Job Description
Position: Director of Advancement
Organization: Washington Tennis and Education Foundation
Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Direct Report(s): Development Manager, Grants Manager, Gala Planner
Hours per week: 40 hours/week (full-time, exempt)
Compensation: $105K-$130K annually
Application Deadline: September 9, 2024
Organization Profile
WTEF’s mission is to build life champions by providing children and youth a safe and trusting environment in which they can excel. WTEF offers after-school and summer camp-based tennis and academic programs that empower students to achieve their highest potential. These programs develop critical skills and instill meaningful values that prepare the students for life-long success.
Position Overview
WTEF is looking for a passionate self-starter to anchor and own fundraising/development for the organization. The Director of Advancement (DA) will lead the management and build-out of a team that will secure sustainable funds to fuel WTEF for the next 20 years. Our ideal candidate has a track record of success managing a portfolio of institutional funders and major donors leading to the successful close of multi-year, six-figure grants, is a strong communicator, has excellent writing and communication skills and is a natural relationship builder who will build lasting partnerships with foundation staff and major donors. The DA will report to the Chief Executive Officer of WTEF and will be part of a Senior Leadership Team. They will work in close collaboration with the CEO, one full time development manager, a full-time grants manager, and a part time contract gala producer.
General Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Manage a portfolio of 20-30 institutional funders with the goal of securing renewals and cultivating new opportunities to raise at least $3-4 million annually towards current and future needs.
- Lead the creation and implementation of a fundraising plan with the CEO, development staff, and Board Development Committee
- Partner with the CEO in growing the development department as WTEF and funding also grow
- Develop overall fundraising strategy for WTEF, including multi-year gifts for general operations/organizational capacity as well as project-specific funding
- Work with the CEO to develop an earned revenue strategy
- Play a key role in developing and implementing revenue through earned income
- Creation, management and oversight of Individual Giving Program, Institutional Giving Program, Corporate Support (cash & in-kind), Annual Fund, Special Events, and Capital Campaign
- Management, oversight and of grant manager and all grant seeking and grant writing efforts
- Support CEO in securing financial resources necessary for the organization
- Identify and steward relationships with foundations, corporations, and individuals
- Oversee a portfolio of institutional, individual, and corporate supporters and prospects, support CEO and Board with their portfolios
- Create development-centered marketing materials, and coordinate external messages to funders, community partners, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and the general public
- Attend and research local and national events to cultivate relationships with stakeholders and community partners as directed by CEO
- Coordinate with Finance Department on procedures and policies for tracking and reporting development activities
- Prepare and manage the Development Department expense budget
- Track developments in philanthropy; engage with other senior development professionals across the philanthropic sector to learn about, assess and adopt best practices in financial resource and donor development
People Management
- Oversee, support, and mentor development staff (currently a full-time Development Manager, full-time grants manager contractor and part time contracted WTEF Tennis Ball gala producer)
- Work to support a culture and policy of shared leadership within the department and across the organization
Events
- Develop creative strategies that effectively monetize WTEF events and thoughtfully cultivate new relationships
- Work closely with Tennis Ball Gala planner, CEO and Board to cultivate and steward sponsorships and gifts for annual fundraiser
- Act as host of WTEF fundraising and special events
Organizational Strategy and Planning
- Play a leading role in developing organizational strategy for WTEF
- Serve as the CEO’s strategic partner
- Attend and participate in weekly Department Head Meetings
- Demonstrate leadership as member of the Senior Leadership Team
Corporate Strategy and Sponsorships
- Cultivate and steward corporate supporters through volunteer opportunities, event invitations, and more
- Oversee the creation of sponsorship letters, decks, and reports
- Manage sponsorship benefits
Board Development
- Attend and participate in board meetings, serving as a representative of the Development team
- Help manage and document Board meetings
- Work in collaboration with the Board of Directors Development Committee; serve as the staff lead on the Board Development Committee; help identify/recruit non-board fundraising committee members
- Help create and institute give/gets for each board member
- Coordinate and support Board Members and other volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and potential donors and funders
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- 8-plus years of professional experience in a non-profit organization with demonstrated success in a development function
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Experience developing diversified, revenue/fundraising plans for non-profit organizations
- Experience using fundraising software/donor databases such as Salesforce, Network for Good, etc.
- Experience creating and managing budgets
- Excellent interpersonal and relationships management skills
- Cultural competence and excellent cross-cultural communication skills
- Lives in the Washington, DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia or willing to relocate here
Preferred
- Maintain and build long-term donor relationships
- Strong organizational skills and an ability to adapt
- Innovative thinker
- Leadership ability that results in positively influencing strategic and tactical fundraising efforts
- Experience working with youth/education
- Ability to work independently but can simultaneously be a team player who will consistently engage with internal and external team members and stakeholders
