Director of Donor Relations

Job Title

Director of Donor Relations

Department

Advancement

Reports to

Vice President of Advancement

Employment Status

Full time / Exempt

Role Summary

The Director of Donor Relations is responsible for developing and executing a strategic approach to achieve fundraising goals. This includes mid-level gift solicitation, donor cultivation, foundation research, church relations, and event planning. The director will work closely with others to align fundraising efforts with Josiah White’s strategic plan. The role requires spending approximately three days per week engaging in face-to-face conversations with potential donors and other key constituents to identify, cultivate, and solicit gifts, as well as explore other fund development opportunities, including planned giving. Sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic needs of the service population is essential.

Qualifications

• Must be an individual with strong convictions, in alignment with Josiah White’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, and Code of Conduct.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; graduate schooling and a certificate in Fundraising Management are also desirable.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills required.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate with both individuals and groups.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in fundraising, marketing, and/or sales, including extensive face-to-face interaction.
• Ability to engage potential donors and funding sources in meaningful dialogue about Josiah White’s mission to foster increased financial support.
• Self-starter with the ability to design and implement effective fundraising strategies.
• Willingness to spend at least three days per week off-campus visiting potential donors is essential and a high priority for the role.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Extremely close attention to detail.
• Able to set priorities and organize a diverse and rapidly changing workload.
• Must be flexible and able to multitask.
• Must be dependable and a team player.
• Must have good computer, writing, and proofreading skills.
• Must be personable and able to work well with people both inside and outside the agency.
• Must have the ability to keep information confidential and view sensitive information objectively.
• Must be able to maintain professional boundaries.
• Must be committed to the Mission, Core Values, and Vision of Josiah White’s.
  
  

Responsibilities: Donor Cultivation and Solicitation

• Collaborate with the VP of Advancement to create a strategic fund development plan for Josiah White’s which increases revenue to support the organization’s strategic initiatives, including campaign goals.
• Generate interest from new and existing donors assigned to his/her prospect portfolio and regions, as well as other external constituents through strategic moves management tactics covering some combination of corporate, community-based, foundation, church, and individual prospects for the organization's fundraising priorities.
• Meet donor fundraising goals through the use of excellent communication, time management, and strategic planning skills.
• Conduct minimally agreed upon face-to-face meetings per year with donors and donor prospects, moving them through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Record donor meetings into the donor management software, as well as tracking them through the donor cultivation form
• Implement fund development plan in accordance with ethical fundraising principles relative to all aspects of their work.
• Monitor trends in the community or region and adapt fundraising strategies as necessary.
• Work closely with Josiah White’s staff to bridge relationships with current and past donors and to identify new donor prospects.
• Include the VP of Advancement in donor meetings when appropriate or when a donor has been identified as potential for significant gift.
• Meet with the VP of Advancement on a regular basis to discuss strategy and debrief donor meetings.
• Overall responsibility and oversight of all Josiah White’s events from a donor relations perspective working closely with all Josiah White’s staff.
  
  

Responsibilities: Annual Fund Development

• Foster an understanding of philanthropy within the organization.
• Develop a comprehensive communication plan to promote the organization to its donors and maximize public awareness of the fundraising activities of the organization.
• Promote Josiah White’s work through public speaking, social media, radio broadcast, and participating in local/national events, conferences, etc.as assigned.
• Participate in processes regarding the design, printing, and distribution of Marketing and Communication materials for Advancement efforts.
• Build relationships with community stakeholders to advance the mission and fundraising goals of the organization.
• Participate and /or lead as determined by the VP of Advancement the planning and execution of organizational wide special fundraising events as specified in the fund development plan to generate funds for the organization.
• Monitor and evaluate with the Advancement team all fundraising activities to ensure that the fundraising goals are being achieved; identify areas of concern to VP of Advancement in order to keep efforts on track and solve problems before they arise.
• Conduct church prospect research in order to identify high potential engagements that will result in successful volunteer recruitment efforts, referrals, and fundraising opportunities.
• Develop long-term relationships with pastors and other church leaders through personal interaction and involvement and strive to connect their interests with our ministry in conjunction with the Director of Church Outreach.
  
  

Responsibilities: Fundraising Event Planning and Management

• Work with staff and external constituents, including consultants, vendors and donors, to develop and manage timelines for various fundraising activities to ensure strategic plans and critical fundraising processes are carried out according to agreed upon timelines.
• Participate and/or lead as determined by the VP of Advancement the planning and execution of special fundraising events as defined in the fund development plan.
• Monitor and evaluate with the Advancement team all fundraising activities to ensure that the fundraising goals are being achieved; identify areas of concern to the VP of Advancement in order to keep efforts on track and solve for problems before they arise.
  
  

Responsibilities: Other

• Perform other duties as directed by the VP of Advancement.
  
  

Work Schedule/

Conditions

• The Director of Donor Relations will work out the Wabash office as needed and specified by the VP of Advancement.
• Normal in-office work hours will be Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• More than half of the time will be spent traveling (primarily in Indiana but some travel, on occasion outside the state). The position will at times require work during evenings and weekends as needed and appropriate, and travel that requires overnight stays away from home.
  
  

Physical Demands of Position

Physical Action

Frequency

Description

Standing

Frequently

May need to stand during meetings, while greeting visitors, or when organizing files.

Sitting

Occasionally

Much of the work involves sitting at a desk, working on a computer, or attending meetings.

Walking

Frequently

May involve walking between offices, meeting rooms, or different areas within the workplace, or locations around campus.

Lifting up to 30lbs

Occasionally

May involve occasional lifting of office supplies, files, or small equipment. Typically, weights would be up to 30 lbs.

Bending/Twisting

Occasionally

May need to bend or twist to reach files, organize office supplies, or retrieve items from lower shelves.

Reaching

Occasionally

Reaching for files, office supplies, or equipment on shelves.

Climbing

Rarely

May involve using a step stool or ladder to reach high shelves or retrieve items.

Pushing/Pulling

Occasionally

Could involve pushing/pulling office chairs, carts, or file cabinets.

Typing/Data Entry

Frequently

Significant time spent on computers for data entry, preparing reports, and handling correspondence.

Communicating

Constantly

Frequent verbal communication with employees, management, and external contacts, both in person and over the phone.