Fund Development Director

General Summary

The Fund Development Director of United Methodist Community House will have an exciting opportunity to champion our community’s most vulnerable to make a long-lasting impact and long-overdue systemic change. Additionally, this position will be joining our team at an exciting juncture in our history. We will be preparing to launch a capital campaign that will catapult our organization forward and simultaneously even more firmly root us as an anchor of stability and support for our southeast Grand Rapids neighbors.

This position will provide oversight for the annual fund program, and play a critical role in the capital campaign working alongside other UMCH staff members, our consultant, and high-level volunteers. These two roles will offer a unique opportunity for professional growth and development while also providing great satisfaction in being a part of an innovative project that will impact our entire city for generations to come.

Essential Functions Annual Fund:

1. Steward annual donors and supporters to build strong connections and achieve fund development goals following an intentional plan with clearly identified touchpoints throughout the year.
2. Identify and implement strategies to cultivate existing donors and attract new ones, specifically growing our major gift supporters.
3. Coordinate and direct the annual fund program initiatives, including mailings and annual fundraising drives and events.
4. Cultivate corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships, including recognition and stewardship programs.
5. Serve as the staff liaison to the Resource & Development Committee; recommend and achieve annual goals as established by the Agency’s strategic plan and Board of Directors.
6. Serve as an authorized speaker for various engagements and community interactions; champion the UMCH story.
7. Oversee the fundraising database and platforms to ensure proper donor tracking, data entry, and donor acknowledgment.
8. Coordinate the development of collateral to support fundraising activities, work in tandem with social media manager; coordinate with design experts and photographers for end products/tools.
9. Work collaboratively with the grants manager, to ensure coordinated messaging and direction. Research high-level opportunities.
10. Perform other related duties as requested.

Essential Functions Campaign Coordination:

1. Serve on the campaign core team as the primary support to leadership, the consultant, and campaign volunteers.
2. Coordinate campaign meetings and campaign volunteer activities.
3. Prepare materials for team members, including progress reports, donor solicitation packets, tour packets, letters of introduction, etc.
4. Maintain prospect and campaign donor lists, and track volunteer assignments by prospect, activity, and deadline.
5. Help manage, support, and encourage campaign team members soliciting gifts, including:
1. Ensuring volunteers have the information needed to make their calls.
2. Following up to ensure calls are being made/completed.
3. Documenting results of volunteer calls, including appropriate information for donor database.
6. Research potential grant opportunities in relationship to the campaign, and assist in writing and coordinating submissions and reports, working with UMCH grants manager.
7. Help develop and maintain campaign materials.
8. Handle arrangements for donor cultivation meetings, tours, and campaign events.
9. Ensure campaign gifts are tracked and systems in place to capture invoicing preferences and that invoices are sent and payments received.
10. Create reports on status of campaign (pledges/contributions compared to goal, etc.).
11. Provide donor background to volunteers prior to solicitation calls, as requested.

Qualifications:

1. Passion. The ability to champion the Agency’s mission.
2. Knowledge. Minimally a bachelor’s degree.
3. Experience. Must possess two years’ experience in Funds Development or related field.
4. Confidence and comfort in prospecting, cultivating, and soliciting new donors for financial support and volunteer time, working alongside UMCH leadership.
5. Creativity and vision. Ability to compose organizational planning, management, execution and communication skills.
6. A self-starter. Initiate, motivate and work independently, as well as in a team environment.
7. A love of people. Enjoyment in finding the connections of prospects and donor’s personal values to those of UMCH.
8. A flexible and patient demeanor with program participants, colleagues and members of the community-at-large. Ability to connect with individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
9. Must be able to lift program/office materials up to twenty (20) pounds.
10. The successful candidate must have strong organizational skills to track critical details, as well as the ability to build relationships and steward donors and prospects.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $64,883.00 - $93,139.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Capital Campaign Management: 1 year (Preferred)
• Proven Fundraising: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person