Regional Development Officer

Mary’s Meals USA raises awareness and funds to support school feeding programs in some of the world’s poorest countries, where hunger and poverty prevent children from getting an education. Mary’s Meals USA’s headquarters is located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The Regional Coordinator position is a part-time role authorized to be remote anywhere in the region of activity (Dallas-Ft. Worth).

Purpose of the role

This is a pivotal role in driving the growth and expansion of Mary’s Meals USA.

The Regional Development Officer (RDO) for the DFW area serves as a dynamic ambassador for Mary’s Meals, leading efforts to raise funds, build strategic partnerships, and engage both regional and national donors, ambassadors, and volunteers. The RDO will be the face of Mary’s Meals across the region, forging meaningful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders — from high-net-worth individuals and business leaders to faith communities, schools, and local grassroots groups — while actively elevating the visibility and impact of Mary’s Meals.

We are seeking a high-energy, self-motivated individual with a passion for service, exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to confidently connect with people from all walks of life. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, is comfortable in both boardrooms and classrooms, and excels at inspiring others to join in our mission to ensure every child receives a daily school meal.

Principle duties

Regional Growth & Presence

• Increase regional awareness of Mary’s Meals by speaking at churches, schools, community groups, and events.
• Seek creative connection points to promote Mary’s Meals throughout the DFW area.
• Attend and represent Mary’s Meals at relevant conferences and events.
• Travel within the region to attend and support local events and donor meetings.

Volunteer Leadership & Team Support

• Lead, administer and support a local Mary’s Meals Council and a team of volunteer Ambassadors.
• Identify, recruit, train, and equip new ambassadors and volunteers in the region.
• Foster strong relationships with grassroots supporters to expand the Mary’s Meals movement.
• Provide regular coaching, encouragement, and logistical support for volunteer-led events and campaigns.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Manage a regional (and small national) portfolio of individual and institutional donors with a focus on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Meet annual fundraising goals through a relationship-centered approach.
• Collaborate with national fundraising campaigns and initiatives, contributing regional insights and execution.

Community & Faith Engagement

• Conduct outreach to local schools to build sustainable relationships and encourage student involvement.
• Networking with community influencers, media and civic groups to share the story of Mary’s Meals and invite support for our mission.
• Engage faith-based communities by sharing the story of Mary’s Meals during ministry meetings, small groups, and from the pulpit.
• Develop long-term partnerships with churches and diocesan leaders.

Advancing growth

• Actively participate in MMUSA staff and Development team meetings.
• Support the work of the Advancement and Development teams as needed with special projects and research.
• Creatively contributes to the development of new products, programs and systems including piloting initiatives.
• This role reports to the Director of Development with a dotted line of reporting to the Director of Advancement for the “stand-up” period which will be defined by the Director of Advancement.

Monthly Benchmarks

• Contact outreach to at least 8 schools and 8 churches monthly; aim for 4 meetings with each.
• Deliver at least 2 face-to-face presentations monthly at schools or churches.
• Introduce 2 new potential Ambassadors monthly.
• Maintain consistent stewardship and follow-up with donors and partners.
• Meet and/or communicate with members of the Council and ambassador team monthly, and at greater levels as events become timelier.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in nonprofit development, community engagement, and fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to manage volunteer and donor relationships and inspire support for a mission.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with public speaking.
• Experience presenting to a variety of audiences, especially within schools and churches.
• Warm, personable, and highly relational with excellent networking skills.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Innovative and willing to implement new initiatives, monitoring performance for reporting.
• Familiarity with data-based decision making and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Willingness and ability to travel regionally and work evenings/weekends as needed.
• Deep alignment with the mission and values of Mary’s Meals, including a heart for faith-based outreach.
• Able to work effectively on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Able to work independently, be a self-motivator and possess excellent judgement.
• Ability to travel within the USA, with small potential for international travel.