The American Heart Association (AHA) has an excellent opportunity for a Development Director for our Heart Ball Gala event in our Midwest Affiliate office located in Columbus, OH . The Director will oversee fundraising, volunteer recruitment and management, and event logistics for our annual Columbus Heart Ball (gala) event. The Development Director, Heart Ball is responsible and accountable for recruitment, training, campaign goal and management activities to ensure efficient growth and development of the metro fundraising year-round under the Heart Ball initiative that includes three primary events. This position is focused on high wealth individuals and engaging them in our mission through our Research Reception, community impact day and Heart Ball. The Development Director, Heart Ball is responsible for securing individual gifts of $5K- $100K+, local corporate sponsorship income and auction items to support the events and to maximize overall income potential.
The main accountability of the Development Director is to drive revenue for the event.
- Prospect and secure local corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and auction items. This includes managing existing and new sponsorships, renewal and deepening engagement via frequent face-to-face meetings to retain and upgrade their financial commitment.
- Recruit and manage executive volunteer leadership, volunteer committees, and day of the event timeline and business plan. Leads volunteer recruitment and engagement with c-suite executive and manager level volunteers.
- Develop profiles on the top businesses within the metro Columbus area with a documented plan to secure their involvement.
- Manage and engage new individual membership for our personal giving society, in partnership with other appropriate fundraising staff. Includes planning and executing regular engagement events for members. Develop annual stewardship and cultivation materials for donors in the Society. Provide collaborative guidance as able to the materials across social events in the market as well to mirror Association messaging.
- Execute the event logistics based on national best practices. Work alongside administrative associate to lead the efforts to build event silent and/or live auction. Ensures that auction items are solicited.
- Maintain timely communication with all staff at local and affiliate levels. Responsible for staff follow-up and monitoring of assigned fundraising activities. Work closely with the Communications Director to develop and manage a promotion and communications plan.
- Related experience may be substituted as follows: 1 ½ years experience equates to 1 full-time year of higher education.
- Must have at least 2 years of experience in fundraising, outside sales or in a non-profit organization in a similar capacity. This experience may also count towards satisfying this position’s educational requirement.
- Knowledge of community organization, sales, fundraising, and marketing principles, practices, techniques, and trends.
- Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills, including large and small group presentations, group facilitation, and training. Skill in written communications to include clear and concise narrative reports, evaluations and similar narrative pieces.
- Ability to read, comprehend and analyze number goals, as well as fundraising reports. Skill in use of spreadsheet/database analysis.
- Ability to do daily travel up to 75% and overnight travel up to.
- Must have at least basic knowledge and skill with Microsoft Office 2010 or higher used for word processing, email, presentations, and spreadsheets. Advanced knowledge and skill with these programs is preferred. These skills are subject to testing.
- Ability to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds with the expectation that items in excess of 20 pounds would be broken down into smaller components or additional assistance is required before lifting and/or moving.
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