Director of Development - Columbus, United States - Dickerson Bakker

Description

Sportsmen's Alliance (SA) & Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation (SAF) play an integral role in supporting the conservation and hunting heritage efforts of all other like-minded groups. However, unlike other groups, this organization does not have a "critter" to rally around nor is it always able to anticipate and proactively pursue a defined conservation agenda with visible goals to bolster its funding. Indeed, SA & SAF serves more as a watchman at the gate, observing, documenting, and fighting to protect the freedoms and lifestyles so many in America highly value.

In this context, the CEO is now seeking to draw a new organizational chart and create a structure that prioritizes the importance of major gifts fundraising while concurrently developing a national chapter system wherein membership will also be increased. In effect, after decades of organic growth and impact that was often behind the scenes, SA & SAF is now poised for professionalization and a greater national presence. Along with an increased brand presence and more robust national strategy, SA & SAF is seeking a highly driven, passionate, and unrelenting development professional to energize and focus its fundraising efforts.

The new Director of Development will work collaboratively with the Executive Team, report to the CEO, and be an important voice in the future of the organization. The right person will be steeped in the values and culture of the sportsmen (and women) whose interests the organization represents. Equally important, this candidate must possess demonstrated skills and experience in major gift fundraising, preferably from within the sporting and outdoor community.

Further, the personal characteristics that should define the new Director of Development include tenacity, energy, and an entrepreneurial spirit combined with flexibility and humility. This leader must be a player-coach who is ready to personally develop and manage a major donor file while also sitting at the leadership table and contributing strategically to the growth and future structure of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, & RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the President/CEO, the Director of Development will oversee and conduct all fundraising, cultivation, communications, and solicitation activities of the Sportsmen's Alliance and its Foundation. He/She will identify and develop relationships with mid-level to major-level individual donors, foundations, and corporations, enhancing success in soliciting financial support for Sportsmen's Alliance's projects and initiatives. He/She will communicate the organization's mission in a manner that will both broaden and deepen the relationships with the many people who have and will become personally involved in Sportsmen's Alliance and its Foundation.

Strategy & Leadership:

• Develop and execute a strategy for researching, identifying, qualifying, and soliciting mid-level and major-level individual and foundation donors and prospects with the capacity to make $5,000+ gifts for Sportsmen's Alliance and its Foundation.
• Design and execute annual plans to cultivate, solicit, and steward mid-level and major level giving donors and prospects, being held accountable for donor engagement and revenue goals, and responsibility for maintaining donor records and analysis of donor performance related to such things as retention, growth, upgrades, etc.
• Develop and execute an ongoing strategy for cultivating qualified individuals from prospects to donor status using tools such as small receptions and events.
• Works collaboratively with other departments and the membership staff to create customized solicitation strategies matching the objectives of the organization and the interests of the donor/prospect.
• Develop and initiate a grant development program, identifying and developing organizational sources of funds for the Sportsmen's Alliance and its Foundation.
• Design and implement a plan for individual and private/public foundation major donors to increase engagement and annual support.
• Track progress toward goals and prepare regular reports for the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Establish and meet annual revenue goals.
• Oversee internal systems and staff to ensure all donor contacts, including solicitations and gift acknowledgment support and activities are properly performed and documented while ensuring all organization, legal, and ethical requirements and expectations are met.
• Consult and contribute to the design and development of Sportsmen's Alliance donor publications, including but not limited to:

1. A case for support and supporting materials (i.e. donor offer packets, brochures, and etc.),
2. Appeals and receipt letters,
3. Special information or solicitation materials as required,
4. Member Magazine,
5. Social Networking resources such as Facebook and Twitter.

Individual and Foundation Donors:

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and current donors with the capacity to make donations of $5,000+.
• Identify and activate new donors through networking, referrals, presentations, and prospecting events.
• Design and execute annual plans to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects, being held accountable for donor engagement and revenue goals, and responsible for maintaining donor records and analysis of donor performance related to such things as retention, growth, upgrades, etc.
• Perform donor and prospect research to identify potential new donors.
• Work with the president, board members, and other staff to carry out donor responsibilities, including identifying prospects, arranging visits, and developing strategies for target amounts for asks.
• Work directly with staff to design major donor programs; helping to identify major donor prospects, appropriate asks, systems to track donor engagement, and strategies to build a major donor network to meet revenue projections.
• Provide stewardship for donors that will include facilitating the president and board members calling/writing to donors, preparing special personalized mailings, writing personalized thank you letters, making donor calls, and other development activities.
• Work with the Membership team to achieve a seamless integration of major gift strategies with direct marketing and foundation approaches as appropriate. This includes sourcing new major donor prospects from our individual membership efforts.

Planned Giving:

• Identify, meet, cultivate, and solicit planned giving donors and prospects, coordinating as needed with the president, and other staff.
• Work with staff to design and execute fundraising events from small receptions to large benefits; assist with creating revenue goals, identify prospective supporters, solicit donors, and design strategies for event follow-up.
• Provide support for national events including outreach, fundraising, and stewardship events; research prospects, design events and create revenue goals, draft invitations and sponsor letters, solicit donors, staff event committees, staff events, and manage follow-up.
• Develop, implement, and execute an endowment-giving campaign to include complex gift strategies.

Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree and/or professional certifications are highly desirable.

Experience
Minimum 10 years of direct fundraising experience with at least 5 years of major gifts experience as well as progressive leadership responsibility. Significant expertise with the sector's funding community is highly desirable. Leadership experience in successful development programs and knowledge of "best practices" in development are necessary.

Skills and Abilities
Ability to relate well and work effectively with multiple constituencies and audiences. Excellent verbal and written skills. Knowledge of office systems: MS Office preferred and fundraising database systems (e.g., Net Suite). A team player committed to developing and working within a collaborative environment and to ensuring the highest customer service orientation.

Travel
Requires frequent travel within the United States.

Other Requirements
A passion for hunting, fishing, and trapping is essential. An entrepreneurial personality who is a self-starter along with a desire to win and help advance a growing organization in an exciting and fast-paced environment is necessary. A willingness to lead by working with the executive team to guide the organization's key policy initiatives is required.

Compensation, Benefits, and Location
Compensation and benefits for this position are highly competitive with comparable opportunities. SA & SAF is committed to attracting and retaining exceptional leadership.

Preference will be given to candidates who can be based at SA & SAF's corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.

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