The Director of Development and Fundraising is a key member of StartCare’s senior leadership team (SLT) and is primarily responsible for ensuring the agency’s financial growth, stability, and programmatic success through effective multi-year resource fund development strategies in alignment with the organization’s mission and values. This includes significant fundraising for NY State’s first and only Wellness Center, located in the Bronx and operated by StartCare.
The Director of Development and Fundraising collaborates with leadership to execute the Organization’s fundraising goals and provides boots-on-the-ground leadership and oversight of all philanthropic support and program development activities, including major gifts, governmental, planned giving, grants, annual giving, special events, communications, and stewardship, aligned with StartCare’s annual operations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP
- Develop and operationalize the fund development strategy, donor programs, and long and short-term fundraising goals to support programmatic success and agency viability.
- Establish performance measures, monitor results, and evaluate the efficacy of the fund development program.
- Lead the Fund Development Committee, establish the Fund Development Charter, and serve as the thought leader with StartCare’s Board of Directors, and external stakeholders, including government agencies.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy within StartCare and donor communities through volunteerism, targeted communication, and active engagement.
- Other duties as requested and needed.
ADMINISTRATION & OPERATIONS
- Manage the fund development function efficiently and oversee development activities, including the maintenance of donor and financial records in accordance with general accounting and fundraising standards.
- Build and manage a high-performing team to support fundraising operations; align team performance with agency objectives and fundraising goals.
- Create the annual fundraising calendar and oversee fundraising events.
- Formalize the standard operating procedures for fund development and establish policies to achieve best practices, accountability, and compliance with all regulations and laws, the code of ethics for fundraising professionals, as well as StartCare’s mission and values.
- Ensure the design and development of marketing activities; oversee the development and dissemination of donor communication, the Annual Report, and other strategic stakeholder messaging.
- Other duties as requested and needed.
GRANT & PUBLIC FUNDING MANAGEMENT
- Oversee the public funding application and grant process on the local, state, and federal level.
- Research, pursue, and secure appropriate City and State contracts while working closely with the Program and Strategy department.
- Collaborate with organizational leadership to identify and pursue funding opportunities; oversee grant writing initiatives.
- Other duties as requested and needed.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, DONOR CULTIVATION, & MARKETING
- Work with the Board of Trustees to maximize Board giving and participation as well as to recruit new Board members.
- Cultivate, attract, manage, and retain a balanced portfolio of corporate and private donors; continuously identify, engage, and convert prospects.
- Coordinate and oversee a stewardship program in collaboration with the fund development team.
- Engage elected officials and their offices for collaboration on community initiatives and funding opportunities.
- Engage relevant non-profit organizations, religious institutions, government agencies to establish community partnerships and referral pathways of participants into StartCare programs.
- Increase visibility of StartCare’s development activities and maintain good public relations.
- Other duties as requested and needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, or a related field.
- 5 years of progressive experience in fund development, with a proven record of success in securing public dollars.
- Strong understanding of the city and state legislative and funding processes, timelines, committees, application process (discretionary and capital), and relevant guidelines/rules.
- Experience overseeing and executing small- and large-scale development events including classic fundraisers as well as targeted engagement and cultivation opportunities.
- In-depth knowledge of fundraising principles and governance, as well as a foundational understanding of nonprofit accounting, budgeting, and financial nonprofit reporting.
- Expert communication skills, as well as writing, analytical, and research skills to craft clear and compelling funding proposals and strategic communication content.
- Skilled negotiator, decision maker, problem solver and project manager.
- Dynamic leader with a high emotional quotient, and demonstrated success in fostering a cohesive, diverse, high-performing team.
- Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects on an ongoing basis.
- Ability to work well independently within a team environment.
- Commitment to StartCare’s mission.
- Working knowledge of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATION
- Master’s degree in business administration, non-profit management, or a related field.
- Certification as a fundraising executive (CFRE).
- Knowledge of the mental health and substance use crisis in general as it relates to New York
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- A strong evidence-based/data-driven mindset with an aptitude for analytics; demonstrated ability to structure, visualize, and analyze data.
- Deadline-focused and able to understand the need for a quality product delivered on time.
- Enterprising individual- Well-developed emotional intelligence, generational savvy, and be energized by innovation and change management in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment with some level of ambiguity.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills are needed to effectively share and engage the entire organization.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Able to work outside the traditional hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm upon request.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position may supervise staff and volunteers.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Significant travel (>25%) is required to fulfill the responsibilities of this role.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the position which are reviewed in each individual case.
While performing the responsibilities of the role, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use his or her hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
LIMITATIONS & DISCLAIMER
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
StartCare provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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