Director of Advancement

Position: Director of Advancement

Organization: Washington Tennis and Education Foundation

Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Direct Report(s): Development Manager, Grants Manager, Gala Planner

Hours per week: 40 hours/week (full-time, exempt)

Compensation: $105K-$130K annually

Organization Profile

WTEF’s mission is to build life champions by providing children and youth a safe and trusting

environment in which they can excel. WTEF offers after-school and summer camp-based tennis

and academic programs that empower students to achieve their highest potential. These programs

develop critical skills and instill meaningful values that prepare the students for life-long success.

Position Overview

WTEF is looking for a passionate self-starter to anchor and own fundraising/development for the

organization. The Director of Advancement (DA) will lead the management and build-out of a

team that will secure sustainable funds to fuel WTEF for the next 20 years. Our ideal candidate

has a track record of success managing a portfolio of institutional funders and major donors

leading to the successful close of multi-year, six-figure grants, is a strong communicator, has

excellent writing and communication skills and is a natural relationship builder who will build

lasting partnerships with foundation staff and major donors. The DA will report to the Chief

Executive Officer of WTEF and will be part of a Senior Leadership Team. They will work in

close collaboration with the CEO, one full time development manager, a full-time grants

manager, and a part time contract gala producer.

General Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

● Manage a portfolio of 20-30 institutional funders with the goal of securing renewals and

cultivating new opportunities to raise at least $3-4 million annually towards current and

future needs.

● Lead the creation and implementation of a fundraising plan with the CEO, development

staff, and Board Development Committee

● Partner with the CEO in growing the development department as WTEF and funding also

grow

● Develop overall fundraising strategy for WTEF, including multi-year gifts for general

operations/organizational capacity as well as project-specific funding

● Work with the CEO to develop an earned revenue strategy

● Play a key role in developing and implementing revenue through earned income

● Creation, management and oversight of Individual Giving Program, Institutional Giving

Program, Corporate Support (cash & in-kind), Annual Fund, Special Events, and Capital

Campaign

● Management, oversight and of grant manager and all grant seeking and grant writing

efforts

● Support CEO in securing financial resources necessary for the organization

● Identify and steward relationships with foundations, corporations, and individuals

● Oversee a portfolio of institutional, individual, and corporate supporters and prospects,

support CEO and Board with their portfolios

● Create development-centered marketing materials, and coordinate external messages to

funders, community partners, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and the general

public

● Attend and research local and national events to cultivate relationships with stakeholders

and community partners as directed by CEO

● Coordinate with Finance Department on procedures and policies for tracking and

reporting development activities

● Prepare and manage the Development Department expense budget

● Track developments in philanthropy; engage with other senior development professionals

across the philanthropic sector to learn about, assess and adopt best practices in financial

resource and donor development

People Management

● Oversee, support, and mentor development staff (currently a full-time Development

Manager, full-time grants manager contractor and part time contracted WTEF Tennis

Ball gala producer)

● Work to support a culture and policy of shared leadership within the department and

across the organization

Events

● Develop creative strategies that effectively monetize WTEF events and thoughtfully

cultivate new relationships

● Work closely with Tennis Ball Gala planner, CEO and Board to cultivate and steward

sponsorships and gifts for annual fundraiser

● Act as host of WTEF fundraising and special events

Organizational Strategy and Planning

● Play a leading role in developing organizational strategy for WTEF

● Serve as the CEO’s strategic partner

● Attend and participate in weekly Department Head Meetings

● Demonstrate leadership as member of the Senior Leadership Team

Corporate Strategy and Sponsorships

● Cultivate and steward corporate supporters through volunteer opportunities, event

invitations, and more

● Oversee the creation of sponsorship letters, decks, and reports

● Manage sponsorship benefits

Board Development

● Attend and participate in board meetings, serving as a representative of the Development

team

● Help manage and document Board meetings

● Work in collaboration with the Board of Directors Development Committee; serve as the

staff lead on the Board Development Committee; help identify/recruit non-board

fundraising committee members

● Help create and institute give/gets for each board member

● Coordinate and support Board Members and other volunteers to identify, cultivate,

solicit, and steward current and potential donors and funders

Qualifications

Required

● Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

● 8-plus years of professional experience in a non-profit organization with demonstrated

success in a development function

● Excellent communication skills, both written and oral

● Experience developing diversified, revenue/fundraising plans for non-profit organizations

● Experience using fundraising software/donor databases such as Salesforce, Network for

Good, etc.

● Experience creating and managing budgets

● Excellent interpersonal and relationships management skills

● Cultural competence and excellent cross-cultural communication skills

● Lives in the Washington, DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia or willing to relocate here

Preferred

● Maintain and build long-term donor relationships

● Strong organizational skills and an ability to adapt

● Innovative thinker

● Leadership ability that results in positively influencing strategic and tactical fundraising

efforts

● Experience working with youth/education

● Ability to work independently but can simultaneously be a team player who will

consistently engage with internal and external team members and stakeholders