Development Director

Background
Cape Fear Literacy Council (CFLC) is an established, independent non-profit organization whose mission is: to provide personalized education so adults can transform their lives and contribute to a stronger community. By leveraging the talents of trained volunteers, CFLC provides 1-on-1 and small group instruction in reading, writing, English as a Second Language (ESL), math, test preparation, and computer skills. The Development Director will advance CFLC’s mission by helping ensure financial stability, increasing visibility, and engaging with diverse supporters.

Position Summary
In concert with the vision set by the Board of Directors and Executive Director, plan and execute resource development strategies and monitor progress against goals. The Development Director has a strong focus on building and stewarding individual and corporate connections and managing fundraising events. S/he plans, directs, and coordinates the implementation of all development activities, including direct mail appeals, gift solicitations, and fundraising/cultivation events by performing the following duties personally or with qualified volunteers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership
• With approval from the Executive Director, create and implement an annual mission-driven development plan that coordinates with an annual marketing plan. The plan shall include detailed targets, strategies, actions, and timelines for all phases of resource development, including but not limited to individual contributions, leadership giving, corporate contributions, special events, planned giving, and revenue-generating enterprise.
• Lead and manage the organization’s overall development efforts to raise an annual unrestricted budget with yearly increases established by the Board.

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship
• Research, prospect, engage, and formalize relationships with donors to promote the sustainability of CFLC. Manage initiatives such as individual contributions, leadership giving, planned giving, and corporate partnerships.
• Design and deliver three annual direct mail appeals targeting introductory gifts, annual gifts, recurring gifts, and re-activation gifts. The mailed version will coordinate with an online appeal.
• Cultivate and steward donors through in-person visits, personalized correspondence, thank-a-thons, special events, and timely acknowledgments.
• Develop case for support documents. Train staff and Board in use of documents, talking points, and donor stewardship practices.
• Assign stewardship of some major donors to Executive Director and Board members who are willing, providing support.
• Conduct the administration and recognition of Tribute Gifts, including stewardship of donors.
• Lead organizational efforts for planned giving and legacy gifts, including stewardship of donors.

Events
• Lead and manage two fundraising events annually: acquire and manage volunteers; support event-related communications and PR materials; mastermind sponsorships/corporate partners; connect with donors, sponsors, and other community participants; and attend committee meetings as appropriate.
• Develop “friend-raising” events that provide fiscal growth and engagement of new/current donors. Events must be mission-relevant, donor-educational, and cost-effective.
• Serve as point person and manage relationships for third party fundraisers.
• Create and lead at least one donor appreciation event annually.
• Ensure all development-related collateral associated with events is produced in a timely manner.

Administration and Reporting
• Lead data entry and analysis for GiftWorks donor management system. Collaborate with staff on queries, reports, exports, and any other data as needed.
• Manage the buildout of and troubleshooting for donor platforms such as PayPal and other development software/products.
• Focus on growing the donor base through yearly increases in donor/sponsor retention and reactivation rates, the number of new contributors, and increased individual and average donor revenue. Communicate metrics to Executive Director and Board.
• With Business Manager, process deposits in a timely manner.

Communications
• Create, or supervise volunteer or contractor, timely printed, email, and social media communications to donors and prospects that communicate case for support and impact of gifts.
• Collaborate with Executive Director and Communications team on donor communications, including printed and online solicitation letters, event outreach, annual report, newsletters, and donor impact reports.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
• Minimum of 5 years of front-line nonprofit development experience securing major gifts, cultivating individual donors, and increasing support from existing donors with a proven track record of achieving revenue targets
• “Can-do” attitude, high degree of initiative, and sincere affinity for the mission.
• Flexible, able to work in a team and independently, pays attention to detail.
• Has the communication, financial, and technical skills needed to effectively communicate and implement the development plan, correspond with stakeholders, and cultivate new prospects.
• Forms effective relationships with donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Can initiate, sustain, and monitor multiple tasks and see them through to a successful conclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and thorough understanding of strategic development best practices.
• Strong partnership-building and event planning skills.
• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of database management.
• Proficient with social media platforms.
• Strong understanding of current and evolving best practices.

Employment Type: Full-Time Professional, Exempt. 40 hours per week with some scheduling flexibility. Reports to the Executive Director.