Dir. of Resource Development & Communications

About the position

In alignment with Our Just Future's (OJF) strategic and equity plan, the Director of Resource Development & Communications is responsible for creating and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to raise approximately 1.3 million annually initially and generate increased revenue over time. This position will play an active, strategic role on the leadership team, contributing to high-level decision-making and shaping the direction of OJF's fundraising efforts beyond traditional event fundraising. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this role will focus on building strategies to increase major gift cultivation and expanding OJF's donor base to support organization wide growth. The Director supervises all department staff, including the persons responsible for: grant writing, special events, database management, communications, donor correspondence, and certain volunteer activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a Community-Centric Fundraising fund development plan, providing leadership, direction, planning, and support to development staff and board.
• Oversee and support all agency fundraising and stewardship activities: cultivation of individual, business, and civic donors, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, grant writing, and special events.
• Lead the Development and Communications Team of 5, supporting their goals, providing guidance, and helping them grow and sustain the resources needed to deliver programs and services.
• Serve on and support the organization's Senior Management Team, which provides collaborative oversight, management, and coordination of the organization's operations.
• Facilitate and lead the Development Committee of the Board of Directors to produce, support, and report on an annual strategic fundraising and communications plan.
• Develop and implement major gift funding strategies, including planned gifts; actively solicit donors and successfully close gifts.
• Manage a portfolio of major individual and corporate donors and prospects and be responsible for personal revenue goals and ensuring team fundraising success.
• Work directly with Executive Director to support their fundraising activities and the engagement of board fundraising efforts to expand the fundraising base.
• Develop and support the implementation of mission-focused, revenue generating special events.
• Support capital campaigns, as needed, when the organization is developing affordable housing and/or community projects.
• Oversee grants plan (Philanthropic and government) including collection and synthesis of data, development and completion of high-quality proposals, tracking, reporting, and correspondence.
• Ensure the accuracy and functionality of the department databases, including database management and maintenance, and the organization's mailing list.
• Provide leadership, support, and oversight for public relations, community relations, earned and paid media, marketing, and online communications.
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with key elected officials, members of the media, civic leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Assist in building brand awareness through outreach, publications, communications, marketing support, and advocacy.
• Develop materials and communications (e.g. newsletters, e-news, and annual reports) for donor engagement.
• Ensure that the organization's website and social media presence are visually appealing, accurate, engaging, and aligned with the agency's communication strategies and values.
• Support the development and implementation of an internal communications plan.

Requirements

• 7-plus years of experience developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising and communications strategies for a nonprofit or similar organization.
• 5 or more years of departmental management experience at a leadership level is strongly desired.
• Knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, communications, public relations, and marketing.
• Experience in applying Community-Centered Fundraising principles, preferred.
• Experience in social services and/or an affordable housing development organization, preferred.
• A track record of personally soliciting and stewarding major gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, manage, and implement public relations programs and activities.
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, and motivate staff; capable of successfully delegating activities as appropriate.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills as represented in grant writing, report writing, online communications, internal communications, public speaking, and effective team building.
• Ability to work respectfully with a diverse community of co-workers, board members, donors, and the public at-large; cross-cultural knowledge and skills helpful but not required.
• Commitment to lifelong learning and engagement with new knowledge, technology, and methods in one's professional field(s) of practice.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in applying Community-Centered Fundraising principles.
• Experience in social services and/or an affordable housing development organization.

Benefits

• Employer-paid premiums for employee health insurance (medical, dental, vision, STD and LTD)
• 401K with 2% employer match
• Generous PTO
• Holidays
• Paid leave
• Relocation reimbursement available