Development Director, Mighty Writers
Posted by Mighty Writers on December 7, 2015
Development Director, Mighty Writers
The Development Director’s main responsibilities will be fundraising: relationship building, grant writing, corporate and individual giving and budget preparation. S/he will be accountable to the Executive Director and Board of Directors regarding all activities related to increasing MWs funding opportunities. S/he will be responsible for achieving the fundraising goals and engaging sponsors in ongoing activities. This includes leveraging key relationships and contacts within and outside of the Mighty Writers Network to ensure meeting revenue goals.
The successful applicant will be entrepreneurial: able to build and maintain relationships with individual donors, corporate sponsors, and government: municipal, state and federal; to be accountable and to take ownership of development processes and results. S/he will work well with diverse constituencies and will have a good rapport with people of all ages and backgrounds. S/he will be self-motivated, work well under pressure and be able to handle multiple projects at one time. S/he will have good judgment and an eye for detail; as well as the ability to see the big picture.
Responsibilities
Administrative
- Primary: fundraising—includes grant writing, corporate, individual giving, and in-kind donations
- Establish short- and long-range goals for unrestricted funding sources
- Cultivate and nurture relationships with current and potential corporate & foundation sponsors, and individual donors
- Develop and significantly grow our individual donor base; manage annual giving campaign; cultivate major gifts
- Approve and oversee fundraising goals; assist with disbursement, budgeting and accounting activities
- Conceptualize and lead execution of next steps, planning and expansion
- Develop and direct implementation of new funding initiatives
- Develop and execute personal donors solicitation strategies
- Help to oversee special projects and new media initiatives
- Be one of the public faces of the organization and represent Mighty Writers to the media, other organizations and the public at large
- Work in tandem with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to provide advice and guidance for the development, membership, tone and strategic direction of the Board
- Report on progress to the Board, to donors, to constituents and to the public
- Enter into contracts with the approval of the Board of Directors; monitor and report on compliance and the execution of policy decisions
- Remain knowledgeable and informed regarding any issues, regulations or professional standards that may impact Mighty Writers’ policies or operations
- Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent or sensitive information
Budget Preparation
- Assist with preparing MWs annual budget
- Provide detailed information about how much money must be raised to meet budget criteria
- Gain budget approval by the board of directors before it is implemented
Public Relations
- Create marketing materials, and social media and advertising campaigns as part of a public relations strategy.
- Develop and brand strategies that expand target audience through community relations, speaking engagements, newsletters and charitable events
Human Resource Management
- Assist in implementing human resource policies and hiring practices within development department
- Train and lead other staff to support fundraising and marketing efforts
- Engage in ongoing personal development
- Manage employee and volunteer onboarding, development, needs assessment, and training within development department when needed
Supervisory
- Report to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors
- Directly supervise development staff and volunteers as the department expands
- Collaborate with Education Director on various marketing, development and grant writing projects
Education and Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, accounting (preferred, but not required); and/or equivalent prior experience
- Understanding of community youth programming a plus
- Experience working in development, marketing or sales
- Accounting and annual budget preparation experience
- Some experience or knowledge of nonprofit business practices
- Knowledge of Donor Perfect or other fundraising databases preferred
Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 years of direct fund raising experience
- Strong grant writing skills
- Strong relationship building and solicitation skills
- Interest, enthusiasm, and affinity for fundraising and working with people
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills; excellent oral communication and ability to participate in public speaking events
- Strong research, organizational, time management and computer skills
- Proven management and leadership capabilities
- Interest, enthusiasm and affinity for working with children, youth and adults
- Ability to develop and manage budgets and prepare financial reports
- Computer literacy
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