Director of Development - Jeremiah Program : Job Details

The Director of Development, in partnership with the Executive Director, is responsible for cultivating, navigating, and maintaining external relationships to meet the fundraising and development needs that support regional growth and programming. This role is critical in achieving ambitious stewardship and new donor goals through best-in-class cultivation and targeted donor stewardship across a diverse portfolio of events, meetings, and campus tours.

The Director manages significant aspects of fundraising, with a focus on individual giving, the annual fund, and fundraising events for JP Brooklyn. They also develop and implement strategies for individual donor relationship management (recruitment, cultivation, nurturing, retention, and stewardship) to meet both annual and long-term goals.

The ideal candidate is a masterful communicator and relationship builder and is a strategic planner and executer. You will bring great interpersonal skills, an ability to work with a significant volume of highly varying data requiring rigor, a strong understanding of data systems, and ability to thrive in a complex environment, one that is newer to project management and therefore often lacks an awareness of project management tools and methodology. Most importantly, you will possess a deep commitment to and understanding of current housing, education, early childhood, and all social justice issues intersecting with poverty. You have enthusiasm, familiarity and demonstrated alignment with JP's mission and a commitment to building/deepening your commitment to racial justice and are dedicated to leveraging economies of scale with a mission-based and donor-centric approach to fundraising.

PRIMARY RESPONSBILITIES

Individual Giving and Annual Fund Leadership

• Lead the overall management and implementation of the Annual Giving program to meet annual fund goals, supporting the general operating budget.
• Implement comprehensive fundraising and stewardship activities, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of potential donors from individual, corporate, and foundation sources.
• Partner with the National Advancement Team to plan and execute market research, appeals, donor follow-ups, and other individual donor-related activities.
• Coordinate the production and distribution of appeals and stewardship initiatives, including electronic and print communications, in collaboration with the Executive Director, National Advancement Team, and Communications Team.
• Develop and oversee a matching gift program and volunteer stewardship plan.
• Engage in direct donor solicitation across multiple channels, including social media, and manage key major gifts functions such as high-level portfolio management, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment, and stewardship processes.
• Execute the local individual giving strategy to meet fundraising targets, fostering long-term donor engagement and investment.
• Cultivate active participation and effective roles for community board members, collaborating with the development committee to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Ensure that 100% of the community board meets give/get expectations, working closely with the Executive Director to facilitate commitments and engage their networks.

Development Operations & Data Management

• Embody and adhere to development/fundraising best practices, staying up to date on new approaches that ensure the effectiveness of local development operations.
• Maximize database functionality and ensure JP-wide coordination and consistency by working in close partnership with the Campus Support Team to identify new and better ways of using the database.
• Collaborate with the campus leadership team, including the Family Services Director (FSD), to gather program data, and work closely with the Operations Manager to support development and fundraising events.
• Use Raiser's Edge to manage and implement the appeal process and effectively and efficiently guide the prospecting, cultivation, and solicitation of donors.
• Generate fundraising and donor reports for individual and institutional donors.
• Conduct research and create reports to identify potential doors, monitor goals and track progress.
• Collaborate with Brooklyn team members on the integration of Raiser's Edge in initiatives and strategies.
• Log entries for donations and send acknowledgement letters

Special Events & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with the Brooklyn team and the Campus Support Team nationally in the management and implementation of special events, including large annual events or any other signature fundraiser, recognizing the cultivation of donors at all stages
• Coordinate and steward corporate and other sponsorship donors for Campus signature events
• Attend events that include local campuses as well as JP-wide events
• Participate in Development Team meetings, seminars, workshops, events, including Board committee meetings as deemed necessary. Leverage volunteers and interns to increase organizational capacity
• Serve as liaison to the CST Development Team and the overall organization
• Incorporate donor, partner, and stakeholder trends, philanthropy, initiatives/events and cultivation into overall organizational goals and objectives
• Other Duties as Assigned: This job description provides a comprehensive overview of the role's responsibilities, but it's important to note that duties, responsibilities, and activities may evolve with or without prior notice

Requirements

The Director of Development should be a passionate advocate for JP's mission and values and have prior experience working within a structured and effective development department, bringing an entrepreneurial approach both to their career path and development work. Must have great interpersonal skills, an ability to work with a significant volume of highly varying data requiring rigor, a strong understanding of data systems, and ability to thrive in a complex environment.

• BA/BS degree strongly preferred, or alternatively, a minimum of 7+ years of experience in a related field is required
• At least five years of fundraising related professional experience
• Two plus years' experience working in or collaborating with social service programs or support services
• Strong familiarity with the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors in New York City
• Ability to execute on fundraising plans and strategies that generate significant results and proven track record initiating, stewarding, and moving individual gifts to higher levels of support
• Experience personally managing portfolio $750k or more
• Strong prospect research skills and a solid understanding of moves management
• Genuine relationship-building skills with the ability to inspire generosity and make prospects and donors feel valued
• Ability to utilize data to drive decision-making and reflect on rigorous and donor centered plans for sustaining and growing donor base and revenue
• Ability to initiate, organize and manage projects, and to collaborate successfully with peers and other key stakeholders in person and remotely across local and national teams
• Exceptional verbal, presentation, and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to write and edit successful and persuasive appeals, proposals, stewardship materials and other collateral.
• Excellent negotiation skills and positive and patient approach to donor cultivation with the creativity and tenacity to find your way around a “no” answer to a more productive outcome
• Highly organized and proactive leadership skills, with the ability to plan strategically and stay on track with a portfolio of donors from prospect to achievement of desired goals
• Resourceful problem solver with the ability to shift priorities quickly
• Experience motivating staff and creating opportunities for learning and development of team members
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and donor databases and an ability to learn new technologies that enable effectiveness in the role
• A self-development orientation and track record of seeking professional growth
• Willingness to occasionally work nights and weekends to support donor and family events
• Applicants currently engaged with JP in any other capacity, such as Empowerment & Leadership Facilitator, Board Member, JP Fellowship participant, or similar roles, are not eligible to accept an offer of employment while actively involved in those programs. If you are interested in employment opportunities, please alert your program leader immediately.
• JP alumni must be at least six years post-graduation to apply for employment at JP, ensuring confidentiality between staff and current participants.