Freedom Projects are creating a corps of academically capable, socially conscious, and mentally disciplined young leaders in Mississippi. Since the first one launched in the Mississippi Delta in 1998, Freedom Projects have empowered students to organize for racial & social justice and developed anti-racist curricula that use the history of the civil rights movement to educate and empower students to achieve their goals. We support students from seventh grade through college graduation. Currently, we serve students at three Freedom Project sites in Sunflower County, Meridian, and Rosedale.
Founded in 2016 to support Freedom Projects around Mississippi, the mission of the Freedom Project Network (FPN) is to strengthen, fund, and unite the individual sites so that we may provide more students with educational opportunities. The FPN also oversees the Freedom Summer Collegiate and Alumni College Success Programs. We envision the Network connecting each independent Freedom Project to resources and knowledge that will improve programming and student outcomes. The FPN seeks a Director of Development to serve as the chief executive officer, lead the organization, build capacity, and create effective strategies towards achieving our mission.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Director of Development’s primary responsibility is to raise financial resources for the Freedom Project Network:
- Develop a strong fundraising plan and work with the Board of Directors to build an annual revenue target of $500K within 2 years.
- Plan and coordinate all fundraising operations including major gifts stewardship, direct mail campaigns, and fundraising events.
- Research, identify, and solicit grants. Develop and maintain relationships with grantmakers through timely reporting and engagement around the FPN’s mission.
- Coordinate, design, publish, and distribute the Network’s annual report to key constituents and donors.
- Develop and maintain a donor data system and acknowledgment process.
- Develop and maintain the Freedom Project Network’s public profile, including coordinating all social media, email, and press communications.
- Create and manage the Network’s budget, and manage the Network’s financial bookkeeping.
- Assist local fundraising efforts at each site, including helping create promotional materials.
Programmatic and fiduciary responsibilities of each Freedom Project site are the domain of the site director and their board. However, the Freedom Project Network Director of Development will assist in network facilitation and evaluation:
- Lead the Network annual site reviews in collaboration with the site board rep and site director.
- Develop network-wide data collection strategies, systems, and provide technical assistance to sites.
- Schedule and set agenda for weekly calls of Freedom Project executive directors.
- Collaborate with FP Directors to plan & facilitate bi-annual summits of Freedom Project staff; oversee logistics for the summit including location, materials, and meals.
- Collaborate with the program directors of the Freedom Summer Collegiate and Alumni College Success Programs to implement and develop these programs.
- Analyze and recommend opportunities for cost-sharing across the Freedom Projects, including joint services, subscriptions, and expenditures.
- Analyze opportunities for expansion and assist with the development of new Freedom Project sites.
- Organize and facilitate the Freedom Project Network student-advisory council.
Qualifications:
Embrace FPN’s mission of anti-racist youth empowerment and effectively communicate it to external constituencies.
- 3-5 years of broad-based development experience and documented success running a development program, including grant writing, small and large gift campaigns, and special events
- Knowledge of the educational philanthropic community and foundations in Mississippi and nationally.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to successfully communicate through presentations to large and small groups.
- Experience using a contact management system.
- A bachelor's degree is required.
- Flexibility to travel as necessary and work evenings/weekends when required.
Attributes:
- Hands-on professional who has developed, or who has the potential to build, a successful fund development program from the floor up.
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently.
- Team builder and leader with strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to plan, organize, and implement a variety of projects
- Well-organized, self-motivated, and community-oriented.
Competitive and commensurate with experience.
The ideal candidate for this role will have strong connections to the Freedom Projects’ work, connections in Jackson and across the state, and the ability to travel and be present at each site at least once a quarter. The ideal candidate will have the flexibility to work from home or from a Freedom Project site. Preference will be given to candidates who live in Mississippi or in a contiguous state.
The initial application will include:
- resume
- cover letter
- contact information for 3 references
- a writing sample, either a grant proposal or organizational report
- a statement (2-page max) of how your values align with the mission of the Freedom Projects.