Posted on December 9, 2012

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Associate Director, Individual Giving and Special Event

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Founded in 2003 by radio documentary producer and MacArthur Fellow Dave Isay, StoryCorps has recorded and archived over 40,000 interviews from more than 70,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind. We have visited all 50 states, partnered with hundreds of community organizations across the country, and earned two Peabody Awards (including a rare Institutional Peabody Award), the highest honor in broadcast journalism. Millions listen to our weekly broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition, our weekly podcasts on iTunes, and the stories posted on the Listen pages of our website. Our animations have been featured on PBS’s flagship documentary series POV and the YouTube homepage and were nominated for an Emmy. Our three books, Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project, Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps, and All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps, were New York Times Bestsellers.

In the coming years, we hope to build StoryCorps into an enduring institution that will touch the lives of every American family. To learn more about our services, produced works, and special initiatives, and to listen to participant stories, visit www.storycorps.org.

Position Overview:

The Associate Director, Individual Giving & Special Events, will build and manage StoryCorps’ individual giving function. In 2013, the Associate Director will be responsible for working with the Director of Development to develop a comprehensive individual giving and special events strategy, with a focus on activities related to StoryCorps’ upcoming 10th Anniversary.

The ideal candidate will have solid experience developing and managing successful individual giving programs, with a focus on events and a proven track record securing major gifts. The Associate Director reports directly to the Director, Development, and supervises two full-time staff; strong leadership skills and experience providing staff supervision are required.

StoryCorps records, shares, and preserves stories from a diverse range of American voices — from our Griot Initiative to preserve stories of African Americans, to our Historias Initiative to collect the experiences of Latinos. Candidates with experience fundraising for organizations with diversity and social justice-oriented missions/values are strongly encouraged to apply.

Excellent benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, Employee Assistance Plan, pre-tax transit/parking benefits, and paid time off (vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Individual Giving

• Manage the development and execution of major donor solicitation and stewardship strategies for the President, Director of Development, and members of the Board of Directors
  
• Manage a portfolio of major donors, soliciting and stewarding five- and six-figure gifts
  
• Work with the Director of Development to create and execute a plan to diversify and increase Lead execution of major donor identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities, with particular attention to leveraging events as cultivation and stewardship opportunities
  
• Redesign and Manage the implementation of a new individual giving program for the upcoming 10th Anniversary
  
• Establish Major Donor Councils in San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City to support StoryCorps work in those metro-areas
  
• Create donor communications plan to be executed by Development Associate

Special Events

• Prepare an annual development special events strategy outlining a minimum of 6 cultivation events per year and an annual Gala
  
• Develop event concepts, including but not limited to theme, venue, artistic elements and kick-off and ancillary events
  
• Create donor and sponsor opportunities for each project with related benefits
  
• Oversee efforts to recruit and manage event host committees and to steward event attendees, ensuring they remain committed to the organization’s mission and deepen their involvement
  
• Ensure that events are developed and executed with creative excellence, carefully managing costs
  
• Work with Director of Development and the Board of Directors to identify prospects and strategies to secure sponsors, committees, and in-kind support to fundraise for events
  
• Works with the Development Committee and board members to identify and select event participants including honoree(s), event sponsors, in-kind gifts, and committee members
  
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• Perform other duties to support the Development function, as assigned
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree
  
• 4-6 year experience in Development and Events, with a proven track record of securing major gifts
  
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills
  
• Strong organizational and project management skills; adept at working under tight deadlines and managing multiple projects simultaneously
  
• Proficiency utilizing the Microsoft Office Suite and a donor management software system such as Raiser's Edge
  
• Experience providing staff supervision and leadership; strong team-building, conflict negotiation, and collaborative skills
  
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in order to contribute to problem-solving activities within a growing, changing organization
  
• Cultural competence and the ability to work successfully with diverse groups of people
  

Preferred:

Application Instructions

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to employment@storycorps.org and include your last name and “Assoc. Director, Individual Giving & Special Events” in the subject line. Include your cover letter and resume as attachments entitled “YourNameLetter” and “YourNameResume.” In your cover letter, please tell us how you found out about this opportunity and whether you have applied for a position at StoryCorps in the past.

The position will remain open until filled; please apply early. No calls please.

StoryCorps seeks to hire staff who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

All positions at StoryCorps are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. All are encouraged to apply.