Development Director

Position Summary:

The Development Director leads and manages all fundraising efforts for Family ACCESS, a century-old organization dedicated to empowering families and children through early education, literacy, and comprehensive support services. This role is pivotal in strengthening the organization's financial stability and expanding its impact by cultivating relationships with individual donors, foundations, and community partners. The Director works collaboratively with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and staff to align fundraising strategies with the organization's mission and values, driving sustained growth and ensuring vital services reach underserved communities.

Specific responsibilities will include:

Grants ManagementInstitutional Giving

• Develop and execute a comprehensive grant strategy, including research, proposal writing, submission, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the grant consultant to identify and pursue new funding opportunities.
• Manage the grants submissions calendar and project plans to meet deadlines and submit applications on time or ahead of schedule
• Schedule meetings and prepare materials for meetings and site visits, including meeting briefs, agendas, and other collateral

Individual Donor CultivationEngagement

• Design and implement strategies to increase individual donor contributions, cultivate new donors, and deepen relationships with existing supporters.
• Manage annual appeals and donor appreciation initiatives, engaging the Board of Directors and other key supporters to maximize campaign successes.
• Lead event planning to engage individual donors, including house parties, small gatherings, and ongoing volunteer engagement events

Board of Directors StewardshipDevelopment Committee

• Foster a culture of philanthropy among board members, ensuring 100% board donation participation and active engagement in fundraising efforts.
• Provide leadership and administrative support to the Development Committee, ensuring timely and effective communication and productive meeting outcomes.
• Support efforts to build the board pipeline, including researching board prospects and coordinating their cultivation.

Data Management and Other Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate and timely recording of all donations and donor information in the Donor Perfect database, including robust reporting capabilities. Implement efficient gift acknowledgment processes.
• Monitor and submit accurate and timely development budget updates, collaborating with the Finance Director to regularly reforecast Development revenue and expenses.
• Partner and collaborate with the Program Directors to develop additional collateral as needed
• Support volunteer engagement efforts as needed.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in nonprofit fundraising, with experience across grant management, individual giving, and board relations.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills.
• Bachelor's degree
• Shared dedication to Family ACCESS philosophy and mission
• 3-5 years of full-time relevant work experience in nonprofit fundraising
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as within small and diverse teams
• Ability to effectively troubleshoot and resolve issues while taking the appropriate steps, involving appropriate parties, when necessary
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with colleagues and donors
• Be proactive, creative and have a high level of energy and enthusiasm
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Google Drive Suite
  Experience with the Donor Perfect database is a plus

Background on Family ACCESS Founded in 1907, Family ACCESS strengthens children, families, and the community by providing programs that nurture child development, promote effective parenting skills, and support working parents. We actively engage a racially, economically, and culturally diverse population in Newton, Waltham, and surrounding communities. Focusing our services on less-advantaged families and their young children, we help parenting teens and adults with significant challenges do a better job as parents and help very young children develop the social, emotional and intellectual skills they need for success in school and in life.

The community we serve are diverse, and we are committed to reflecting that diversity in our staff. We strive to have the most diverse applicant pool possible; to that end, we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for any position at Family ACCESS. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, we provide the best educational experience to prepare our students for a future reflective of the world we live in.