Non-Profit Director of Development

UNIcycle Business Consulting is an offsite HR department and is hiring for a local non-profit.

THE ORGANIZATION

Book Trust is a national early literacy 501(c)3 organization founded over twenty years ago with the mission to engage every child in book choice and ownership, cultivating literacy-rich communities. Our vision is that every child, especially children from underserved communities, has access to books and discovers the joy and power of reading. Book Trust acts as an equity game changer, bridging the opportunity gap in order for students to choose books of interest and become life-long learners. Now more than ever, Book Trust home libraries serve as a learning safety net as our nation’s education system copes with school closures and distance learning. We partner with Scholastic Book Clubs, School Districts, and Teachers to deliver our program to students and families in 13 states across the country.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Development is a position on the Development Team and is responsible for managing all aspects of development strategies for Book Trust. As part of the management team, the Director of Development participates in executing the development strategy and budget including collaborating on the comprehensive funding direction of the organization. The Director develops and maintains relationships in the community (locally and nationally) on behalf of Book Trust. Fundraising responsibilities include grant development, writing and reporting, leadership in messaging for annual financial appeals/campaigns, and partnering with the VP of Development and Communications to fully execute donor and board cultivation strategies, including events. In addition, this position also collaborates with the Communications team to connect with donors for both events and other fundraising activities.

This position is a frontline fundraising and community engagement position. The Director will manage a portfolio of donors and funders and implement new strategic directives for personalized, high-touch donor/family engagement, while promoting and elevating giving in communities where Book Trust serves. They will work closely with the President & CEO, VP of Development and Communications, as well as volunteers, including Book Trust Regional Advisory Board members.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Development Strategy

• Increase organization’s resource development capacity, resulting in a broadening of the organization’s base of support, diversification of revenue streams and an increase in targeted revenue streams.
• Create cultivation and solicitation plans targeted to meet fundraising goals and help move donors towards higher giving levels; develop associated fundraising strategies to support portfolio prospect moves management
• Produce progress reports with overall fundraising, priorities, and activity metrics.
• Meet activity metrics and revenue goals through face-to-face solicitations, prepared written solicitationletters, strategic donor briefings/visits, formal proposals/correspondences, pledge documents and otherengagement methodologies as appropriate.
• Support the production of all fund development related publications and collateral, including (but notlimited to) campaigns to support Book Trust fundraising goals and activities.
• Work with the VP and staff to create and implement communication and promotional plans for campaignsand appeals, including (but not limited to) annual campaigns.

Portfolio Management

• Manage portfolio of approximately 60 prospects and donors.
• Implement all fundraising plans for major giving, annual giving, planned and legacy giving, special eventsand projects, along with other solicitations for support/contributed income.
• Oversee coordination of funding cycles and process management. This includes but is not limited tooverseeing grant cycles, proposal review, follow up discernment, providing funding recommendations,and coordination of approval and declinations.
• Maintain strong communication ties with all donors.
• Work with Finance and Program staff as necessary to ensure that all reporting requirements are met.
• Support and manage all event fundraising activities on behalf of the organization, including managementof the Regional Advisory Boards to ensure events are in alignment with organizational priorities andfundraising activities for events.
• A specific area of focus is major gift fundraising in partnership with the VP of Development andCommunications and President and CEO, including but not limited to coordinating leadership donor visits with executive and senior staff, personally visiting leadership donors, developing written and verbal solicitation strategies, proposals and presentation materials for prospects and arranging/overseeing periodic cultivation/recognition events for major donors.

Prospect Research and Outreach

• Provide expertise to advance the interests of Book Trust by researching and identifying sources of support, proactively seeking opportunities to generate new proposals based on corporate and foundation guidelines and interests.
• Mange the integration of prospect research data in donor gift strategies
• Assist the VP of Development and Communication in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation ofleadership and corporate/foundation gifts and pledges; and plans and coordinates any annual givingprograms associated with matching gifts.
• Communicate progress of leadership giving activities to the VP of Development and Communicationsfollowing an agreed schedule and produce reports as requested.

Team Management and Leadership

• Supervise and lead the development team. Monitor and report on team’s progress to ensure all financial goals are achieved.
• Maintain a broad and deep knowledge of current best practices, rules, policies, guidelines, and procedures related to fund development activities, and ensure that development office conduct, activities, systems, and procedures are consistent with Book Trust mission and values.
• Oversee fund development office systems and procedures to support all development projects and operations – including but not limited to supervision of donor and gift record keeping, coordination of prospect research activities, oversight of database management and all records, files, and gift processing, as well as oversight of pledge reminders and acknowledgement processes.
• Contribute to building and sustaining a positive departmental culture that supports a commitment to team goals and core values, and that fosters the development of individual leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Assist VP of Development and Communications in providing on-going supervision and training to development staff and volunteers.
• Oversee collaboration and information sharing from colleagues and volunteers to optimize and leverage the organization’s leadership, expertise, and learning in the community for external communications, donor-specific impact reporting, events, and, in collaboration with Communications, broad external audiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or related field.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and a minimum of 5-7 years management experience and demonstrated success in fundraising and/or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. A proven successful track record in major gifts and corporate/leadership giving required.
• Ability to manage up to various stakeholders and leaders.
• Leadership-level experience in strategic and tactical planning.
• Knowledge of and experience with not-for-profit revenue streams, philanthropic contributions,including corporate and government funding.
• Knowledge of relationship databases are a plus, particularly DPO.
• Demonstrates a passion for the organization’s mission.
• Excellent organizational skills and detail-oriented focus.
• An effective and open communicator, with high-level oral and writing skills.
• A sense of humor and ability to work collaboratively in a remote team environment.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and sustaining collaborative working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to organize workload, maintain several projects of equal priority at once, and sustain productivity and accuracy under pressure.
• Understanding of working with and maintaining confidential information.
• Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone’s efforts for success.
• Professional and mature demeanor with strong ethical standards and ability to adapt to change. ● Ability to travel as needed, approximately 15%.
• Ability to work nights and weekends for events as needed.

Benefits

WHAT WE OFFER

• Salary range: $90,000 - $100,000
• A collaborative, mission-driven remote work environment and the opportunity to make an impact in the education and nonprofit sectors.
• A wide range of benefits, including:
  • Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, 100% paid for by Book Trust for the employee – along with Long-Term Disability
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match
  • Flex Fridays
  • 20 Days of Paid Time Off, 11 Paid Holidays, and a week-long year-end office closure o Cell Phone, Technology, and Wellness Benefit Stipends