Development Manager

SUMMARY & MISSION STATEMENT:

Midwest Food Bank (MFB) is a $450M non-profit organization with ten divisions (locations) in the U.S. and two operations internationally. MFB operates with $70M in assets and an annual organizational operating budget of $17M to distribute over $450M in food and disaster relief boxes to 2,200 nonprofit agencies.

As a faith-based organization, it is the mission of Midwest Food Bank, NFP to share the love of Christ by alleviating hunger and malnutrition locally and throughout the world and providing disaster relief; all without discrimination. Our vision is to provide industry-leading food relief to those in need while feeding them spiritually.

The New England division, located in Manchester, CT, was launched in Q4 2021. This year the division is on track to distribute $36M+ of free food and basic needs items to nonprofit feeding agencies in CT and beyond.

JOB ROLE PURPOSE & SUMMARY:

If you are dedicated to making a positive impact in the community and beyond, and have a passion for fundraising and donor engagement, we invite you to apply for the Development Manager position at Midwest Food Bank.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and outgoing Development Manager to join our small divisional team. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives on people interaction, possesses a genuinely positive personality that naturally draws others in, and actively contributes to our Christian faith-based culture and mission.

The Development Manager for MFB New England is a new position driven by divisional growth. The role reports to and works in close collaboration with the MFB New England Executive Director. The Development Manager will refine and execute the fundraising strategy for the annual operating budget of $1.2M. Leveraging the resources of an established and national nonprofit brand, this role will be responsible for the donor development locally including granting foundations, businesses, churches, and households. The Development Manager will oversee the fundraising event plan and engage committees for event execution.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Define and monitor Development strategy for divisional annual operating budget of $1.2M in collaboration with NE Executive Director and MFB Chief Resource Officer.
• Develop strategies & be responsible for donor acquisition and development for granting foundations, businesses, churches, and households.
• Develop strategies to engage donors at various giving levels, including major gifts, planned giving, and recurring donations (Share Partners program).
• Foster a positive and vibrant atmosphere within the team and with volunteer, donor, and agency partners.
• Demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills to build and maintain positive relationships.
• Act as a brand ambassador by embodying our commitment to share the love of Christ while working to alleviate food insecurity.
• Create personalized cultivation plans, acknowledgement strategies, and recognition programs to foster donor loyalty and retention.
• Develop and implement innovative fundraising campaigns, leveraging online platforms, social media, and peer-to-peer fundraising strategies.
• Conduct meetings and presentations with a polished and professional demeanor.
• Oversee fundraising event plan and engage committees for event execution, leading and empowering volunteers.
• Support the grant pursuit for MFBNE including research, relationship building, grant submission and grant reporting.
• Partner with Volunteer & Community Relations Manager to grow key community relationships through positive, proactive advocacy, including via speaking engagements, media outlets, and community leaders.
• Partner with MFB Marketing and Communication resources and adapt for the needs of the New England division.
• Collaborate with MFBNE advisory board members on donor development and outreach.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Model MFB’s five core values of: Serving Those in Need, Empowering Volunteers, Embracing Our Communities, Working with Integrity, and Executing Through Teamwork.
• Foster a Christ-centered culture; develop positive relationships and appreciation for volunteers, employees, partner agencies, and community and business contacts.
• Ensure compliance with all MFB policies, procedures, and rules and with all contractual obligations, regulatory standards, and relevant laws.
• Recruit, identify, train, and continue to nurture volunteers in support of job role.
• Network with peers locally and nationally and across the MFB organization.
• Execute other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5-years of increasing responsibility and scope of fundraising experience in New England desired, or relevant business experience.
• Fundraising experience in faith-based nonprofits desired.
• Bachelor’s degree in Non-profit Management, Sales, Business, Marketing, or related field.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• A passion for people and a genuine enjoyment of social interactions. Comfortable navigating social events and networking opportunities with affluent clientele.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a positive and upbeat attitude, even in challenging situations.
• Experience using interpersonal skills to influence a community and maintain a strong brand image.
• Demonstrated ability to create a team-oriented environment and achieve results through others.
• Proven initiative, problem-solving, organization, and time management skills.
• Superior professional communications, verbal, written, and customer service skills.
• Proficient in Office 365 and Salesforce or other database management software.
• Previous experience in roles that require frequent people interaction.
• Natural ability to make others feel at ease and comfortable.
• Demonstrated charisma and the ability to create a positive impact on those around you.
• A team player who contributes to a collaborative, energetic, and Christian work environment.
• Willingness to participate in training that may include development of professional skills, education on MFB’s policies and procedures, and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• This position will have an office at MFB New England with much of the time spent in the community with donors and donor prospects.
• Weekly interactions via teams and telephone calls to employees and volunteers across the MFB footprint.
• Periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer in an office setting; periods of movement in a warehouse setting.
• Minimal out-of-state travel as needed; infrequent evening and weekend obligations.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job role. Midwest Food Bank, NFP reserves the right to modify activities, duties, and responsibilities at any time with or without notice.