Foundations Manager

Opportunity Summary

The Donor Ministry Department at BGEA works to cultivate meaningful, long-term relationships with ministry supporters and to identify, develop and deepen new relationships with prospective donors. The goal of the department is to grow a strong base of support for decades to come. The department team collectively serves the individuals, families and foundations that support BGEA with their gifts and prayers. Through special events, personal visits, and mailings, the field team shares the work, impact, and needs of the ministry with donors and prospective donors. In addition, the Donor Ministry Department is responsible for all external mail programs, including direct mail, monthly prayer letter and ministry updates, and other educational and informational pieces. Another integral part of the department is the Billy Graham Christian Response Center (CRC). Staff daily respond to phone calls and email correspondence, providing ministry information and answering spiritual questions with biblical insight and direction.

In cooperation with the Senior Director, Strategic Advancement and the Foundations Manager will manage all of BGEAs granting processes with charitable Foundations across the country. This includes researching prospects, actively submitting proposals and reports, monitoring program development and evaluation, and managing personal relationships with foundation donors, as well as appropriate reporting to the Senior Director, Strategic Advancement.

Ministry Requirements

Maintains a personal, active relationship with Jesus Christ and is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ

Faithfully upholds BGEA in prayer

Participates in daily BGEA staff devotions

Demonstrates behavior aligned with BGEAs Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, Hallmarks, policies, and expectations

Effectively represents Jesus Christ to those within both personal and professional spheres of influence

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Develop annual plans and goals for the Foundations area

Collaborate with Vice President, Donor Ministries, Senior Director, Strategic Advancement, and Regional Managers regarding upcoming fundraising plans, activities, and events.

Manage relationships with institutional foundations and family foundations currently giving to BGEA. Additionally, help steward relationships with 200+ current foundation donors without a formal grants process.

Develop and implement specific strategies to engage additional institutional Foundations across the United States

Coordinate with Regional Managers regarding the family foundations they currently manage

Travel nationally for personal visits with foundation donors 1-2 times a month throughout the year.

Maintain relationships with a group of foundations, increasing that group each year

Attend fundraising and donor appreciation events across the US, as appropriate

Continually research new, lapsed, and active foundation units to determine potential granting opportunities for specific BGEA programs.

Maintain annual calendar of grant proposal deadlines and reports, ensuring timely completion and submission.

Develop outcome based proposals that meet the criteria for larger institutional foundations

Develop donor appeals and specific requests that are appropriate for smaller family foundations

Develop grant reports on a rolling basis for all of BGEAs ministry activities throughout the year. Both for general use and specific to a foundations grant guidelines.

Keep clear records of Foundation requirements that outline grant templates and other unique details related to requests.

Track all forms of data related to activities, communications, and relationships in BGEAs Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program.

Complete handwritten thank you notes and send to foundations and corporations that donate to the ministry

Create and analyze reports of all tracked activities and donations, preparing updates on a monthly basis.

Serve as a liaison between ministry programs, finance, database management, and Donor Ministries regarding program implementation, follow-up, reports, and ROI for proper outcomes.

Provide direction to ministry programs regarding grant expectations from foundations, outcome based measurements, and reporting requirements.

Attend grant writing training to prepare

Manage and assign duties for administrative support

Marginal Duties and Responsibilities

Attend training/equipping sessions in as scheduled by Donor Ministries leadership

Research, communicate and implement best practices as appropriate to optimize effectiveness of Donor Ministries activities

Plan for efficient travel and effective ministry to assigned constituents

Other duties as assigned

Reporting Relationships

Reports to the Senior Director, Strategic Advancement

Relate and communicate effectively with Donor Ministry team and all BGEA staff

Has no supervisory responsibilities

Job Specifications

Skills and Knowledge

Bachelors degree or equivalent experience is required

Five to ten years experience in development and nonprofit fundraising required, with an emphasis in foundation grants

Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision

Ability to engage in effective personal relationships, creative writing, and data analysis and alternative between these roles as needed

Attentive listening skills

Effective public speaking skills required

Experience in working with people from diverse backgrounds with an ability to show genuine care, empathy, and support as needed

Ability to quickly learn and implement donor ministries practices

Ability to professionally represent Donor Ministries area, speaking confidently and accurately about ministry opportunities at BGEA

Excellent organizational and analytical skills, with strong attention to detail

Ability to build and cultivate cross-department relations

Experience with or the capacity to thoroughly learn and utilize Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel

Experience with or the capacity to thoroughly learn and utilize the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, namely Donor Studio

Ability to set appropriate goals and achieve them with minimal supervision

Ability to make decisions and judgments in accordance with departmental and organizational guidelines, and with limited input from leadership, as appropriate

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Demonstrated patience, perseverance, and the ability to adjust priorities and to simultaneously fulfill multiple assignments

Experience in working with people of diverse backgrounds

Ability to communicate verbally and in written form with staff of all levels of the association, as well as donors

Ability to relate to people well, being approachable, as well as have the ability to manage administrative tasks as well simultaneously

Physical/Mental Demands

Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing job parameters, deadlines, or directions

Ability to work independently and as part of a team while demonstrating flexibility when priorities change

Capacity to prioritize work and manage multiple projects in a high-paced environment

Ability to work efficiently and productively under deadline

Maintain composure with priorities and direction shifts

Working Conditions

Work is typically performed in a conventional work environment

Travel at least 20% of the time, including overnight travel required