Summit Counseling Center Atlanta

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Development serves as the strategic leader of The Summit Counseling Center's philanthropic efforts and is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive fundraising program that advances the Center's mission of providing spiritually integrated and evidence-based behavioral health services.

Working closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Leadership Team, donors, churches, foundations, corporations, and community stakeholders, the Director of Development is responsible for generating annual philanthropic revenue through major gifts, annual giving, grants, corporate partnerships, special events, planned giving, and other fundraising initiatives.

The Director of Development serves as a member of the Leadership Team and is expected to represent the mission and values of the Center throughout the community while fostering meaningful relationships that result in increased financial support and mission impact.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Development Strategy Leadership

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive annual development plan designed to achieve fundraising goals established by the Board of Directors and Executive Director
• Create and maintain multi-year fundraising strategies that support organizational growth and sustainability
• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director, Leadership Team, and Board of Directors (particularly the Executive and Fundraising Committees) to identify funding priorities and opportunities
• Develop and manage the annual Development budget
• Create and maintain a monthly and quarterly fundraising calendar
• Provide monthly fundraising performance reports, donor pipeline reports, and revenue projections to the Executive Director and Board

Major Gifts and Individual Giving

• Develop and manage a portfolio of major donor prospects and current supporters
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals capable of making significant philanthropic investments in the Center
• Conduct personal meetings, tours, presentations, and donor visits throughout the year
• Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for major gift prospects
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board members in major gift cultivation and solicitation activities
• Lead the Center's annual giving and year-end campaigns
• Strengthen donor retention, donor engagement, and donor upgrade strategies
• Ensure timely and meaningful donor recognition, stewardship, and acknowledgement
• Build a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization

Faith Community, Corporate, and Community Partnerships

• Develop and strengthen relationships with churches, faith leaders, community organizations, businesses, and civic groups
• Expand awareness of the Center's mission throughout the North Metro Atlanta region.
• Identify and cultivate corporate sponsors and strategic partners
• Pursue opportunities for workplace giving, sponsorships, matching gifts, and other corporate engagement initiatives
• Represent the Center at community events, networking functions, churches, and professional associations
• Collaborate with Community Outreach and Marketing staff to ensure consistent messaging and relationship development

Foundation Relations and Grant Management

• Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with existing and prospective foundation, corporate, and governmental funders
• Manage the complete grant lifecycle, including research, qualification, proposal development, submission, tracking, reporting, and stewardship
• Convene and lead grant planning meetings
• Coordinate collection of organizational, programmatic, and financial information necessary for proposals and reports
• Monitor grant spending and compliance requirements in partnership with Finance and Program staff
• Supervise and evaluate contracted grant-writing resources as applicable

Donor Relations and Development Operations

• Oversee the integrity and effectiveness of the Center's donor database and fundraising systems
• Ensure accurate donor records, prospect tracking, gift processing, and reporting
• Utilize donor analytics and fundraising metrics to guide strategic decision-making
• Monitor donor acquisition, retention, upgrades, and engagement trends
• Produce monthly fundraising dashboards and performance reports
• Ensure timely gift acknowledgments and donor stewardship communications

Marketing and Case for Support

• Maintain and regularly update the Center's Case for Support and fundraising messaging
• Collaborate with leadership and marketing resources to develop compelling donor-focused communications
• Assist in the creation of annual reports, impact reports, campaign materials, presentations, digital content, videos, and donor communications
• Communicate the transformational impact of the Center's work through compelling stories and outcomes

Planned Giving

• Develop and implement a planned giving and legacy giving program
• Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects
• Work with donors and professional advisors to facilitate deferred and estate gifts when appropriate

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Any other duties as assigned

JOB SCOPE

Job has recurring work situations involving high degrees of discretion. The need for accuracy and effective utilization of available resources is high. Incumbent operates with a high degree of independence while working in collaboration as part of a leadership team. Results are monitored by the Center’s Executive Director and the Board of Directors. Content of day-to-day work priorities are largely self-determined.

COMMUNICATIONS/CUSTOMER CONTACT

Contacts are across the entire Center, geographical, and professional community and in a leadership capacity. Community contact is a critical component of success in developing good will and interest in the mission of the Center.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and individual donor support
• Demonstrated history of achieving fundraising goals exceeding $1 million annually
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and volunteer leadership
• Experience managing and utilizing donor relationship management systems

Preferred:

• Master's degree
• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credential
• Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF)
• Experience in healthcare, human services, faith-based ministries, or related nonprofit sectors
• Grant-writing certification or equivalent training

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Commitment to the mission, values, and Christian identity of The Summit Counseling Center
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills
• Proven ability to cultivate and solicit major gifts
• Demonstrated success in donor stewardship and relationship management
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability to work effectively with volunteers, board members, donors, church leaders, and community partners
• Experience utilizing fundraising metrics and donor analytics
• Strong financial management and budgeting skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail

Technology Requirements

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Experience with Blackbaud or comparable donor management software.

Key Performance Indicators

Success in this position will be evaluated through measurable outcomes, including:

• Achievement of annual fundraising revenue goals
• Major gift pipeline growth and conversion
• Donor retention and donor acquisition rates
• Growth in individual giving revenue
• Grant funding secured
• Corporate sponsorship revenue secured
• Planned giving pipeline development
• Effectiveness of donor stewardship efforts
• Accuracy and timeliness of development reporting

Faith Commitment and BFOQ

The Summit Counseling Center is a Christian ministry providing spiritually integrated and evidence-based counseling services. This position has a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) related to religion. Consistent with applicable law, candidates for this position must demonstrate a personal commitment to the Christian faith and the ability to support, communicate, and advance the mission of The Summit Counseling Center. Evidence may include active participation in a Christian church or faith community and a lifestyle consistent with the Center's mission and values.

JOB CONDITIONS: (SEE EXAMPLES BELOW)

This is an in-person, in-office role with remote work allowed only when necessary and with the approval of the Supervisor. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the associate is:

1. Frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear
2. Occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
3. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
4. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
5. The noise level in the work environment is usually low