Director of Development

Position Summary

The Director of Development plays a crucial role in ensuring the continued success and growth of our nonprofit organization’s fund development program. The Director of Development collaborates closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors to innovate, grow, develop, and implement an annual fund development plan aligned with the organization’s mission, priorities, and goals. The successful candidate will implement strategies that diversify and grow revenue and elevate our organization’s profile in the community at large. The position also manages activities such as grants administration, donor management, fundraising events, giving campaigns, brand awareness/public relations, and marketing communications. The ideal candidate will have expertise in business development, a proven track record of successful not-for-profit fundraising, exceptional skills in written and verbal communication, and a passion for advancing our mission to educate and empower Stamford public school students.

Responsibilities

Relationship Building

• Cultivate relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

• Engage in personal visits, calls, and written communication to articulate the case for investing in our mission.

• Attend relevant community events and networking opportunities.

• Manage and oversee individual giving campaigns, including donor appeals and stewardship. 

Grant Writing and Reporting

• Identify and pursue new grant sources to meet annual revenue goals.

• Lead grant writing efforts, preparing persuasive grant applications and proposals.

• Ensure timely and accurate grant reporting to funders as the organization’s grants administrator.

Event Execution

• Design and plan fundraising events, including securing sponsors, overseeing logistics, day-of donor appeals, and analyzing performance. 

• Current annual events include: 5k walk & run, awards reception, and golf tournament.

Communications & Public Relations

• Represent the organization, increase brand awareness, and build relationships with stakeholders.

• Create and refine promotional/informational materials, including website and social media voice and content.

Leadership

• Serve as an essential part of our organization’s Leadership Team which is comprised of the CEO, Development Director, and Director of Programming.

• Staff the Board of Directors Fundraising Committee, providing regular progress reports on the annual development plan.

• Support the Board of Directors Nominating Committee in recruitment and nomination of new Board Members.

• Lead the development and communications staff, including setting key performance indicators for each staff member aligned with the organization’s strategic plan and fund development plan. Current staff members include: Fundraising Manager, Communications Coordinator, Marketing Communications Designer.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience

• Demonstrated ability to write successful grant applications.

• Proven track record of achieving revenue targets, including from individual donors and events.

• Experience administering and managing a donor database and email marketing platform. SPEF uses Salsa CRM and Engage.

• Proficiency in productivity software. SPEF uses Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, Hootsuite, and others.

• Five or more years of responsible management experience in nonprofit fundraising.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate programs, policies, and procedures in a consistently effective and compelling manner.

• Skills in networking and building external relationships.

• Excellent organizational and project management skills.

• Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations.

Benefits: Paid Sick Leave

SPEF regular employees are paid for 17 holidays. Additionally, employees with less than five years of service are eligible for up to 15 days of vacation and 12 days of personal leave. When considered collectively, that is 44 days of paid time off over the course of a calendar year. At this time, SPEF does not provide health insurance or retirement match benefits.