Director, Development and Fundraising

Job Description: Director of Development and Fundraising

Friends of Nathaniel Witherell, Inc. (“Friends”) is a charitable organization ((501(c)(3)) dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of residents of The Nathaniel Witherell (the “Witherell”), a premier skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center owned and operated by the Town of Greenwich.

Reporting to the Chairman and President of Friends, the Director of Development will lead all development and fundraising activities for Friends. 

Friends has been a significant adjunct organization to the Witherell for many years, supporting the critical work of the facility while giving it a competitive edge by providing cultural, musical, art, social, and spiritual enrichment to the Witherell residents. The Director will join Friends at a time of renewed support and dedication to its life-enhancing mission.

The position develops, implements, and monitors a strategic fundraising effort to expand philanthropic support of the Witherell by identifying and strengthening relationships with community stakeholders, pursuing and engaging individual benefactors and corporate supporters, fostering strong donor and sponsor stewardship, identifying appropriate grant sources and applying for and managing grant funding. The Director takes a leading role in planning and coordinating fundraising events for Friends.

Duties and Responsibilities

·        Design and implement a strategic and comprehensive Development Plan annually to maintain and enhance the fiscal strength of the organization and provide future financial resources for growth and expansion through annual appeal development, grant writing and management, major corporate giving, and coordinating fundraising events.

·        Develop strong relationships within the community to foster a positive image such that residents, civic organizations, companies, and schools will make Friends a favored charity within its core market area of Greenwich and in an expanded territory to include Fairfield and Westchester counties.

·        Serve as primary point of contact for funding, donations, and fundraising event inquiries.

·        Collect, organize, and maintain an accurate database record of donors, targeted donors and donor categories and funding received. Create strategic funding targets for review by Friends Board of Directors. Establish tracking tools and monitor results monthly.

·        Work collaboratively with fundraising event chairs to offer management, production and oversight of Friends fundraising events, including developing and managing production timeline, budget, and evaluation.

·        Work with marketing and public relations professionals to develop branding and assure consistency of messaging in all organization materials. Ensure Friends messaging is updated and accurate in marketing and outreach materials.

·        Design and produce annual giving campaign, as well as auxiliary marketing, promotional and outreach materials.

·        Work collaboratively with Friends team members as needed to secure resources and venues for Friends events.

·        Coordinate media events: speak on behalf of the organization with media outlets as needed.

·        Engage in networking at selected community and leadership events.

·        Deliver presentations on Friends to various community organizations, corporate and church groups, as needed.

·        Coordinate committees and third-party vendors in effort to develop fundraising projects and initiatives.

·        Interface with trusts and estates attorneys whose clients wish to engage in planned giving or have bequeathed funds to Friends.

·        Report to Board regularly on progress of programs, events, and funding.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

At least five (5) years of successful leadership experience establishing and executing a strategic plan for an expanding, mission-driven development campaign for a charitable organization, thereby showing: 

§ Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

§ Organizational, time-management and problem-solving skills

§ The ability to grasp “the big picture” regarding Friends’ mission, goals and objectives while maintaining detailed attention to critical tasks and functions supporting strategic goals and organizational efficiencies

§ Proficiency at identifying and applying for grants

§ Creative event planning capabilities

§ Familiarity and ability to use content management system platforms.

Experience should be predominantly in fundraising, though marketing, communication or business roles for a nonprofit can transfer well. Leadership of these functions at the Senior Associate, Associate Director, or Director level showing a readiness to build and lead development initiatives.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel required; proficiency with Power Point and fundraising tools such as Raiser’s Edge and Blackbaud strongly preferred.