Development Manager

Featured II

Jul 26

Written By Yolanda F. Johnson

SUSU Community Farm
Hybrid - some on-site in Newfane, Vermont

Anticipated Start Date: As soon as filled. Application Deadline 8/9/24

Description

The development manager (job title: fire tender) leads SUSU’s fundraising work through designing successful strategy, planning and managing innovative and effective campaigns, stewarding authentic and powerful donor engagement, as well as robust foundation relationship building, grant-seeking, and grants management. This role requires skill, experience, confidence, and self-direction while working creatively in a collaborative leadership ecosystem.

The organization's annual fundraising goals exceed $1M and are expected to grow over time.

Commitment: 40 hours/wk year round.

This hybrid position functions mostly as work-from-home with some responsibilities to be on site at SUSU from time to time. Includes other travel as strategy and fundraising plans dictate.

Responsibilities

FUNDRAISING STRATEGY, PLANNING, AND LEADERSHIP

develop and implement a comprehensive, community-centric fundraising strategy and plan with focus on major giving, donor advised funds, and foundations
set and track annual fundraising budget, objectives, calendar and metrics for success
develop and lead capital campaigns in alignment with infrastructure goals and priorities
manage all aspects of foundation and grants record-keeping from submissions to close-out
engage the SUSU board(s) in fundraising strategy-setting and implementation; support and develop the board’s capacity to achieve development goals
schedule leadership team members for key funder events to maximize exposure and build relationships

STORYTELLING & COMMUNICATION

build clear messaging and engaging narratives that cut across and unify various dimensions of SUSU’s work for use in campaigns and donor/foundation engagement
maintain donor partner communication and engagements through events, meetings, teleconferences, reports, etc
design and draft all donor and foundation communications including appeals, inquiries, invitations, acknowledgements and thank-yous, updates/reports, etc
gather stakeholder feedback and data to share with donors and the community
develop and lead annual report creation and publication

INDIVIDUAL DONOR & CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT

plan and oversee the execution of major gifts fundraising
lead relationship and giving development with current major donors
identify major prospects and develop customized engagement strategies
plan, schedule, and prepare SUSU leaders for major donor engagement opportunities
design and lead general donor fundraising strategy and campaigns
help design and launch fire circle reciprocal giving circle
report regularly on Fundraising strategy activity, outcomes, and evaluation to SUSU leadership team and Board of Directors

GRANT-SEEKING & MANAGEMENT

meet or exceed SUSU’s annual grant and institutional fundraising goals by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, securing, acknowledging, and stewarding foundation and institutional funding efforts
manage the full range of activities required to prepare, write, and submit grant proposals and reports that are responsive to funder guidelines including: writing/editing letters of intent or interest, grant proposals for submission, including assembling required documentation and financial materials
work with program staff to document work and write/edit and submit reports on existing grants in accordance with deadlines
monitor and communicate expenditure deadlines to financial and executive leadership
monitor grant restrictions and ensure fulfillment of proposal/reporting guidelines
report regularly on grant-writing activity, awards/deadlines, and grant reporting
establish, build, maintain relationships with grant administrators

MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION

attend weekly leadership and team meetings
center professional development that centers cutting edge liberation work in the funding and fundraising sector
manage all aspects of the Bloomerang CRM system including data entry, analysis, triage, reporting, and troubleshooting

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION

bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
a proven track record of identifying, cultivating and stewarding major gifts and multi-year relationships
excellent sales skills and first class relationship management combined with an outgoing, charismatic, and engaging personality
exceptional networker with proven ability to identify and cultivate prospects through contact networking
excellent writing, editing, and verbal communications skills, is a storyteller with the ability to tell SUSU’s story in a compelling way
the ability to make dynamic group presentations
strong financial analysis and planning skills, including the ability to anticipate tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines and function smoothly under strict deadlines and shifting priorities.
high-level of computer literacy skills. Experience with CRM databases.
event planning experience
experience managing complex fundraising strategies as well as capital campaign planning and execution
demonstrated success garnering major donor support, raising six- and seven-figure gifts
exceptional leadership, self-direction and self-organization, and relationship-building skills as well as an exemplary work ethic
commitment to embed and sustain equity, liberation, abundance and community centered fundraising within all aspects of the organization
a deep personal commitment to the values of health, afroindigenous ecology, sustainability, trauma healing, and youth cultivation
demonstrated capacity to tolerate the unknown, emergence, change, collaboration, and to center and uplift Black womanist values and visions
actively working to dismantle white supremacy culture in their own embodied experience and in the communal spaces they occupy

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

The annual starting salary for this position is $60,000 (growing with the organization and demonstrated capacity to meet goals).

If fundraising goals are met, you will receive a bonus equivalent to 1.5% of the funds raised, up to a maximum of $15,000, based on raising $1,000,000. other benefits will be discussed during the interview.

How to Apply for this Job