Development Director

The Akron Area YMCA is $20+M with 6 mem branches, 2 res camps, and childcare. Leads org annual campaign around $1M, grants, and capital.

Job Description

The Development Director at the Akron Area YMCA provides leadership in financial development to advance the YMCAs mission through annual giving, government and foundation grants, endowment bequests and gifts, and capital fundraising campaigns. The Development Director assists in developing actively engaged volunteers and staff members who actively participate in fundraising efforts and who represent the YMCA as a community convener and collaborator to address critical social issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent (preferred)
• CFRE or equivalent (preferred)
• YMCA Multi-Team Leader certification (preferred)
• Five or more years of professional experience in fundraising in the YMCA or another non-profit
• Ability to relate to top community leaders and diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
• Ability to create interpretive materials to enable potential donors to understand the YMCA and how they contribute to the achievement of its mission.
• Knowledge of the media and its use in gaining exposure for YMCA events and programs.
• Foundation and government grant writing expertise.
• Must be proficient in computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and donor/fundraising software programs
• Must be friendly, have high level of interpersonal, and customer service skills
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written)
• Analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to set and manage priorities
• Active listener with strong diplomacy skills

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual plan which helps maintain the fiscal health of the organization and provides future financial resources for growth and expansion. Including but not limited to annual campaign development and management, corporate major giving, grant writing and management, planned giving (endowment), capital campaigns, special events, and third-party fundraising.

• Work with other YMCA leaders to identify capital and program projects and potential donors.

• Work to develop and monitor goals and objectives for all campaigns as appropriate.

• Manage and support all special event logistics to ensure meeting campaign goals.

• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners to secure financial support and partnerships.

• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees, other volunteers, and staff members to engage them in fundraising activities, provide regular updates, and leverage their networks for fundraising opportunities.

• Coordinate statistical information, recordkeeping, and reporting for grants and donors.

• Deliver presentations to various community and corporate groups.

• Collaborate with marketing leaders to guide branding, image and consistency of messaging in all fund-raising materials. Including messaging is updated and accurate in all marketing and outreach materials.

• Utilize online donor database program(s) to track actions and monitor all gifts to camp.

• In coordination with development staff, plan annual donor communications calendar.

• Work with development and accounting staff to ensure gifts are recorded properly.

• Develops and implements annual budget, needed to carry out the fundraising plans.

• Develops association wide fundraising policies and procedures.

• Provides training for staff members and volunteers in fundraising skills and techniques. Educates, motivates and Provides feedback to individuals related to best practices in the fundraising process.

• Creates and implements effective communication strategies with compelling messages that inspire others to accomplish the mission and cause with maximum impact. Develops communication plans to ensure members, participants, and the community understand the case for support.

• Hire, train, and supervise development staff as appropriate.

• Member of the YMCA LEAD and LEAD+ teams.

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

• Communication & Influence: Creates and clearly communicates a compelling, cause-driven vision. Navigates complex political and social circles with ease. Advocates to public officials to promote policies and regulations to advance the Y’s cause.
• Philanthropy: Promotes and inspires philanthropy among staff and volunteers. Initiates and fosters relationships with all constituents through a systematic cultivation plan designed to increase support of the Y. Ensures fundraising activities and strategies are sufficient to support the Y’s charitable needs.
• Program/Project Management: Develops organizational goals and strategic plans, balancing long-term direction and short-term requirements. Aligns organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities to achieve goals. Uses the Y’s compelling cause-driven vision as a lens for making organizational decisions.
• Volunteerism: Cultivates a diverse pool of volunteers to ensure the Y’s relevance to strategic priorities and community needs. Maximizes the function of the board ensuring optimal engagement and strategic alignment. Partners with the governing board to set the organization’s policies, goals and strategic direction.

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