Director of Gifts and Gratitude

ABOUT US 

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to serving people and communities in realizing their full potential through the transformative wisdom and practice of Yoga. Our purpose is to ignite personal and societal transformation and our vision is a world united in service towards well-being, justice, and peace. 

 Kripalu teaches skills for optimal living through experiential education for the whole person; body, mind, and spirit. It is the largest retreat center for yoga, health, and holistic living in North America. Each day, our employees strive to offer loving and compassionate service to our guests and to each other. We call this “Sacred Hospitality.”

 Kripalu is committed to becoming an employer and community of belonging for all. To this end, we have made great progress in making Kripalu more accessible through scholarships and other financial support. We have made similar progress in making Kripalu more equitable, with organization-wide training and markedly increased representation by members of the Global Majority (BIPOC) in the ranks of our board, staff, presenters and audiences. We are increasingly focused on building partnerships with organizations in the greater Berkshires and beyond, providing service to new and diverse communities, and supporting activists and servant-leaders working for a healthier society. The Gifts & Gratitude team is a leading advocate of this mission to our guests and donors.

Kripalu has a loyal base of supporters, and seeks to build on this base by attracting new donors from within and without the community of Kripalu visitors. We are seeking an ambitious and energetic candidate seeking to promote the strategic vision described above, and deploy the full spectrum of skills necessary for effective philanthropic leadership, while building Kripalu’s capacity to grow our most impactful programs.

 Kripalu is an equal opportunity employer who values diversity in its workforce. We do not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, military status, national origin age, disability or genetic information, or any other basis, especially those prohibited by applicable law. 

 POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Director of Gifts & Gratitude leads a team responsible for setting and meeting annual fundraising targets, cultivating strategic relationships, building a culture of philanthropy, and supporting a comprehensive array of direct solicitation, stewardship and communication activities aimed at increasing contributions, strengthening relationships between donors and the organization, and enhancing the image, credibility, brand and mission impact of Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

This position serves as a key advisor to the CEO; a partner with key leaders in other areas of the organization; and a leader, supporter, and mentor to a collegial and collaborative team of fundraising professionals guided by organizational values, intelligent business metrics, and accountability.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Participate in and contribute to the elaboration and execution of strategic vision and initiatives for the organization as required by the CEO.
• Effectively partner with leaders and staff members from across the organization to accomplish goals and integrate philanthropic principles.
• Develop and nurture strong relationships with key donors.
• Establish relationships with foundations, corporations and individuals that lead to sponsorship of specific Kripalu initiatives.
• Attend and present at Board of Trustees (BOT) meetings as assigned by CEO, and work directly with BOT members on the Development committee, and/or others as assigned by the CEO.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization and provide recommendations to the Strategic Leadership Team to ensure the organization’s culture, systems and procedures support fund development.
• Remain current on trends and developments within the field of philanthropy and stewardship.
• Cultivate, steward, and maintain all donor relationships among individuals, businesses, and Kripalu alumni in collaboration with the CEO, G&G team members, and staff leaders.
• Hold responsibility for cultivating, stewarding, and maintaining a specific set of donor relationships among individuals and Kripalu alumni
• In partnership with Gift Officers, support the CEO in the cultivation and stewardship of key donors.
• Implement advancement strategies to increase donor awareness and participation through the development of a broad range of collateral materials such as newsletters, appeals, websites, case statements, impact reports, annual stewardship reporting, and other materials.
• Serve as the principal writer and/or editor for all Gifts & Gratitude collateral materials.
• As requested by the CEO, propose, produce and/or review talking points, correspondence and other communications media related to fundraising and donor relations
• Provide oversight for the tracking and reporting of donor activity, including but not limited to optimized use of Raiser’s Edge NXT database.
• Recruit, retain and supervise talented individuals possessing the knowledge and skills required to achieve fundraising strategies and represent Kripalu in a manner that aligns with the organizational vision, mission, and values.
• Plan and host donor cultivation events, and/or oversee and support Gift Officers in these activities.
• Identify and develop key external alliances necessary to achieve financial sustainability and impact through the development program.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing equity, diversity and contributing to an inclusive environment. 
• Possesses strong core ethics, integrity, and values consistent with Kripalu’s organizational principles.
• Builds effective relationships, identifies internal and external customer expectations, sees issues from their point of view; offers practical, mutually beneficial recommendations, solutions, and ideas.
• Willingness and ability to be agile in work, supporting across own department as well as across the organization as needed. 
• Demonstrates the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform required job elements to established standards.
• Learns and adapts quickly in new situations resulting in successful performance.
• Accepts responsibility for personal and professional learning and growth. 
• Models the values of Kripalu including service, presence, inquiry, compassion, practice, and integrity. 
• Embraces experiences as learning opportunities.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE AND MINIMAL QUALIFICATIONS 

• Demonstrated success in significant fundraising initiatives.
• Minimum of ten years’ experience with demonstrated success in fund development.
• The ability to work autonomously.
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, management, and collaboration.
• Experience working closely with a highly-engaged board.
• Experienced and skilled presenter to diverse and highly influential audiences.
• Outstanding communications and interpersonal skills, with the ability to cultivate and sustain productive relationships with colleagues and constituents
• Professionalism and commitment to the highest standards of service to donors, guests and colleagues.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Proficient computer skills including advanced Excel and data tracking/management.