Position Title: Senior Director of Development

Reports To: President

Direct Reports: Manager, Planned Giving

                                   Manager, Major Gifts

                                  Donor Relations Officer, Special Events and Planned Gifts

                                  Donor Relations Officer, Mid-level Gifts

                                 Donor Relations Officer, Fly4theCure and Major Events

                                 Grant Writer

Date: November 29, 2017

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Overall Objective:        The overall purpose of the position

The Senior Director is responsible for targeted development activities of planned giving, major gifts, major events, and grant writing for the cancer research sector that achieve results in delivering funding for long-term, transformative cancer research that promotes discoveries in cancer prevention, detection and treatment as well as funding for related public education.  The Senior Director is also responsible for coordinating development activities across the organization to enable the Foundation to achieve its long and short-term goals and objectives.

Duties:             Key functions and responsibilities; what is done is more important than how

Foundation-wide Leadership

  • Develops and executes integrated fundraising strategies to allow the Foundation to make continuous progress in planned giving, major gifts, special campaigns and select partnerships and initiatives toward the achievement of its mission and assures that funds are allocated properly according to the strategic plan.
  • Strengthens public perspective of the Foundation as a charity and go-to organization for progress in cutting edge science cancer research; improves awareness of the Foundation’s mission, history, and programs; works to improve charity watch dog and public review scores.
  • Represents the Foundation at research and fundraising events, developing and making presentations to a wide variety of audiences.
  • Provides leadership of grant writing and donor relations programs, assuring that strategic and operational goals and objectives are consistently met.
  • Promotes a workplace culture that reflects the Foundation’s values, encourages and rewards excellent performance and creates a “best place to work” environment.
  • Demonstrates a strong commitment to the professional development of staff, successfully recruits and retains a diverse team, and supports and motivates Foundation staff.
  • Ensures that all development activities comply with local, state, and federal regulations and laws governing non-profit business operations.
  • Regularly informs Foundation leadership of fundraising performance as compared to budgeted projections; identify solutions for budget issues as they may arise.

Planned Giving

  • Designs and leads the Foundation’s planned giving program; meeting with donors, financial planners and responding to inquiries to develop planned giving as a critical component of the Foundation’s strategic fundraising plan.   
  • Researches, identifies and contacts planned giving prospects to meet measurable goals, including developing and executing a full range of donor cultivation activities.
  • Leads team efforts to diversify funding resources and engage in long-term financial planning including creation of endowment and other permanent financial resources.
  • Participates in speaking engagements and planned giving seminars.
  • Writes correspondence, reports, proposals and marketing materials.
  • Maintains relationships with existing donors through regular contact, providing annual reports and account statements; oversees donor recognition events and data collections activities.

Major Gifts

  • Designs and leads the strategy and direction of the Foundation’s major giving program.
  • Identifies major gift prospects through a variety of avenues; coordinates the major gift program and communications between prospects and the Foundation. 
  • Develops and executes a major gift soliciting strategy to assure that prospects move through the donor pipeline; personally solicits donations.
  • Cultivates major gift donations by building and nurturing valuable relationships with major gift prospects and donors.
  • Builds relationships with major donor prospects.
  • Designs and grows an effective major gift donor stewardship program.

Accountability:             Level of position authority and scope of role

Serves as one of the Foundation’s key fundraising leaders contributing centrally to achieving the mission and vision of the organization.  Internally and externally facing leadership and management role.  Responsible for the overall direction, coordination and evaluation of planned giving, major gifts, major events, grant writing and donor relations.  Carries out responsibilities in accordance with Foundation policies and applicable laws, including planning, delegating and overseeing work, evaluating performance and fundraising results, and aligning performance and rewards systems.   

Skills/Competencies:     Knowledge, Skills & Abilities; Education/Experience needed for success

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Fundraising: Extensive knowledge, skills and abilities in fundraising, especially planned giving, major gifts and major events.  Ability to handle numerous fundraising situations.  Skill in managing prospective donors, cultivating current donors and coordinating activities with colleague fundraisers.  Confident with considerable ability to power through challenges.  Knowledge of estate planning, including wills, trusts, and estate and gift tax laws.  Knowledge of legal recordkeeping requirements for fundraising and documentation of donations.  Skill in using planned giving and/or fundraising software. 
  • Interpersonal: Excellent relationship and coalition building skills with an ability to work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.  Skill in building and sustaining alliances and partnership; a persuasive negotiator able to achieve results.  Ability to work independently, and on a team, and successfully set goals, communicate and project manage. 
  • Communication: Outstanding presentation and communication skills with proclivity to be an outgoing spokesperson, relationship builder and successful fundraiser.  Excellent writer and presenter, with the ability to inspire commitment and action in others.
  • Leadership:  Skill and ability in establishing a team-oriented, collaborative work environment.  Skill and ability to promote a workplace culture that reflects the Foundation’s values, encourages and rewards excellent performance and promotes dedication to mission.  Ability to successfully lead and achieve the strategic, operational and tactical initiatives of the Foundation, and represent its mission to all audiences. 
  • Organizational/Financial: Financially savvy and politically astute leader with the ability to set clear priorities, delegate and guide investment in people and systems; prudent manager of organizational resources; keen analytic, organizational and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making. 
  • Reasoning: Skill in identifying resource requirements, researching funding sources, and establishing strategies and approaches for successful fundraising. Ability to identify, define and resolve challenges and problems using a data-driven approach. 

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in a fundraising management, marketing, business, non-profit leadership or related area of study. Graduate degree preferred. 
  • Director: (Six or more years) Senior Director: (Ten or more years) of development experience, with a focus on planned giving and major gifts, preferably in a non-profit organization or academic setting.
  • Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) or other fundraising related certifications offered by the Association of Fundraising Professional preferred.

Work Environment:      Intermittent or consistent requirements of a physical or unusual nature

Physical demands are representative of those expected of the top executive in a non-profit organization.  Work is performed in an office environment.  Time commitments outside of regular office hours may be frequent.  Periodic travel requirements.

How to Apply:
NFCR offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package. Please send us a cover letter and resume to employment@nfcr.org.