Director of Development

Overview
Horizons Greater Washington seeks a dynamic and experienced Director of Development to lead our fundraising team responsible for raising over $2 million annually. This role will oversee individual giving, including a major gifts program; corporate, government, and foundation giving; and an annual gala, starting with our 25th Anniversary event. The Director also shepherds social medial strategy, volunteer programming, the fundraising database and financial reporting.
Organizational Background
Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, advances educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. HGW supports over 420 students in grades K-9 with year-round programming, developing the whole child through experiences that build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility, and instill respect for self and others. By spanning from Kindergarten to ninth grade, the program nurtures long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated staff who support them throughout the year. HGW program design and staff practices follow a Positive Youth Development approach, emphasizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment as key components that meet the needs of youth. The five-week Summer Academy is Horizons' core program, blending high-quality academics-with an emphasis on literacy and STEAM-with arts, fitness, cultural enrichment, field trips, and confidence-building challenges, including learning to swim.
Position Description
The Director of Development leads all fundraising efforts for the organization and is a member of the leadership team. The Director of Development sets the fundraising strategy, leads planning efforts, and supports the Executive Director's fundraising activities. The Director of Development manages a portfolio of 100+ institutional and individual funders which generate $1.5 million of annual revenue. The Development Director is responsible for expanding and diversifying the current funder base in order to increase revenues to support strategic expansion efforts. The position requires the ability to develop and implement a strategic development plan. The successful candidate will help deepen existing and forge new relationships to build the visibility, impact, and financial resources of Horizons Greater Washington.
Job Responsibilities
Leadership and Development Strategy

• In partnership with the Executive Director and Board, create an effective strategy to raise over $2 million in FY2025 and grow revenue to support strategic expansion over the next five years.
• Ensure a robust gift pipeline to hit annual revenue goals by actively managing prospective and current donors, foundations and other funders solicited via proposals, grant applications, multiple appeals, and other fundraising activities
• Serve as the staff leader and liaison to the Horizons Greater Washington board Development Committee
• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of Horizons' program and funding priorities to effectively connect supporters to funding needs both in face-to-face meetings with donors and in writing to successfully match a donor's philanthropic interest to funding needs

Individual Donor Stewardship and Management

• Partner with Executive Director to identify, cultivate, and solicit individual donors for major gifts
• Cultivate relationships with parent organizations at Horizons' host schools (currently Maret, St. Patrick's Episcopal, and Norwood Schools) to ensure high rates of individual giving from within these communities
• Manage and develop existing initiatives, appeals, and campaigns focused on targeting new donors and stewarding existing donors
• Coordinate and oversee moves and task management for individual giving
• Cultivate relationships with Board of Directors and support them in identifying their personal annual contributions to Horizons Greater Washington, as well as identifying and cultivating board member's personal networks to also make financial contributions to Horizons Greater Washington
• Manage the donor stewardship process in order to connect donors to the mission of Horizons Greater Washington and foster a sense of community
• Help develop creative and mission-centric messaging that articulates the special role and impact of Horizons Greater Washington's work
• Work with the Director of Programs to facilitate donor participation in programming (as volunteers, field trips partners, etc.)

Fundraising Events and Management

• Create the annual gala fundraising strategy including the development of key fundraising leaders and committee members, sponsor solicitations, and sponsorship fulfillment including materials and recognition
• Supervise and manage Events Consultant responsible for managing and executing all activities related to Horizons' fundraising events, including: budgeting, program planning, managing the design and mailing of print materials, soliciting event sponsorships and ticket sales, organizing registration, supporting the event on-site (including set-up and breakdown), managing donor and sponsor acknowledgements, and maintaining event files

Volunteer Management

• Serve as main point of contact for all volunteer opportunities (both one-time and recurring)
• Lead all aspects of the volunteer experience (recruitment, training, communications, empowerment, and recognition) to ensure a meaningful experience for Horizons volunteers who can be cultivated as potential employees or donors

Communications

• In collaboration with the Executive Director and Board of Directors, develop and oversee all aspects of marketing and communications planning including key messages and talking points; identifying key target audiences and channels (traditional and social media, blog, marketing, etc.), and then managing implementation of plans, including the monthly newsletter
• Overseeing the donor portal on the HGW website and ensuring a positive, secure user experience

Foundation, Corporate, and Government Relations

• Serve as a key strategist with the Executive Director and Senior Institutional Giving Manager for determining the best approach for engaging each funder (foundation, corporate, and government)
• Coach and supervise the efforts of the Senior Institutional Giving Manager in pursuing new and renewable funding from foundations, corporate, and government sources. Review proposals and reports before final
• In partnership with the team, plan and implement site visits, tours and events that showcase the program for current and prospective investors

Fundraising Operations and Data Management

• Oversee high-quality gift entry and revenue tracking to ensure accurate and thorough documentation of all development activities; ensure integrity and accuracy in all records and reports in Network for Good, Horizons Greater Washington's current CRM
• Research and recommend replacement CRM
• Collaborate with the Finance team in building the revenues for the annual operating budgets, reconciling revenues throughout the year, and supporting the needs of the annual audit and 990 financial reports

Compensation & Benefits

• The salary range for this position is $110,000 to $130,000, based on the experience of the candidate.
• Benefits include health, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance, 401k, 10 paid holidays, in addition to the week off between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO).

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years' experience in development, with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals, or comparable experience
• Minimum of two years directly managing staff, including experience supporting the professional growth of team members
• Experience contributing to and leading the development of department strategy, with ability to execute and delegate effectively
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with a solutions-oriented approach to addressing challenges
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including strong editing skills and a high attention to detail
• Experience with creative, descriptive storytelling to connect donor communities to our students' experiences
• Experience building strong, long-term relationships with donors and prospects; strong listening skills, and ability to converse with donors and prospects in a thoughtful, engaged manner
• Extremely organized with the ability to manage individual and supervisory responsibilities in a dynamic work environment
• Extensive experience with donor database management; Raiser's Edge highly preferred
• Knowledge of current issues influencing public education and the youth development field a plus
• Familiarity with Washington, DC area funders in the education/afterschool program space, including corporations, individuals, and foundations, preferred
• Commitment to the mission and work of Horizons; ability to speak professionally and passionately about Horizons' work in a variety of settings a plus

Background Check Requirements
All offers of employment to employees 18 or over are contingent on the successful completion of the background checks described below:

• Fingerprinting (FBI) (MD & DC)
• MD Criminal Database Background Check (MD)
• Maryland Child Protective Services Clearance (MD)
• DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Child Protection Registry (CPR) (DC)
• Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Criminal Background Check (DC)
• National Sex Offender Registry (DC)

All offers of employment at Horizons Greater Washington are contingent upon clear results of the above suitability checks. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates immediately after acceptance of employment offer and on all employees who are promoted, as deemed necessary.
Location
This position is onsite, but there may be opportunities to work remotely. Candidates must be willing to work in the full range of work environments.
Environmental and Physical Conditions
The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee interacts in close spaces and frequently with children and other staff. May be in situations which require conflict resolution. The position works in an office environment with artificial light and air.
COVID-19
Horizons Greater Washington requires that the holder of this position be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the CDC, and as ordered by DC law. Horizons Greater Washington will review and consider requests for reasonable accommodation to this requirement and determine whether an accommodation can be provided based on the essential functions of the job. Horizons Greater Washington may require information or documentation from an employee and reserves the right to request additional information or documentation in consideration of the request for accommodation.
Horizons Greater Washington does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.