The Director of Development is a key member of the Cultivating Community’s leadership and is responsible for overseeing efforts relating to donations, grants, and related fundraising strategies. The Director of Development will supervise the full-time Donor Relations Manager, and will be responsible for setting and implementing a sustainable development strategy. The Director of Development will work as a liaison and ambassador both internally and externally. An essential component of this position, as with any job at Cultivating Community, is capacity and commitment to working closely with colleagues and communities of color and of different cultural backgrounds and elevating their needs and voices.
We believe that everyone has a unique food story and can participate in the good food movement! We seek to create opportunities for sharing food and farming knowledge and making the food system in Maine more just and welcoming to all. The organization works closely with and for immigrant communities, particularly refugees from central and east Africa who have arrived in Maine within the past 5-15 years. We also serve food insecure communities and families and individuals living on low incomes. Currently the organization is operating with a 1.2 million annual budget and 15 full time staff members. Funding sources are split evenly between individual donors, private foundations and federal grants. Our goals include expanding our donor and partnership base to grow our programs and maximize our impact.
Amidst the pandemic, Cultivating Community is in a period of transition and this position presents a unique opportunity to help shape a longstanding partner in Maine’s food movement. In late 2019, Cultivating Community implemented new models of collaborative decision making and leadership and the Director of Development has a key role to play in defining the future of the organization. The ideal candidate would share our organizational values and be excited about how the structure of Cultivating Community can better reflect and embody our values both internally and externally. Our board, staff and community partners are all committed to seeing Cultivating Community’s evolution continue and for the impact of our work to continue to grow. Creating a positive, supportive and joyful work environment is also important to us all! This position will require a great deal of patience and flexibility as the organization grows and changes during this period of transition. Personal maturity and willingness to persevere through uncertain times are essential qualities.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop, implement and monitor Cultivating Community’s fundraising plans and systems with the Directors Team and Board Fundraising Committee.
- Oversee and contribute to the development and tracking of proposals and reports for all foundation and corporate fundraising, with close collaboration with other staff, the Directors Team and contractors.
- Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with Cultivating Community donors and potential supporters through a variety of media, including written newsletters, social media and 1-on-1 communications.
- Supervise the Donor Relations Manager and any other staff/contractors/volunteers contributing to Cultivating Community’s development work.
- Identify, cultivate, and communicate with local individuals, businesses and organizations that align with our mission vision and values.
- Design and develop and sponsorship opportunities for Cultivating Community events and fundraisers.
- Organizational work (Staff meetings, Professional Development, Program Support)
Organizational Commitment and Values Alignment
We are a small organization composed of staff members with many different backgrounds and skills, committed to building equity through food justice for our communities. As a result, we are deeply committed to both the learning and skill-building required to shape our work to be truly in line with our stated values.
Location & Schedule
Cultivating Community offers a strengths-based collaborative staff team and flexible, positive work environment. This position will be based primarily out of our Portland-based office, but will require some travel in the Southern Maine area. During COVID-19, all of our operations are remote, except for in-person farm and garden programming. We will consider applications from uniquely qualified candidates who are based remotely, with the understanding that some in-person presence is preferred.
This position will occasionally require flexibility to work evenings and weekends for special events, volunteer days, and to provide program support outside of normal business hours.
OUR HIRING PROCESS & TIMELINE:
- This position will be posted between 12/8 and January 11th, 2021
- We intend to schedule interviews in Mid-January and offer a position by early February with a start date on or before March 1. There is some flexibility in this schedule, please indicate if the timing poses a challenge to your application.
- To apply, please email a resume, three references and answers to the following questions: 1) Describe your experience and philosophy around creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace. 2) How do you operate in a work environment that is ambiguous or uncertain? 3) What skills or experience do you draw on to stay steady and hopeful? 4) What are key pieces of your experience that would contribute to building a stronger development program at CC? to [email protected] or bring it to the Cultivating Community office located at 58 Boyd Street in Portland. We will not contact references without communicating with you first.
Desired Skills and Knowledge:
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral.
- Microsoft Office; Google Suite, familiarity with Network for Good or similar programs is a bonus
- Organization and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Self- starter: knowledge of how to seek out help and support independently
- Patience, flexibility and sense of humor
- Awareness and understanding of systemic racism both locally and nationally, and a desire to deeply understand and change structural inequity.
Desired Experience:
- Supervision and collaboration: Experience supervising and working with other staff members with a spirit of collaboration, creativity and proactive communication
- 3+ years of experience in non-profit fundraising that includes setting and achieving goals
- Long term planning and strategic/big picture thinking that can align with the mission, vision and values of the organization and the overall funding environment
- Experience in tracking and managing financial information
- Experience in racially and culturally diverse workplaces and experience working across differences.
- Salary range of $52,000 - $62,000 annually based on experience and qualifications
- Full-time, exempt position, working 40 hours per week. We believe in work-life balance, and are committed to keeping the workload in alignment with the true hours worked
- Travel compensation for driving between work sites
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Vegetable share during summer
- 15 days of paid vacation, 17 days of paid holidays or sick time, and a flexible, family-friendly schedule
- We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance plans for both employees and employees’ families.
If you have questions about this position, about the application process, or about Cultivating Community - please direct them to Alex Redfield - [email protected], (207)761-4769 ext 806.
Cultivating Community is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.