Director, Development

Best Buddies Int. Inc•Chicago, IL

10d•$65,000 - $67,000

About The Position

The Director, Development is responsible for developing and implementing state events, securing foundation and/or grant opportunities and the managing of local advisory boards and associated committees.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 3-5 years’ relevant experience in fundraising including a record of success in expanding a donor base through cultivation and stewardship, grant writing, event planning/implementation, and/or board management
Superior persuasive writing and presentation skills with the ability to exert influence, inspire others, and articulate the mission, goals, and activities of Best Buddies with passion and enthusiasm
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, and familiarity/comfort with database management systems (i.e. Summa, Auction Pay, Raisers Edge)
Superior project management skills - including planning, analysis, decision making, and problem solving - and willingness to multitask
Superior initiative, drive for results, and self-assessment skills, and ability to lead individuals and teams in setting and achieving challenging goals
Must be comfortable engaging with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
Must travel, use personal cell phone, and work evenings and weekends as necessary in order to accomplish job responsibilities
Access to an automobile with applicable insurance

Responsibilities

Develops and implements comprehensive statewide strategy for securing sustainable funding and works with advisory boards and volunteers on its implementation
Assumes overall operational management responsibility for all fundraising activities statewide, including, but not limited to, foundation and corporate giving, individual giving, major gifts, special events, annual giving, and alumni/parent relations
Develops and implements major fundraising events to meet revenue goals–must utilize local event committees and follow BBI event committee benchmarks/structure, working with their State Director
Researches grant opportunities, develops proposals to foundations, maintains accurate records and submits reports as required by funders with support from their Grant Writer
Manages government grants/contracts, including reporting, maintaining relationships with key agency officials and testifying if necessary
Manages local and/or statewide advisory board(s), including recruitment, training, and retention of committee and board members in keeping with BBI Advisory Board guidelines
Identifies, cultivates, and develops volunteers capable of making personal commitments and becoming directly involved in the solicitation process on behalf of Best Buddies - develops and manages stewardship process of all donors, including processing gifts and thank you letters
Develops a comprehensive statewide public awareness strategy, and works with volunteers on its implementation
Creates a strong presence for Best Buddies in the local area through public speaking, community involvement, public service announcements, social media, special events, news releases, and other media initiatives
Develops relationships with local graphic artists, public relations professionals, and advertising agencies to support local needs
Contributes to the organization of content and images for updates on expansion state website and utilizes databases appropriately to communicate with participants and the community
Contributes to the creation and distribution of statewide and local newsletters/annual reports and e-newsletters
Directly supervises staff- responsible for staff development, oversight, and providing meaningful performance feedback, as well as holding them accountable for meeting all development and operational goals, hitting benchmarks, and following best practices and guidelines.
Inspires and motivates staff by demonstrating personal commitment and integrity and providing proactive training, support and recognition.
Responsible for all human resources related activities within the team. Understands, follows and reinforces human resources policies in a consistent manner.
Maintains communication with HQ and State Director with timely reports and other information as directed
Uses the online reimbursement system to effectively track and manage reimbursement requests
Develops, monitors and balances the expansion state development budget, including reviewing monthly financial statements, tracking all expenses and revenue, and adjusting spending/fundraising plans as needed
Oversees timely and accurate processing of all revenue and invoices, and maintains accurate records of all donations and donor information through Raiser’s Edge