Director of Development and Communications

Agate Housing and Services•Minneapolis, MN

4d•$140 - $155

About The Position

Agate is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. It provides emergency services, shelter, and housing programs for individuals and families, and believes that housing is a basic human right. Agate's values are integrity, equity, humanity, and creativity. The Director of Development and Communications leads the growth and strategic direction of Agate's philanthropic fundraising program, marketing, and internal and external communications. The role is responsible for meeting individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising goals that support operational and capital needs while strengthening Agate's visibility, reputation, and stakeholder engagement. Strategies must align with Agate's mission, organizational priorities, and strategic objectives. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director oversees fundraising strategies including annual giving, major and planned gifts, corporate and foundation partnerships, donor stewardship and acknowledgment, gift processing, data management, and fundraising events. The Director also leads marketing and communications, developing strategies that strengthen brand awareness, communicate Agate's impact, and maintain consistent messaging across channels. The role supports effective information-sharing among staff and engagement with donors, partners, community members, and other external stakeholders. It provides leadership and oversight of the development and communications team. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Director works with senior staff, board members, and other stakeholders to shape fundraising and communications strategies, cultivate high-level donors, strengthen relationships, and expand philanthropic support. The Director also collaborates with the government contracts department to align messaging, budgets, and funding strategies across projects and initiatives. The position requires use of a personal vehicle, a valid driver's license, specified minimum liability insurance coverage, and passing a driving record background check.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
At least 7 years of professional fundraising experience.
Proven experience developing and executing fundraising strategies and closing major gifts.
Experience securing major grant funding and working with funders.
Genuine passion for and commitment to Agate Housing and Services' mission.
Proven success building and maintaining long-term relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and other fundraising constituents.
Proven experience developing and managing donor plans.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Demonstrated leadership abilities and capacity to lead teams.
Ability to collaborate and foster productive relationships with colleagues, clients, volunteers, vendors, donors, and community members.
Proven track record leading professionals, volunteers, and staff in productive committee, task force, or special project work.
Flexibility, innovation, adaptability to change, ability to manage multiple projects, and effectiveness under pressure.
Professionalism, confidence, self-motivation, initiative, and ability to represent the organization excellently.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ability to demonstrate a caring attitude toward guests, donors, volunteers, and people who encounter the agency.
Use of a personal vehicle, valid driver's license, liability insurance coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, and successful completion of a driving record background check.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.

Responsibilities

Set ambitious but attainable fundraising goals for major gifts, annual giving, and longer-term priorities.
Set the vision, direction, and execution plans for building and managing the development program, and ensure its long-term sustainability.
Build external relationships that support growth in philanthropic revenue and align fundraising priorities with Agate's strategic plan.
Engage the board, volunteer leaders, and staff in prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Manage and grow the development team to achieve or exceed philanthropy revenue targets.
Provide strategic direction to development department fundraising professionals.
Manage a portfolio of leadership-level donors and prospects with capacity to give $50,000 or more annually, and personally solicit and close significant major and transformational gifts.
Support the Executive Director in donor portfolio cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Represent Agate as an ambassador to external supporters, partners, and donors.
Oversee media relations and press engagement, including media inquiries, public statements, crisis response, and emergency communications.
Lead integrated marketing and communications strategies to strengthen Agate's brand, reputation, and public awareness.
Set priorities, goals, and performance expectations for the marketing and communications team, and ensure accountability for deliverables, timelines, and results.
Oversee marketing materials, digital content, social media, website content, newsletters, and other communications.
Guide storytelling and content development that showcases Agate's programs, impact, and role in the community.
Work with senior leadership and program teams to identify opportunities to elevate Agate's work and promote organizational initiatives.
Manage the Board's Development and Governance Committees.
Participate in Executive Leadership Team strategy, planning, and decision-making in support of Agate's mission and long-term sustainability.
Build working relationships with senior leaders and board members to align priorities, identify growth opportunities, and advance organizational goals.
Collaborate with the government contracts department to align funding priorities, project budgets, and messaging across public and philanthropic funding sources.
Work across departments to ensure fundraising and communications initiatives reflect strategic priorities, programmatic needs, and organizational impact.