Director of Development

Director of Development

Position Description

In this newly created role, the Director of Development will report and serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director, direct relevant volunteer, interns and consultants, and collaborate with other Leadership Team members and the Board of Directors. S/he will be responsible for implementing and managing an aggressive development program and securing sufficient funds to meet the goals and objectives of the organization through a diversified funding base. The Development Director will also provide oversight to Unspoken Smiles Foundation’s community outreach to strategically enhance and increase public awareness of our brand and mission.

Major benchmarks for this position include:

• Maximizing revenues from current strategic funding alliances and various ongoing fundraising solicitations
• Identifying, evaluating and prioritizing new revenue strategies and sources

Development Responsibilities

• Develops and implements a comprehensive written Financial Development Plan, covering all aspects of fundraising to meet or exceed budgeted goals on annual basis.
• Works to enhance and provide ongoing supervision of critical development processes, including:

- Major donor engagement – communication, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship

- Grant development, writing and management

- Annual and mid-year financial appeals

- Annual fundraising events and ad hoc fundraising initiatives

- Relationship management at Unspoken Smiles Foundation program events and other community engagements

- Public and media relations, messaging and marketing

- Monitoring, oversight and evaluation of development strategy and activities (return on investment)

• Manages staff and volunteers in support of all strategies and activities for developing major gifts.
• Implements a personal portfolio of major gifts as part of an overriding “high-touch” development plan.
• Works with the Development Committee to engage each member of the Board of Directors to adopt best-practice strategies to support fundraising goals.
• Conducts as-needed development training and provides monthly development reporting to staff and volunteers.
• Develops and administers strategic communications plan, community-based media relationships and various media platforms and collateral materials.
• Provides ongoing evaluation of key messaging (mission, vision, values, positioning statements and appeals) in support of efforts to increase funding, maintain brand consistency and raise awareness.
• Enhances donor database utilization to support all development projects and operations.
• Oversees data entry and gift processing, including gift acknowledgement templates and procedures and an Unspoken Smiles Foundation gift acceptance policy.
• Ensures accurate accounting and management of all unrestricted and restricted income and its sources.
• Assists the Executive Director as needed with project management, presentations, board meetings and correspondence.
• Performs other duties or special projects as directed by Executive Director.
• Seeks and executes opportunities to represent Unspoken Smiles Foundation externally, interfacing with community groups and current and prospective donors; coordinate the presence of other Unspoken Smiles Foundation staff and Board members at open houses, community-wide efforts, conferences, fairs and meetings of civic clubs, religious and community groups.

Professional Development

Unspoken Smiles Foundation is committed to the professional development of all staff. The Director of Development will have the opportunity to advance his/her skills through webinars, workshops, industry and networking events, and one-on-one mentoring. We encourage him/her to build and nurture relationships within the nonprofit development community to learn best practices, maintain awareness of trends and development issues and to build the Unspoken Smiles Foundation’s profile.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 5 years professional fundraising experience; graduate degree a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in major gift fundraising and knowledge of the New York City fundraising landscape strongly desired.
• Proven experience in development planning – strategic designing and management.
• Established ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs in a way that is compelling and comprehensive to potential donors.
• Verified success in leveraging brand messaging and communications initiatives to enhance an organization’s image in the community.
• Ability to manage the ambiguity and multiple priorities inherent in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Experience with developing and maintaining productive working relationships with board members, donors, foundations and corporations.
• High proficiency in utilization and management of Microsoft Office and fundraising database software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong executive presence.
• Ability to work as a leader and as part of a team.

Able to commit to Unspoken Smiles’ mission.