Development Director

Number of Positions: 1

Director, Development is responsible for designing and executing the Development strategy that will allow City Year to leverage the resources, talents, and skills of the philanthropic sector to build the site and create change in communities across the city.

External Relations:
Working closely with the Executive Director, plan the strategy of donor engagement across sectors: private, government, and education (state policy, district funding). Serve as a representative of City Year in the external community attending events on a frequent basis (may include travel, and evening and weekend events). Build meaningful relationships that result in securing both monetary and in-kind multi-year support for City Year.

Implement Growth Campaign:
Work with the Executive Director to develop, plan, and implement a campaign to allow for City Year’s continued growth throughout Buffalo. Additionally, add development capacitates to execute against City Year’s Long Term Impact goals.

Individual Giving Program Development:
Develop innovative strategies to promote individual giving to City Year. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of current and future major donors. Refine City Year Giving Circles initiatives and increase participation with individual donor gifts of $10,000+. Work directly with the Executive Director to ensure annual Advisory Board giving is 100%.

Board Management and Engagement:
Work with the Executive Director to manage the Board throughout the year and during quarterly Board meetings. Maintain engagement both financially and otherwise to ensure Board retention and satisfaction. Co-Chair the Advisory Board’s Development Committee ensuring board and staff alignment on all development related initiatives, including events and the annual gala.

Corporate and Foundation Management:
Establish corporate and foundation strategy, and support the regional grant writer with the management of relationships and communication with City Year’s corporate foundation funders. Work to increase corporate and foundation multi-year gifts.

Fundraising Events:
Work with the Development Consultant and the Executive Director in managing special events to raise the awareness of City Year; fundraise and engage individuals, foundations, and corporations as champions and donors. Events include but are not limited to:
City Year Buffalo’s Annual Gala, Specialty Market Events, and Private Receptions.

City Year Culture:
Represent, respect, and role model City Year organizational culture and values on a daily basis internally as a member of the site Senior Leadership Team and externally as a representative of the organization. Help share the mission of City Year locally to increase brand awareness in the community.

Organizational Management:
Help shape organizational strategy and play a leadership role in implementing the site’s local operating and multi-year strategic plan as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Work collaboratively with other site departments on a frequent basis and with City Year’s national headquarters in Boston. Collaborate with local and national colleagues in ensuring accurate maintenance of records and donor information in the Sales Force database and in local network and paper files.

• 5-8 years of progressive fundraising/development experience with proven fundraising track record that includes multi-year giving. Comparable experience will be considered.
• BA/BS required. Preference given to MBAs, MPPs, and/or other relevant advanced degrees.
• Solid, persuasive writing skills required.
• Experience serving on diverse teams required.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills required.
• Knowle…