Director of Development

Description

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Harrisonburg, is seeking an experienced development professional to lead our fund-raising efforts. The Director of Development is responsible for fund development and has creative control over strategy and implementation. Success in this position looks like meeting fund raising goals, building partnerships with new sponsors, growing our individual donors (Friends of Downtown), managing our Friendly City Fortune raffle, strengthening connections with donors, and contributing to the overall vitality of our office and health of the organization. This seasoned professional must have a proven track record of past fund-raising successes – coming up with fresh ideas for engagement and moving people to support. S/he has their finger on the pulse of fund-raising trends and best practices, a love for relationship building, and a creative approach to making the ask and saying thank you.

This position has an opportunity to make a difference in Harrisonburg by helping to improve quality of life, create lasting memories, and boost community pride for residents. S/he also works to bring value to sponsors and downtown businesses and to create benefits and recognition packages that help our partners meet their goals while helping to underwrite our events, grant programs, and projects.

We annually achieve an ambitious plan of projects by working with community partners and volunteers who support the organization through board of director leadership; project or committee members; and interns who largely focus on content development, social media, and event and promotions support. HDR is a small, close-knit staff of four who enjoy working collaboratively and shaping the organization together. We are all incredibly passionate about the mission of this organization and seek a colleague who will be equally dedicated to the betterment of the community and the strength of our team. If you love independent businesses more than big-box stores and historic buildings over cookie-cutter places, this might be the place for you.

This position is considered a regular, full-time exempt employee, working at the will of the Executive Director.

Job Duties

In general, the Director of Development will be responsible for the Friends of Downtown program, Friendly City Fortune raffle, the donor database, donor recognition, sponsorships, working with event planners on the Downtown Dinner Party, and planning the annual donor reception. Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop and execute an annual fund-raising plan. S/he has the freedom to redesign elements of HDR’s current plan and apply a personalized, creative approach to their work.
• Manage and execute the Friendly City Fortune raffle: work with volunteers to identify and secure annual prizes, write vendor contracts, manage gaming commission application and reporting, partner with HDR’s Director of Marketing on marketing strategy.
• Secure annual sponsorships: develop sponsorship package (assessing and updating levels and benefits), working with staff to identify opportunities around events and projects, solicit sponsorships, and follow through on recognition. We would like to focus on expanding our corporate donor goals this year by expanding our sponsor base.
• Coordinate Friends of Downtown, HDR’s individual and business giving program. This includes developing levels of support and benefits, solicitation, renewals, and appreciation. This program has room to grow.
• Manage HDR’s donor database and maintain donor, sponsor, and volunteer data while also tracking in-kind and tangible donations.
• Develop and manage a new, personalized donor recognition plan (working with Executive Director).
• Plan and implement fund-raising events, including budgeting, volunteer management, and post-event analysis of Downtown Dinner Party and silent auction in May, annual donor reception (in January), and the Friendly City Fortune raffle drawing on July 4th. (Note, you will work with contractors to produce the Dinner Party.)
• Manage HDR’s Downtown Dollars program – our downtown gift certificate program for business Friends of Downtown. This includes maintaining our working relationship with Pendleton Bank, which handles sales fulfillment.
• Chair HDR’s Fund Development Committee comprised of board members and volunteers who help brainstorm and implement various fund-raising activities.

Other Responsibilities

In general, all HDR staff handle their own administrative tasks and share various office tasks to keep this place going. All staff members are responsible for developing their annual work plan and budget for Board of Directors’ approval. While fund raising will be this position’s top priority, when possible, additional passion projects may be integrated to your work plan. Other duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing to develop collateral materials, web pages, and donor swag in addition to designing campaigns and supporting implementation.
• Support HDR’s Events Manager with community events as needed.
• Provide support in developing our annual report.
• Hiring and managing your interns, if desired.
• Interview with members of the local media on your project areas and initiatives.
• Assist bookkeeper.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills Required

You’ll need to be well-organized and detail-oriented and have excellent follow-up, strong interpersonal communication skills, and a great customer service attitude. Has anyone ever told you that you can sell ice in the winter or that you’ve never met a stranger? You might just have the right personality for the job!

Storytelling is important to us and something we have been working on during the last few years. You will work with the HDR team to brainstorm organizational stories and content ideas to engage current and future donors.

Other things we’d like to see:

• A bachelor’s degree, at a minimum, and at least five years of related work experience.
• A successful track record coordinating multiple programs and meeting fund-raising goals.
• Strong time & project management skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in basic computer skills and database management. If you have not used Little Green Light, you will receive training to take over the database.
• Ability to prepare budgets and manage expenses.
• Knowledge of fund-raising principles and practices in a non-profit environment, with evidence of staying current in field.
• Knowledge Love of downtown Harrisonburg (but the ability to love downtown by candidates outside the area will be welcomed).
• Contacts and relationships with community members, regional corporations, and local businesses.

Work Schedule

While much of this job will be completed during normal business hours (9 am – 5 pm), there will be some evening, weekend, and holiday work required – all of which are scheduled annually.

Additional Info

Salary and Benefits:

• Health, dental & vision coverage (with 70% of the premium paid by the employer) and 3% match for employer-sponsored IRA retirement savings plan.
• Salary range: $40,000-$50,000.
• HDR’s work culture offers employees flexible work hours, 12 paid holidays, 10 paid days of vacation, additional sick leave, option for teleworking, professional development opportunities, and plenty of room for creativity in how staff members approach their work and full ownership of their projects.
• Free parking space.
• A cool office in the renovated Ice House above Pale Fire – staff have private offices.

How to Apply

Please send the executive director a cover letter, resume, and examples of past fund-raising campaigns (e.g. donor appeal letters, social media campaigns or posts, storytelling, sponsorship and/or donor packets, or any other materials that demonstrate how you’ve done it all when it comes to fund raising). Make sure your application addresses why you are interested in working with HDR, shows a wide range of fund-raising activities and campaign development, and demonstrates success in meeting fund-raising goals. We will review applications upon receipt and ideally will close the application window the week of Jan. 27th.