Vital Communities, a regional nonprofit located in White River Junction, VT, seeks a full-time (40 hr/wk) Development Director to lead donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and corporate donors in coordination with the Executive Director and program staff; direct annual fall and spring giving campaigns, corporate giving, donor stewardship and database initiatives; and manage the grant calendar and process. The Development Director is responsible for meeting annual revenue targets by working with an assigned portfolio of donors and prospects to advance the mission of the organization and assist donors in contributing to a thriving and resilient Upper Valley through giving to Vital Communities. The Director also supervises the Communications Manager and – by Year 2 – the Database Manager. Full job description at.https://vitalcommunities.org/about/join-our-team/
The Development Director leads donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and corporate donors in coordination with the Executive Director and program staff. Other responsibilities include directing our annual giving campaigns (Fall and Spring), corporate giving, donor stewardship and database initiatives, and managing the grant calendar and process. The Development Director is responsible for meeting annual revenue targets by working with an assigned portfolio of donors and prospects to advance the mission of the organization and assist donors in contributing to a thriving and resilient Upper Valley through giving to Vital Communities. In addition to supervising the Communications Manager and – by Year 2 – the Database Manager, responsibilities include, but are not limited to: • Create and execute an annual Fundraising and Development Strategic Plan • Meet with donors on a regular basis to ask for financial support • Steward existing donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations • Partner and support the Executive Director as the primary ambassador for Vital Communities • Identify potential donors and cultivate relationships with current and potential donors at all levels • Oversee annual appeals (Fall and Spring) and mail solicitation in conjunction with Communications Manager and Database Manager • Manage the grants calendar and process with Executive Director, grant writer and program managers including identifying new opportunities, and – as needed - writing grant proposals, assisting with project budgets, writing reports and stewarding funders • Supervise the processing of donations and operation of the database once Vital Communities’ new database is in place and operational • Ensure the successful implementation of new initiatives (Planned Giving, Giving Tuesday, online/monthly giving) • Identify new opportunities for fundraising and develop and execute action plans ensuring their success • Work with Communications Manager and Executive Director to develop and produce a communications calendar which aligns fundraising and outreach goals • Work with Executive Director to establish and staff a Board Development Committee • Plan and manage events as needed, with support from the Communications team • Support the development of partnership agreements with community partners as needed
The ideal candidate will have: • A passion for Vital Communities’ mission and a commitment to equitable community-based approaches to regional issues • Experience in face-to-face conversations with donors to ask for financial contributions • A passion for fundraising and development • Outstanding interpersonal skills • Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills • Experience with individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising, and awareness of the Upper Valley fundraising landscape • Strong project management skills and experience, including delegation, organization, attention to detail, and prioritization across multiple projects • Strong data analysis skills and an interest in using data and information to drive decisions • Experience with grants, including writing, project budgets, reporting, and stewardship • Ability to work with a great deal of personal autonomy as well as in a team setting • Proficiency with software including CRM databases, Google Suite, Microsoft Office • Access to personal transportation • Willingness to work occasional nights and weekends (when required for public engagement, stakeholder meetings, etc.) • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in small teams • A sense of humor
$65,000 - $75,000 annually plus benefits
Email resume and cover letter to [email protected] Vital Communities will begin reviewing applications on November 17, 2021. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
We currently have a part-time (50%) Development Director who plans to transition out of development work as he takes on expanded responsibilities in other areas at Vital Communities. With an annual budget that totals approximately $1.5 million and that has grown over 50% in the last five years, with ambitious revenue goals going forward, and with a growing need to coordinate our development and fundraising work more systematically, the Development Director role will become full-time with this new hire. Vital Communities is a highly collaborative organization wherein many of our staff are involved in fundraising. In addition to supervising the Communications Manager and a contracted grant writer, the Development Director works closely with the Executive Director, the Database Manager, program staff, and our Finance & Administration team. We are seeking someone who is a strong team-player, comfortable with a broad array of fundraising responsibilities, and able to develop a strategic vision while also being hands on.