephone and in-person contact at special events and other meetings.
• Oversee and maintain a database of donors, to include efforts to identify and research potential donors and generate reports on efficacy of diversified development efforts, as assigned.
• Support Beloveds (BLUU members) in outreach to their home congregations as part of the congregational solicitation strategy.
• Develop strategies to regularly communicate the impact of fundraising efforts on BLUU’s mission and programs to keep leadership and staff engaged in development efforts.
• Identify new grant opportunities, write and submit grant applications, and track grant reporting and submit grant reports on time.
• Plan 1-2 in person fundraising events for the organization.
• Other duties in support of the organization's development efforts, as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a fundraising role with progressively more responsibility making direct asks and cultivating donor relationships.
• Bachelor’s degree
• Knowledge of Unitarian Universalist practices.
• Must have demonstrated success in strategic thinking and execution to achieve fundraising goals and manage donor relationships in a religious organization.
• Self-directed with strong time management and organizational skills; including the ability to skillfully handle multiple assignments, establish priorities and procedures, and maintain attention to detail.
• Discretion and good judgment with the ability to gain trust and confidence from donors.
• Experience working with online CRMs, managing databases, websites, and Google work suite
• Strong writing and copy editing skills.
• Experience working in remote and hybrid environments
• Basic familiarity with tax laws and regulations affecting charitable donations

Shared Expectations:

• Commitment to BLUU’s principles and our established Working Agreements .
• Self-motivation and flexibility.
• Compliance with all operating policies and procedures of BLUU.
• Commitment to a collegial work style, and mutual accountability.
• Ability to work collaboratively with people with diverse class, race/ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability experiences.
• A sense of humor.
• A spirit of curiosity and patience.

Work Space: Remote (with the option for dedicated work space at our Minneapolis, MN headquarters). QTBIPOC candidates are encouraged to apply. Former incarceration is not a barrier to employment.

Applications will be accepted through Monday, May 11, 2026.