Senior Director of Development

Position: Senior Director of Development

Organization: Faith-Based Nonprofit based in Birmingham, AL

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Category: Full-Time/Exempt

​​

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Sozo Children was founded in 2010 out of an urgent need to care for neglected children in Uganda. When two missionaries discovered a group of children in dire need of care—they did the only thing they knew to do. In just ten days, and with the local Ugandan Government's help, a new home was started initially providing a group of children a roof over their heads, clean clothes, and hope for the future.

The organization's primary purpose is to serve the needs of the children entrusted to our care. By providing a safe home, a quality education, a healthy diet, and spiritual guidance through the dedicated Ugandan staff, each child is equipped to face the future free from the bondage of generational poverty.

​

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Director of Development is responsible for overseeing the Engagement team (fundraising, marketing, and stewardship team). Specifically, this person will be responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing of all development and marketing activities resulting in increased revenue to support the mission.

This person should hold to the mission, vision, and core values of the organization.

​

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works closely with the COO to determine fundraising vision for the organization.
• Develops and oversees annual fundraising plans with individual donors, sponsors, churches, events, direct mail, and grants.
• Leads Engagement team personnel including Marketing Director, Events Coordinator, Donor Engagement Coordinator, Missions Coordinator, and Church Relations Coordinator.
• Supports, trains, and equips the Engagement team with needed resources to grow the organization's annual fundraising and marketing efforts.
• In addition to managing the Engagement Team, the Senior Director will also be responsible for a portfolio of individual donors.
• Work individually and in partnership with the CEO and Board of Directors to identify and build relationships with prospective major donors.

​

MANAGEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR DONOR ACQUISITION, RENEWAL, AND STEWARDSHIP

• Maintain a donor cultivation cycle and gift stewardship program to ensure that donors are developed and have opportunities to increase their annual support.
• Conduct community presentations and give tours to donors and prospects.
• Ability to utilize CRM to analyze and upgrade donor base and fundraising efforts.
• Supervises donor and gift record keeping through CRM, ensuring record-keeping is accurate and acknowledgements are effective and timely.
• Oversee all collateral pieces for donors as part of overall relationship-building strategies (for example, the annual report).

​

MARKETING AND BRANDING STRATEGY

• Collaborate with Engagement Team and leadership to ensure consistency and integrity of the organization.
• Identify target audience for all communication efforts and oversee Marketing Director to effectively develop and implement a marketing strategies and calendar to build relationships with each constituent group through all mediums (print, broadcast, digital media, etc.).
• Oversee any media buying in coordination with the Marketing Director.
• Ensure clear and current key messages are in place for the organization and all staff and board are informed to communicate them consistently.
• Ensure current media kits and relevant press releases are distributed as part of the media relations strategy.

​

REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Bachelor of Arts or Science in a related field, MBA a plus
• CFRE preferred, but not required
• Minimum of seven (7) years experience in nonprofit fundraising
• Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory and management experience
• Knowledge of fundraising strategy and management, federal and local legislation affecting charities, special events management, and management of volunteer resources.

​

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Proficient in Microsoft Office with ability to manipulate and analyze data in Excel
• Ability to utilize technology to communicate impactful presentations
• Experienced in CRM

​

Employees of the organization choose to participate in our grace-based environment by:

• Modeling Christ-like attributes and values though actions, words, and attitudes
• Maintaining a safe, transparent and healing environment that is based on grace,

truth, love, trust and authenticity without fear

Building healthy, loving, and compassionate relationships with children, volunteers, visitors, and staff while establishing healthy and safe boundaries

COMPENSATION

The organization provides eligible staff members with competitive compensation commensurate with experience.

​

BENEFITS

The organization offers staff members a comprehensive benefits program, including:

Medical Insurance; 401K; Life Insurance; PTO; Paid Holidays; Short/Long-term Disability; Continuing-Education Training; Maternity and Paternity Leave Policies;

Other employee-elected benefits