Director of Development

Position Summary:

Lead the By Degrees Foundation development team to identify and secure philanthropic and grant support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources to support operating needs, capital needs, organizational growth, and financial sustainability.

Collaborate with CEO, Board members, volunteer leaders, and staff to implement the fund development plan and significantly grow philanthropic support for the By Degrees Foundation.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Annually develop and implement a comprehensive fund development plan with targeted goals, strategies, outcomes, and timeframe to achieve budgeted fundraising goals.
2. Work closely with CEO and program staff in order to enhance community awareness of programmatic needs for funding, ensure accurate reporting, and comply with donor expectations.
3. Investigate and initiate program partnerships and strategic alliances that will increase avenues of support and extend By Degrees’ brand in the community.
4. Guide, mentor, and supervise the Communications and Engagement Manager, and other team members as the department grows.
5. Coordinate and implement a successful Annual Fund campaign to support general operations and programs. This will include individual donor contributions, corporate support, grants, fundraising events, and digital solicitations.
6. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts donors. This includes overseeing major donor research, building and maintaining relationships along with the CEO, and implementing a moves management process for major donors.
7. Ensure success of annual, major fundraising event - Sweet Dreams - in collaboration with contracted event management firm and /or other team members.
8. Annually, grow the number of donors to the Support a Scholar program.
9. Plan and implement regular, meaningful donor recognition and stewardship activities.
10. Initiate and formalize a future gifts program (Planned Giving) to support a By Degrees’ endowment.
11. Ensure sound database management including gift recording and acknowledgment, tracking and reporting.
12. Oversee and assess data-supported fundraising reports, dashboards, and overall fund development efforts.
13. In collaboration with the CEO and Director of Finance & Operations, develop and monitor an annual budget for the development department with realistic, data-supported revenue and expense projections.
14. Develop personal community presence to support the By Degrees Foundation’s awareness and visibility among civic organizations, corporate, foundation, and business leaders.
15. Participate actively as a member of the By Degrees Foundation’s Leadership Team.
16. Complete other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree; CFRE preferred.
• 5–10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising/development experience in organizations with similar or larger size and scope.
• Demonstrated success managing increasingly complex fundraising responsibilities.

  Expertise

• Demonstrated success developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Experience with major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation support, planned giving, and special events.
• Proven ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and institutional donors.
• Knowledge of prospect research, donor qualification, and moves management.
• Experience setting and achieving measurable fundraising goals.
• Commitment to ethical standards and best practices in fund development.
• Ability to establish trust and develop long-term relationships with donors, volunteers, board members, and community partners. 

Communication and Storytelling

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to craft compelling donor communications, proposals, appeals, reports, and presentations.
• Strong public-speaking and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Ability to articulate the organization's mission, impact, needs, and vision to diverse audiences.
• Skilled at adapting messages to different donor and stakeholder interests.

Operational and Technical Experience

• Proficiency with donor databases/CRM systems and fundraising technology.
• Ability to maintain accurate donor records and use data to guide strategy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Working knowledge of budgets, financial reports, and fundraising analytics.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Mission-focused
• High level of integrity
• Adaptable
• Strategic
• Organized
• Relationship-oriented
• Data-informed
• Results-driven
• Collaborative
• Entrepreneurial

Reports to:  CEO

Status:  Exempt

Schedule:  Full-time with occasional evening and weekend hours

Why choose By Degrees Foundation? 

By Degrees partners with entire schools to increase high school graduation and postsecondary readiness rates on Des Moines' north side. Our work begins in kindergarten and follows students through high school graduation, ensuring they’re immersed in an expansive culture of postsecondary education, career exploration and future-focused planning throughout their K-12 experience.

We build intentional partnerships with our schools, community organizations, businesses and postsecondary institutions to uplift students, families and whole neighborhoods.

In addition to a competitive salary, members of our team receive:

• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• Paid volunteer time off
• 401k match up to 5% of salary

By Degrees Foundation is an equal opportunity organization, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, family or marital status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law. By Degrees Foundation will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the role requirements and any applicable local, state, and Federal law.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.