Director of Advancement

Foundation List • Washington, DC, United States • $200k - $250k / year • 2m ago

Washington Tennis and Education Foundation

Position: Director of Advancement
Organization: Washington Tennis and Education Foundation
Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Direct Report(s): Development Manager, Grants Manager, Gala Planner
Hours per week: 40 hours/week (full-time, exempt)
Compensation: $105K-$130K annually

Organization Profile
WTEF’s mission is to build life champions by providing children and youth a safe and trusting environment in which they can excel. WTEF offers after-school and summer camp-based tennis and academic programs that empower students to achieve their highest potential. These programs develop critical skills and instill meaningful values that prepare the students for life-long success.

Position Overview
WTEF is looking for a passionate self-starter to anchor and own fundraising/development for the organization. The Director of Advancement (DA) will lead the management and build-out of a team that will secure sustainable funds to fuel WTEF for the next 20 years. The ideal candidate has a track record of success managing a portfolio of institutional funders and major donors leading to the successful close of multi-year, six-figure grants, is a strong communicator, has excellent writing and communication skills, and is a natural relationship builder who will build lasting partnerships with foundation staff and major donors. The DA will report to the Chief Executive Officer of WTEF and will be part of a Senior Leadership Team. They will work in close collaboration with the CEO, one full-time development manager, a full-time grants manager, and a part-time contract gala producer.

General Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Manage a portfolio of 20-30 institutional funders with the goal of securing renewals and cultivating new opportunities to raise at least $3-4 million annually towards current and future needs.
Lead the creation and implementation of a fundraising plan with the CEO, development staff, and Board Development Committee.
Partner with the CEO in growing the development department as WTEF and funding also grow.
Develop overall fundraising strategy for WTEF, including multi-year gifts for general operations/organizational capacity as well as project-specific funding.
Work with the CEO to develop an earned revenue strategy.
Play a key role in developing and implementing revenue through earned income.
Create, manage, and oversee the Individual Giving Program, Institutional Giving Program, Corporate Support (cash & in-kind), Annual Fund, Special Events, and Capital Campaign.
Management and oversight of the grant manager and all grant seeking and grant writing efforts.
Support CEO in securing financial resources necessary for the organization.
Identify and steward relationships with foundations, corporations, and individuals.
Oversee a portfolio of institutional, individual, and corporate supporters and prospects, supporting the CEO and Board with their portfolios.
Create development-centered marketing materials, and coordinate external messages to funders, community partners, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and the general public.
Attend and research local and national events to cultivate relationships with stakeholders and community partners as directed by CEO.
Coordinate with Finance Department on procedures and policies for tracking and reporting development activities.
Prepare and manage the Development Department expense budget.
Track developments in philanthropy; engage with other senior development professionals across the philanthropic sector to learn about, assess, and adopt best practices in financial resource and donor development.

People Management
Oversee, support, and mentor development staff (currently a full-time Development Manager, full-time grants manager contractor, and part-time contracted WTEF Tennis Ball gala producer). Work to support a culture and policy of shared leadership within the department and across the organization.

Events
Develop creative strategies that effectively monetize WTEF events and thoughtfully cultivate new relationships. Work closely with the Tennis Ball Gala planner, CEO, and Board to cultivate and steward sponsorships and gifts for the annual fundraiser. Act as host of WTEF fundraising and special events.

Organizational Strategy and Planning
Play a leading role in developing organizational strategy for WTEF. Serve as the CEO’s strategic partner. Attend and participate in weekly Department Head Meetings. Demonstrate leadership as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Corporate Strategy and Sponsorships
Cultivate and steward corporate supporters through volunteer opportunities, event invitations, and more. Oversee the creation of sponsorship letters, decks, and reports.

Board Development
Attend and participate in board meetings, serving as a representative of the Development team. Help manage and document Board meetings. Work in collaboration with the Board of Directors Development Committee; serve as the staff lead on the Board Development Committee; help identify/recruit non-board fundraising committee members. Help create and institute give/gets for each board member. Coordinate and support Board Members and other volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and potential donors and funders.

Qualifications

Required
● Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
● 8-plus years of professional experience in a non-profit organization with demonstrated success in a development function
● Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
● Experience developing diversified, revenue/fundraising plans for non-profit organizations
● Experience using fundraising software/donor databases such as Salesforce, Network for Good, etc.
● Experience creating and managing budgets
● Excellent interpersonal and relationships management skills
● Cultural competence and excellent cross-cultural communication skills
● Lives in the Washington, DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia or willing to relocate here

Preferred
● Maintain and build long-term donor relationships
● Strong organizational skills and an ability to adapt
● Innovative thinker
● Leadership ability that results in positively influencing strategic and tactical fundraising efforts
● Experience working with youth/education
● Ability to work independently but can simultaneously be a team player who will consistently engage with internal and external team members and stakeholders.