Development Director

We are looking to hire an enthusiastic Development Director to head our ongoing fundraising efforts. Reporting to the Executive Director and a member of DREAM's leadership team, they must have an established background in coordinating nonprofit donation strategies and staff/volunteer leadership. This role involves organizing large-scale fundraising initiatives, working with Board Members, managing our annual fund and building relationships with donors, staff and volunteers. The Development Director will also assist our Executive Director with implementing major giving and planned giving fundraising strategies.

Our ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of fund development experience, preferably in the education and nonprofit fields. They should also be familiar with CRM nonprofit software, donor databases and other fundraising technology to use in their daily job duties.

The Development Director will oversee DREAM’s fundraising efforts, growing revenue year-over-year to meet budget goals. There are five areas of focus in service to this work: 1) manage the development team; 2) engage with DREAM’s network to identify and build relationships with new donors; 3) steward individual donors and fundraisers; 4) build DREAM’s fundraising systems and capabilities; and 5) manage the annual fundraising drive and other fundraising events.

The DREAM Program is committed to dismantling systems of oppression that affect our youth and families. This organizational commitment means that members should join this space with an intention of learning, unlearning, and diving into ways that your involvement will directly contribute to DREAM’s mission of reducing the Opportunity Gap while also supporting the dismantling of other systemic inequities. We seek members who contribute to The DREAM Program's diverse community, as having different perspectives, identities, and skills are what allow us to excel in our service. DREAM seeks members who are ready to engage in and foster an inclusive environment, and who strive to deliver culturally appropriate and relevant programming to the youth we serve. Incoming members and staff should understand that we serve marginalized communities, which means that it is imperative that diversity, equity, and inclusivity are infused into every aspect of our work as an organization.

Objectives:

• Implement major giving and planned giving fundraising strategies.
• Manage and lead the Development team in service to reaching revenue goals, including guidance in professional development.
• Engage and build relationships with DREAM’s network, including identification and development of new partners and donors.
• Manage and be responsible for DREAM's CRM and complimentary development software.
• Be the face of DREAM's communications with donors and fundraisers.
• Develop and maintain consistent messaging to all stakeholders through collaboration with the Communications team and other departments.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to create and implement a budget and fundraising plan.
• Provide leadership to the whole organization by understanding the mission and cultivating relationships with employees and volunteers.

The experience:

The role of the Development Director is multi-faceted. First and foremost, it requires strong relationship building and interpersonal skills as the day-to-day will find them interacting with stakeholders from across the organization. Interacting with such a diverse array of individuals creates an expectation of a flexible work schedule and frequent travel; there will be regularly scheduled hours as well as hours that are responsive to the needs of the stakeholders of the organization. A considerable portion of this experience will be rooted in analysis of our network and current fundraising efforts and the planning, development and leadership of creative strategies that achieve fundraising results. Leading, educating and enabling the development staff to carry out fundraising strategies and independently contribute will be a week-to-week focus. Additionally, as a member of the Leadership team the Development Director spends time developing and problem solving around organizational initiatives and other opportunities and challenges. While serving in this role, the Development Director will be relied upon to answer development-related questions from Board, staff, donors, volunteers and others and lead relevant public relations efforts. Lastly, as the person responsible for the organizations donor CRM, regular time is devoted to the management of data.

Terms and benefits:

• $50,000-$70,000/year, commensurate with experience
• Medical insurance (with options for dental/vision)
• Retirement plan
• Professional development opportunities and expectations
• Professional association membership
• Over 6 weeks of PTO and holidays (combined)
• Employee Assistance Plan
• DREAM gear/uniform provided
• Reimbursements for work-related travel
• Incredible, life-changing experiences!

Required qualifications/experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field
• Minimum of five years of fund development experience, preferably in the education and nonprofit fields.
• Superb written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity/experience supporting and expanding a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong time management with a flexible approach to job duties.
• Deep experience and expertise with fundraising software and tools.
• Creativity combined with a self-starter attitude.
• Service driven mentality with a focus on donors and volunteers.
• Ability to inspire and lead a team.
• Computer proficiency: comfort with Microsoft Office apps, Google's GSuite and email communication; project management software experience (Trello, specifically); CRM experience (Innovative Mentoring Systems and Little Green Light, specifically); accounting software experience.
• Current driver’s license, proof of insurance, and clean driving record.
• A dedicated room/space to complete components of service that is not at a DREAM-supported site.
• An internet connection capable of easily handling Google Workspace apps and specifically, a Google Hangout/Meet.
• Access to a reliable phone.

Preferred/helpful experience:

• Creativity, energy, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• A contagious energy for DREAM’s work.
• Previous youth work experiences or motivations/preference for youth work and youth services.
• Experience supervising and maintaining organizational property, office, and program space.
• Familiarity with AmeriCorps grant requirements and mentoring programs requirements as expressed by CNCS and state and local regulations, respectively.
• Comfortable working in an outdoor environment in all seasons.