Posted on August 28, 2012

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Associate Development Director

Spence-Chapin’s mission is to provide adoption and adoption-related services of the highest quality. Its roots can be traced to the early 1900s and the pioneering work of Clara Spence and Dr. and Mrs. Henry Chapin, who independently established nurseries out of concern for homeless infants abandoned in hospitals and shelters. For over 100 years, Spence-Chapin has been offering quality adoption services in the New York City metropolitan area and beyond and has helped nearly 20,000 children find stable, loving homes. In addition to finding adoptive homes for children, Spence Chapin promotes the understanding of adoption through counseling and public education and works to improve adoption’s image and practice. Today, Spence-Chapin is a prominent voice and leading advocate for adoption, in its commitment to the well-being of all members of the adoption triad: birth parents, adoptive families and adoptees.

The Position

Spence-Chapin is seeking a strategic, highly skilled, and energetic professional with proven leadership in development to become its new Associate Development Director (ADD). Reporting to the Development Director, the ADD will manage, coordinate, strengthen and diversify our fundraising in all areas including foundations, corporations and individual donors, social media, online activities and special events. As Spence-Chapin’s second most senior development professional in a five-person department, the Associate Development Director will oversee a staff of three in the agency’s $1.5 millian annual fundraising efforts and be responsible for operationalizing and coordinating the agency’s development strategy towards the goal of increasing revenue from events, individuals and corporate/foundation giving. In addition, the ADD will be expected to represent the agency in all fundraising settings and interact directly with donors, particularly when the Development Director is otherwise engaged.

Qualifications

• A seasoned fundraising professional with at least five years of professional experience in development, including direct experience in foundation relations, individual donor cultivation, major gifts, corporate giving, social media, online fundraising, grant writing and special events.
• Highly motivated and committed to developing and maintaining strong donor relationships in a diverse base of constituent communities.
• Experience designing and implementing a development plan.
• Experience in strategically using events to advance development goals.
• A proven track record in a development-driven organization with the ability to strategically translate programming goals into fundraising initiatives.
• Experience in managing and motivating staff.
• An exceptional communicator (written and verbal) with a proven expertise in bridging the communications gap between programming and development.
• Extensive experience in relationship management and the ability to lead fundraising at both a strategic and implementation level.
• Experience in developing constituent and/or alumni based fundraising strategies with track record in growing annual giving programs through direct mail, phonathons, internet, and face-to-face solicitations
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team.
• Flexible self-starter; able to multi-task while also being highly detail-oriented.
• Experience in working with non profit governance systems and reporting to a Development Committee and Board of Directors.
• Comfortable with advanced technology and experience in a data-driven environment with proficiency with Raiser’s Edge and Sales-Force preferred.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, meeting tight deadlines, and a commitment to following through on all projects.
• Capacity to work independently and as part of a team.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to Spence Chapin’s mission, with a personal commitment to/or experience with adoption, foster care or family planning preferred.
• Occasional travel within the United States and overseas may also be required.

Specific responsibilities include:

Fundraising

• Working closely with the Development Director to create an annual fundraising plan with goals and evaluation for each aspect of S-C’s fundraising activities.
• With guidance from the Development Director, ensure that S-C maintains personal, individualized relationships with all funders, both current and past.
• Develop strategies to increase individual giving through research, relationship-building and follow-up on promising prospects.
• Supervise the Development Associate for Proposal Writing & Research while developing strategies to expand the pool of institutional donors through prospect research, developing proposals for new programs for foundations, and ensuring compliance with all grants.
• Ensure the efficient functioning of all development systems by managing the Development Associate for Operations and Special Projects including: execution of mailings, timely data entry into contact database; maintenance of the fundraising data base and training of administrative staff on database and other technology.
• Supervise the Manager of Community Relations and Special Events while leading efforts to build a 2013 gala and future high-caliber fundraising events.
• Develop strategies to engage volunteers and constituent groups in development efforts.
• Work with the Development Director in supporting Board Members in their fundraising responsibilities.

Communications

• Responsible for the creation and submission of compelling and timely reports and other donor communications including direct mail letters.
• Responsible for regular and goal-oriented development-related meetings and conference calls as well as maintaining schedules for appropriate correspondence for different types of donors.
• Responsible for contributing to the annual report, paper and E-newsletters, email and social media alerts.
• Maintain a schedule of regular contact with program directors to interpret success, strategies, program content, and outcomes.
• Develop communications strategies that ensure the presence and participation of all Spence-Chapin staff, board, volunteers and constituents in funder events and conferences.

Reporting

• Work with the Development Director to ensure regular and comprehensive reporting to Executive Director, Development Committee, and Board of Directors.

Financial Management

• Working closely across departments to produce all development-related budgets
• Track the status of all fundraising efforts and providing timely monthly reports to financial management staff.

Assume all other duties as assigned

Application Instructions

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter, including a written statement demonstrating your salary history, record of experience in development, number of staff supervised and your knowledge of non profit governance. Materials should be submitted electronically to Mr. Gilles Mesrobian at gmesrob@gmail.com. Absolutely no phone calls or mailed materials please. All responses will be held in confidence.

Spence-Chapin is an equal opportunity employer.