Director of Development & Communications

Overview 

Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity, Inc. (MEND) is a $1.7M hunger relief network supporting over 40 food pantries and community partners throughout Essex County, NJ. Committed to strengthening community health by increasing access to fresh and healthy food, MEND operates with core values of community, diversity, collaboration, and dignity. 

Join our team and contribute to a culture of dignity, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

Benefits include:

• Reimbursements for health care 
• 401k retirement savings plan with organization matching
• Paid holidays and flexible paid time off

Organizational Background

Over the past few years, MEND has experienced tremendous and exciting growth, namely:

• We grew our pantry network to include six additional pantries

MEND was originally founded to convene and amplify a network of food pantry partners - giving voice and support to community leaders who best know their neighborhood strengths and needs. Today, we count 21 food pantries in our network and continue to amplify their voices and support their distributions as a central hub of high quality food - whether purchased or donated.

• We added and grew a major program, “MEND on the Move”

MEND on the Move is an evolution of our programming line. We supply fresh produce for free mobile farmers’ markets, hosted by 12 community partners; and weekly home deliveries of healthy food, in partnership with nine organizations for client referrals. We plan to add at least three more partners to this program in 2024.   

• Our infrastructure and operational efficiencies have grown to support programming

Parallel to the above advancements, MEND has transitioned from a single employee to a team of ten staff (plus volunteers!) and our annual revenue has increased from $240,000 to $1.7 million. We’ve significantly broadened our fresh food sourcing efforts, with an emphasis on local farms, and are preparing to expand our warehouse space to meet the growing needs of Essex County.

More recently, MEND launched the Food & Health Equity Coalition with engagement of over fifty organizations (including government agencies) for greater collective impact.  MEND’s founding commitment to amplifying community voices continues through this Coalition and further advances our vision for greater advocacy and improved health impacts on behalf of Essex County residents.

The Role

MEND’s purposeful growth has been supported by strong fundraising success. The Director of Development and Communications is a newly created role designed to work closely with the Executive Director to advance sustainable growth towards our vision of healthy food access, with dignity, for all.

This position requires an experienced professional capable of managing multiple priorities in a dynamic, high-growth, collaborative organization. As the Director, you will be responsible for the planning, implementation, and oversight of all fundraising and communications activities. You will oversee a Development & Communications Manager and part-time contract grant writer, with opportunities to build your department over time. Lastly, you’ll be joining a team-oriented, enthusiastic group of people who take our mission - but not ourselves - seriously, and you will be a vital part of continuing to build our organizational culture. 

Key Responsibilities

Development Strategy and Management

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees to design and execute annual fundraising plans to meet revenue goals, with a focus on individual giving, corporate and foundation support, and special events. 
• Evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising initiatives, track key performance metrics, and provide regular reports to senior leadership and board members. 
• Stay abreast of nonprofit fundraising and communications trends and best practices to help strategically position organizational and departmental efforts and activities.
• Develop a culture of philanthropy within the organization through mentorship and training of staff, volunteers, and Board members.
• Oversee MEND’s Development & Communications Manager and part-time contract grant writer, and identify staffing needs as the organization grows.

Individual Donors, Events & Campaigns

• Lead individual donor program. Develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward current, long-standing, and prospective individual donors, with an emphasis on donors in the $1k - $10k range. This includes: 
• Managing the annual appeal, coordinating special campaigns, and fostering donor stewardship efforts. 
• Maintaining a donor portfolio and actively carrying out face-to-face solicitations and other direct engagement activities. 
• Leading donor prospecting, research, and analysis efforts. 
• Overseeing the planning and execution of the annual Green Bean Gala and 10 Days of 10Ks events, as well as donor and volunteer appreciation events.
• Managing gift processing and drafting donor correspondence.
• Provide strategic guidance to the Executive Director in engaging donors who contribute over $10k, which involves conducting donor analysis, crafting cultivation plans, and preparing the ED for significant donor interactions.

Institutional Giving

• Develop and monitor grants calendar to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Work with a grant writer to prepare and submit letters of inquiry, proposals, and funding reports.
• Conduct research to explore new foundation and corporate funding opportunities, and develop and maintain relationships with existing institutional supporters.

Communications

• Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies encompassing both organizational-wide messaging and event-specific communications.
• Direct the creation of written communications, marketing materials, and digital content across various platforms, including the organization’s website, social media channels, print and digital publications, and other marketing vehicles.
• Work with staff across the organization to integrate communications, branding and programs into fundraising strategies and activities, as appropriate.

Qualifications

The Director of Development and Communications will be a core member of our leadership team. We are looking for a collegial, collaborative teammate with substantive development experience working in-house for nonprofit organizations of comparable or larger size.

We recognize that an individual’s experience is gained through a wide and diverse range of personal, professional, and educational opportunities. When reviewing applications, we take a broad look at the combined experiences of each candidate. These are the skills and values we prioritize:

• Seven to ten years of fundraising experience and progressive leadership, including:
• Demonstrated success in soliciting and securing gifts of $5,000 and above from individual donors;
• Proven track record of successfully writing and securing grants from foundations, government agencies, and other funding sources
• Experience cultivating and managing relationships with corporate partners to secure funding and sponsorships; and
• Experience in effectively managing and mentoring a team.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Familiarity with database/CRM tools (e.g., Bloomerang), website editors (e.g., WordPress), email communication platforms (e.g., MailChimp), and design platforms (e.g., Canva)
• A belief that all people are entitled to access fresh & healthy food to achieve their optimal health
• A commitment to racial, social, and food justice and sovereignty

Additional Notes

• MEND’s office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of two on-site days a week, with flexibility as to which two days you choose.
• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.
• You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for employment with MEND.

To Apply

Please send a resumé and cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience to HR@mendnj.org with the subject line: “Director of Development and Communications.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority consideration given to candidates who submit by May 10. 

MEND is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We value diversity and inclusion in our workplace. Join us in meeting the essential needs of people in Essex County with dignity!

Benefits include:

• Reimbursements for health care 
• 401k retirement savings plan with organization matching
• Paid holidays and flexible paid time off

Lastly, you’ll be joining a team-oriented, enthusiastic group of people who take our mission - but not ourselves - seriously, and you will be a vital part of continuing to build our organizational culture. 

To Apply

Please send a resumé and cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience to HR@mendnj.org with the subject line: “Director of Development and Communications.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority consideration given to candidates who submit by May 10. 

MEND is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We value diversity and inclusion in our workplace. Join us in meeting the essential needs of people in Essex County with dignity!