Hiring: Director of Development

Published on March 22, 2018

Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry
Director of Development
Job Description


Although our name may imply a small suburban focus, we are an award-winning hunger-relief agency serving residents of 13 zip codes on the westside of Chicago and surrounding suburbs.  Last year we provided critical food assistance to nearly 50,000 individuals.  Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry’s current operating budget is $2.5M of which $1.3M is secured from private philanthropy. Existing resources are primed to advance a donor development program to meet ambitious strategic goals.  We are creating a new position for a Director of Development (DOD)to lead our fundraising efforts in collaboration with our Executive Director (ED), a highly committed Board of Directors, and a strong development team.

Reporting to and in partnership with the ED, the DOD has the opportunity to influence and advance all aspects of the organization through fundraising efforts focusing on 1) individual giving 2) grants management and 3) events management. The DOD will:

  • Manage an ambitious, mission-driven fundraising program designed to increase the amount of philanthropic support needed to realize the Food Pantry’s goal of creating a Hunger-Free Community in line with its strategic plan.
  • Engage and inspire individuals who give, and have the capacity to give, significant financial contributions in support of the Food Pantry’s mission.
  • Build the Food Pantry’s portfolio of foundation, corporate and government grants.
  • Oversee all internal operations related to donor experience by supervising Development and Event Coordinator who manages data base and gift processing.
  • Create vision and strategy for fundraising events, and provide oversite of Development and Event Coordinator who manages logistics and operational aspects.

Responsibilities

Individual Giving

  • Actively manage a portfolio of approximately 200 major donors and prospects with the goal of increasing the number of effective, targeted solicitations and the number of successful outcomes.
  • Identify from existing data and external research, prospects for upper level and/or increased giving requests.
  • Develop and prioritize individual cultivation and solicitation strategies which will include identification of key staff or volunteers to be involved, likely area/point of interest, proposed solicitation amount, and timing.
  • Implement or activate strategic cultivation and solicitation steps which will include overseeing all manner of communication, individual proposal writing and face-to-face solicitations. In addition to moving his/her own prospects toward solicitation, manage and support the activities of the ED who will serve as key influencer in some situations.
  • Develop and implement an annual acquisition plan to secure new individual donors.
  • Establish planned giving society to secure bequest gifts.

Grants Management

  • Research, prepare, and submit grant proposals which are clear, complete, specific and reflect the energy, urgency, priorities and mission of the Food Pantry; collaborate with finance and program staff to ensure appropriate grant reporting, documentation, and required follow up

Board Support

  • Serve as a staff liaison to the Board of Directors’ Resource Development Committee. Provide training in research, cultivation and solicitation process as necessary.

Planning and Analysis

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of Food Pantry’s development programs.  Develop and implement innovative strategies for continually improving Food Pantry’s impact, effectiveness, and quality of fundraising activities.

Qualifications

  • Experience leading or working in a sophisticated individual giving program.
  • Major gift fundraising experience, including a track record of successful donor relationship management, highly preferred.
  • Superb interpersonal abilities for donor, prospect, and colleague relationships.
  • High energy, positive attitude, respectful demeanor, enthusiasm for hunger issues.
  • Advanced degree or equivalent experience; five+ years related employment experience.
  • Diplomacy, discretion, and strong fundraising ethics
  • Cross-cultural sensitivity and fluency.
  • Able to inspire competent staff to move/act with shared vision.


Job Title: Director of Development
Reports To: Executive Director
Supervises: Development and Events Coordinator, Volunteers as requested
Job Status/Salary: Full time; salary commensurate with experience; flexible hours possible; eligible for benefits package.

Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry Mission: to work together as a community to reduce hunger locally through direct hunger relief services, hunger awareness education, and advocacy to influence anti-hunger policy.

To apply, send cover letter with salary requirements along with resume to Beth Klein, Finance and Operations Manager:  Beth@gobeyondhunger.org by April 15, 2018.