[Hiring] Director of Development @Palmer Home for Children

Role Description

Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director of Development will raise vital financial resources, while increasing community awareness and involvement in Palmer Home’s mission. The Director will meet general operating and capital revenue goals by identifying, engaging, and securing support from current and prospective individual donors, churches, businesses, foundations, and community partners through relationship building, regular communication, grant applications, and the coordination of enrichment activities and sponsorships. The Director will ensure that gifts are properly solicited, acknowledged, cultivated, and stewarded.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement individualized strategies for an assigned portfolio of major gift donors with an emphasis on cultivation, solicitation, retention, and stewardship.
• Identify, research, and qualify new donor prospects within market assignments to expand the donor base and develop new relationships that lead to increased philanthropic support.
• Generate new corporate and foundation revenue with local, state, and regional partners through corporate giving, employee engagement opportunities, grants, foundation support, and endowments within market assignments.
• Personally solicit major gifts through strategic, donor-centered proposals and presentations, matching donor interests and philanthropic priorities with Palmer Home’s mission and funding needs.
• Identify and advance opportunities for transformational and principal gifts in collaboration with the VP of Development and other organizational leaders, as appropriate.
• Develop and execute annual fundraising plans to achieve assigned revenue, donor retention, donor acquisition, and solicitation goals.
• Secure sponsorships for in-house fundraising special events.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to donor inquiries, questions, complaints, and concerns, and ensure proposals, follow-up communications, and reports are completed and submitted on time.
• Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and adjust strategies as needed to maximize fundraising results.
• Maintain accurate donor records, portfolio plans, solicitation forecasts, and relationship management activity in Palmer Home’s donor database to support effective fundraising reporting.
• Enlist, as appropriate, Board members, the President/CEO, and other Palmer staff to assist in making major gift asks.
• Represent Palmer Home in the community by attending and speaking to local civic groups, chamber programs, and other community organizations and events, as appropriate.
• Stay current on best practices, strategies, and emerging trends in major gift fundraising and donor engagement.
• Support and assist with fundraising strategies and activities to ensure proper acknowledgement and recognition of donors.
• Serve as the point of contact for any third-party fundraising effort within market.
• Manage donor appointments, external inquiries, follow-up, prospect research, expense reports, and other administrative responsibilities related to fundraising.
• Participate in special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of applicable experience in development, marketing, sales, communications, or public relations.
• Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding fundraising goals, with experience securing major gifts and developing long-term relationships.
• Experience managing a donor portfolio and developing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Experience using donor databases and fundraising reports to manage relationships, track progress, and inform fundraising strategy.
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management, interpersonal, decision making, presentation/public speaking, and organizational skills.
• Strong planning and project management skills; ability to prioritize tasks for both self and team to meet deadlines.
• Able to work collectively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and collaboratively; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.
• A strategist who can anticipate and support the needs of both internal and external audiences.
• Prioritizes multiple expectations based on the organization(s) strategy and goals, providing focus and expectations for the team.
• Must agree with the Palmer Home for Children Statement of Christian Beliefs and demonstrate a strong commitment to Christ consistent with the mission of Palmer Home status as a non-profit religious organization.

Work Location / Status

This position will work remotely (from home) in Memphis/Mid-South with occasional travel throughout the surrounding counties and throughout Tennessee, Mississippi, and other states. This is a benefit-eligible (medical, dental, vision, 401k w/match, vacation/sick time, etc.) full-time salaried/exempt position with a company vehicle. Salary is commensurate with experience.