About the position
At Student Leadership Network, we believe in the potential of all students and are cultivating a generation of young people empowered to lead. We work with every student, developing their abilities to achieve their educational ambitions. Our nearly 30-year track record demonstrates higher rates of college enrollment and graduation, significantly surpassing national benchmarks. We are advancing educational equity by increasing access to higher education in under-resourced public schools nationwide. Our Young Women’s Leadership model elevates practices in girls'+ schools that lead to success and is changing the face of leadership. Our co-ed CollegeBound Initiative develops college-going school cultures — creating high expectations and viable pathways for post-secondary success. To learn more, visit our website at www.studentleadershipnetwork.org. Position Summary: Student Leadership Network is seeking a full-time Director of Individual Giving (DIG) to manage all aspects of our individual giving strategy and operations. Reporting to the Senior Managing Director of Growth Strategy and Development (SMDGSD), the DIG will play a critical role in strengthening our current individual giving program and will significantly contribute to and grow this revenue stream - particularly from gifts originating from new sources. This role will partner closely with the SMDGSD, Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Team, Founder and the Board of Directors, when appropriate, to achieve our current fundraising goals and build the pipeline of future donors. The individual revenue stream plays a key role in helping scale our organizational growth and impact, and the DIG will be responsible for leading initiatives and strategies that drive this vision forward.
Responsibilities
- Partnering with the SMDGSD to set vision, drive strategy, and lead the work of individual giving revenue stream.
- Work with SMDGSD to set annual revenue goals and analyze progress quarterly.
- Design and execute creative donor engagement strategies to significantly increase funding from existing, lapsed, and new individual donors.
- Translate short- and long-term strategies into targeted actions that drive year-over-year renewals.
- Develop and execute a strategy for gradually increasing individual revenue from completely new sources over the next 5 years.
- Directly manage a portfolio of individual donors.
- Develop robust cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans customized for each donor and prospect in the portfolio.
- Build and manage relationships with individual donors through personalized outreach, meetings, event invitations, and regular communications efforts.
- Use sophisticated research techniques to expand the individual giving pipeline and identify viable new funding prospects.
- Identify and screen prospects using various research methods, including iWave or DonorSearch.
- Develop an entrepreneurial approach to move prospects forward and secure their financial support.
- Utilize move management tools in Salesforce to record and track prospect status.
- Manage annual fundraising campaigns, including #GivingTuesday, Year-End Appeal, Spring Campaign, and other special initiatives.
- Develop and execute comprehensive campaign strategies that draw on best practices and test novel outreach approaches.
- Create and manage dynamic campaign schedules across a variety of outreach methods.
- Work with the Marketing and Communications team to develop high-impact, compelling materials and messaging.
- Plan and execute events, including cultivation events and school tours.
- Partner with the relevant program teams to develop a year-long strategy and ensure seamless execution of different types of cultivation and stewardship events.
- Support the SMDGSD and CEO in managing a select portfolio of donors.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of nonprofit fundraising experience in roles of increasing responsibility.
- Demonstrated track record of soliciting 5-6 figure gifts from high-level individual donors.
- Proven ability to generate revenue growth and meet ambitious revenue goals.
- Experience creating personalized cultivation and stewardship plans.
- Strong communicator with exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
- Innovative thinker with a track record for translating strategy into action plans and results.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and prioritize while working under multiple deadlines.
- Knowledge of development best practices and willingness to learn and stay apprised of industry trends.
- Excellent computer skills including Google Suite and Microsoft Office; Asana, Salesforce and iWave experience a plus.
Nice-to-haves
- Demonstrated commitment to our organizational mission, vision, and core values.
- A passion for expanding educational opportunities for students from under-served communities.
Benefits
- Medical (health, dental, and vision)
- Health Reimbursement Account (up to $14,000 for families)
- Flexible Spending Account (for Medical, Dependent Care and Transit/Parking)
- 401K Retirement Plan with 4% Employer Match
- Generous Paid Family Leave, minimum of 12 weeks based on tenure
- Life Insurance (100% of the insurance premium)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Time Off: Full-time employees earn 17 days per year in the first three years, 11 Federal holidays and 2 floating holidays
- Wellness: 10 sick days per year, Annual Wellness Week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Summer Fridays early dismissal
- Hybrid Work Schedule
