Sr. Development Director

The University of Utah•Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

Join our vision to create a world where mental wellness is accessible to all and funding is not an obstacle on the path to well-being. The Huntsman Mental Health Foundation ( HMHF ) is a separate 501©(3) organization founded to support the Huntsman Mental Health Institute ( HMHI ) and its work to advance mental health care through clinical, research, community, and education initiatives. Made possible by a generous $150 million donation from the Huntsman family (2019), HMHI was established in 2021 with a vision to free the world from mental health stigma, bring an end to suffering, and integrate mind and body to improve life for every person. As part of a world-renowned academic health system at the University of Utah, HMHI provides comprehensive mental health services and psychiatric care. HMHF hopes to build a national model for annual support. How you can help break down the barriers that hinder mental wellness: HMHF is seeking a Director of Annual Giving and Direct Response with a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, particularly in annual and direct response campaigns within the nonprofit sector. Reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy, the Director of Annual Giving & Direct Response is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive annual giving and direct response program for Huntsman Mental Health Foundation ( HMHF ). The Director drives increased philanthropic revenue and donor base growth through effective annual fundraising practices and activities, both regionally and nationally. This position will shape HMHF’s mass market solicitation strategies, including the development of themes and narratives, target populations, and a data-driven, multi-channel strategy. This individual will also build creative campaigns to tell HMHF’s story—using tools and content to help HMHI stand out as a remarkable change agent in the mental health research, clinical, and education space—with the end goal of building and sustaining a body of supporters. This role requires strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. The Director will collaborate with fellow HMHF team members, as well as the Huntsman Mental Health Institute ( HMHI ) team, the University of Utah Advancement team, vendors, partners, and board members. The Director partners closely with HMHF’s marketing & communications and donor relations team members on messaging and donor retention efforts. Our ideal candidate for this role possesses the following experience and skillset: Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in annual and direct-response fundraising. Proven track record of successfully executing annual nonprofit campaigns. Demonstrated skills and abilities include: Excellent written and oral communication skills. Knowledge of best practices and methods related to annual giving and direct response. Leadership and cross-functional management ability. Capacity to manage multiple projects and collaborate across various departments. Proficiency in using data and analytics for decision-making, analysis, and result improvement. Additionally, proficiency in MS Suite, with advanced skills in word processing and spreadsheet management, as well as familiarity with constituent gift and relationship management software, is essential for success in this role.

Requirements

Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in annual and direct-response fundraising.
Proven track record of successfully executing annual nonprofit campaigns.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Knowledge of best practices and methods related to annual giving and direct response.
Leadership and cross-functional management ability.
Capacity to manage multiple projects and collaborate across various departments.
Proficiency in using data and analytics for decision-making, analysis, and result improvement.
Proficiency in MS Suite, with advanced skills in word processing and spreadsheet management, as well as familiarity with constituent gift and relationship management software, is essential for success in this role.
Master’s Degree or equivalent experience (One year of education is equivalent to two years of experience).
Four years of related experience.

Responsibilities

Sets aspirational goals and develops strategic plans for growing the HMHF donor base and creating a sustainable flow of annual dollars.
Creates a donor identity, narrative, and annual themes to convey key messages and compelling stories to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors.
Collaborates closely with MarComm and donor relations colleagues to align messaging and strategy, and deliver a seamless donor experience.
In partnership with internal partners and vendors, develops and executes a detailed annual outreach and solicitation plan and calendar each year. The plan should outline a multi-channel, data-informed approach to secure annual and sustaining gifts using a variety of techniques, segments, and channels, including direct mail, digital, and phone.
Oversees data management, results tracking, and analysis of all annual giving and direct response efforts.
Leverages strong data analysis to drive future strategies and pivot messaging, segmentation, and channels when necessary.
Partners with University Advancement services and vendors on data integrity, mining, segmentation, and development of analysis tools and tracking for the program.
Develops and produces progress reports for leadership and the Board upon request.
Studies current and innovative annual giving and direct response strategies and best practices, recommending and implementing new methods and activities to improve overall results and to increase average annual gifts.
Keeps updated on and experiments with innovative strategies, techniques, and trends for attracting annual and sustainer donors.
Responsible for the development of the annual giving and direct response budget and responsibly manages spending to budget.
Other relevant duties as assigned.
As a young Foundation, it is understood that this role will adapt to the needs of the organization as we continue to grow.
As HMHF grows, this position may recruit, hire, train, and manage direct reports.