Director of Development

Position: Director of Development

Organization type: Faith-based non-profit, 50+ employees

Position Type: Full time

Department: Development

Reports To: CEO

Hours: Average of 40+ hours per week

Overview

Frontline Response is on the frontlines every day, rescuing individuals out of homelessness and sex trafficking and preventing the most vulnerable in society, our children, from falling victim. Our 20 years of service in Atlanta and beyond have established our niche as a unique type of first responder. Our ultimate goal is for individuals to be free from crisis. To achieve this goal, we respond to the call of those in crisis and invite others to join us in creating pathways to freedom.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and serving as a key member of the leadership team, the Sr. Director of Development (SDD) will be a strategic, results-driven, creative, innovative thinker and servant-leader. Leadership experience, combined with a strong passion for the vision, mission and goals of Frontline Response (FR) as well as for the constituents, with whom the DD works and serves, is critical to success in this role.

Key responsibilities include leadership, strategic planning and oversight of the development, implementation and direction of results-driven FR development plan and external relations strategies, as well as affinity group recruitment and management. This individual will be an ambassador for the organization and will work to build strong relationships with volunteers, donors, partners, the Board of Directors and other key stakeholders and constituents.

The DD will also partner with the CEO to provide leadership and develop all FR fundraising strategies; recruit, direct and manage fundraising staff and volunteers to engage, solicit and close donors and partners through various fundraising campaign activities. In addition, the DD will personally travel in the field approximately two days per week to cultivate, solicit and close gifts from current and prospective donors, with an emphasis on soliciting major gifts.

In 2021 Frontline Response embarked on the “Respond to the Call Campaign.” The purpose of this fundraising campaign is to purchase and build out the 20,000 sq. ft. Global Response Center, located at 2585 Gresham Road, as our new Atlanta headquarters and state of the-art training center. The SDD will be instrumental in helping the organization to execute and complete this campaign.

Responsibilities

Fundraising, Strategic Marketing and Communications Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and Board Development Committee to plan, execute and direct cost-effective, results-oriented strategies for prospect/donor cultivation and solicitation, including capital campaign management
• Provide strategic leadership, planning and oversight for all aspects of the organization’s, fundraising and development activities aligned with FR vision, mission and goals
• Lead the effort to create an annual development plan for the organization, in consultation with other leadership staff, that includes revenue and expense projections and essential communications to support it
• Lead and direct all marketing, fundraising and communications campaigns and develop and implement associated policies and procedures
• Work closely with the communications team in developing communications for development purposes, as well as general materials to promote FR, such as annual reports
• Analyze current marketing programs and events; present fresh, creative and innovative ideas for unique, cost-effective, results-oriented strategic marketing plans, programs and events
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Development department staff and provide professional development opportunities
• Develop, execute, monitor and evaluate staff development plans and results; set goals and metrics and performance objectives; measure, ensure and encourage staff progress toward results-based goals and objectives
• Oversee communications with current and prospective donors through appeals, letters, newsletters, publications, website, social media, email alerts and all other organizational communications efforts
• Oversee and manage staff efforts to produce and implement all donor events and promotions and ensure effective execution
• Oversee other development functions including outreach/volunteer management program, grants management, and creative direction
• Create and sustain a donor relations program that provides routine communication and recognition; include scheduling meetings with large individual and prospective donors, maintaining communication with foundation staff relative to current grants, and working with staff members to develop and submit grant reports as required

• Develop new donor partnerships, as well as retain and upgrade existing donors
• Participate as a member of the executive team to develop the strategic and operational plans including development and management of the fundraising and marketing budgets
• Personally participate in fundraising campaigns to cultivate, solicit, close and steward gifts from current and prospective donors, with an emphasis on major gifts in excess of $10,000
• Utilize data gathering and analysis tools; perform meaningful analysis and reports on data from various sources including current programs, market data and donor database  
• Gauge progress toward goals with monthly and annual reporting; set performance objectives and metrics; monitor and provide periodic progress reports to Executive leadership

Supervision and Responsibility

• Reports to CEO
• Manages all aspects of Development team (staff and contractors): Assistant Director of Development, Communications team, Creative Director, Grants Manager, Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator, Development Associate

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field such as business, marketing or communications; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 10 years’ leadership experience in one of more of the following areas: fundraising, strategic marketing, communications, business development or related field
• Minimum of 5 to 7 years’ experience in effectively managing staff, teams and budgets
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing strategic marketing programs, comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, database management and fundraising programs to advance an organization's mission and goals
• Proven ability to provide and implement creative, innovative approaches toward full utilization and implementation of marketing campaigns and new media technologies; ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as strategic thinker
• Strong analytical skills with prior experience and ability to mine and analyze donor and market data; evaluate and prioritize various courses of action toward results-oriented, successful outcomes
• Experience in recruiting, hiring, mentoring and coaching to build a strong and effective team of fundraising, communications staff and volunteers; oversight of volunteer management programs
• Superior leadership and management skills; proven ability to influence and engage staff, direct and indirect reports, peers and volunteers

• Knowledge, experience and proven success in managing fundraising initiatives with demonstrated experience and competency in a minimum of three or more of the following areas:
  • Annual Campaigns
  • Capital Campaigns
  • Major Gifts
  • Planned Giving
  • Grants
  • Sponsorships
• Proven experience with strong ability to cultivate, solicit, and close gifts from current and prospective donors, both personally and through a staff of volunteers and team, with personal fundraising efforts that have produced multiple major gifts in excess of $10,000
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively cultivating, developing and building strong relationships across all functions and at all levels
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation communication skills (both internally and externally) and professional attitude
• Experience and ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and influence senior management and Board of Directors as well as interface with all other constituents, stakeholders, volunteers, partners and donors
• Ability to make decisions and exercise good judgment in a changing environment with ability to anticipate future needs
• Strong creative problem solving, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Willingness and ability to work some evenings and weekends and travel in the region approximately 2 days per week or as may be required
• Computer Skills: Microsoft Office – strong proficiency and experience in working with Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint; experience with Virtuous donor management systems strongly preferred