Director of Development

Purpose

The Director of Development will maintain a strong donor-facing presence with an emphasis on cultivating, stewarding, and inviting support of both new and long-time supporters of Youth First. The Director of Development will work closely with the Vice President of Development, President & CEO, Founder, Board, other volunteers, and staff to identify and execute strategies that engage high-capacity donors, deepen partnerships, and achieve fundraising goals.

The Director of Development will continually collaborate with and leverage the vast network of supporters and partners across our footprint. The Director of Development will develop revised fundraising approaches with businesses and other initiatives that would create better opportunities for building relationships and increased giving.

Vice President of Development

Hybrid work plan of up to one day remote may be requested after supervisor determines that onboarding is complete and employee is prepared.

• In collaboration with staff and board members, identify, create, and execute unique, tailored fundraising strategies for high-capacity individuals, corporations, and private foundations within the assigned portfolio.
• While maintaining the utmost discretion and following ethical fundraising practices, successfully advance prospects and donors through the donor cycle including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, resulting in secured gifts and annual goal attainment.
• Actively engage with Board members, Donor Development Committee members, and other volunteers to identify prospects and facilitate introductions and invitations to support.
• Continually communicate and collaborate with Marketing & Communications, Events, and Grants team members to ensure the appropriate overlap of donor engagement, solicitation, and communication is in place throughout the year.
• Throughout the fiscal year, ensure each donor-specific outreach and stewardship metrics are thoughtfully executed, reported on and evaluated with leadership and committee members on a monthly basis.
• Ensure outreach and stewardship metrics are recorded appropriately for each account utilizing Salesforce, in addition to updating contact information, capturing key intel, uploading relevant attachments, and monitoring metrics within assigned dashboard.
• Develop new approaches to fundraising with businesses that would create better opportunities for building relationships and increased giving.
• Perform mid-level donor evaluations and develop strategies for how to build relationships, steward, and increase giving long-term.
• Develop, implement, and oversee new initiatives to assist all Regional Development Officers to be successful in their roles.

• Effectively gain understanding of donor motivations by running research, asking questions, listening to and affirming each donor with gratitude and hospitality.
• Create and deliver impactful and transformative gift proposals.
• Effectively invite donors to invest (short and long-term) in Youth First's mission and negotiate, honor, and implement each unique request for donor recognition.
• When appropriate, work alongside Grants team to identify, cultivate, and steward private and corporate foundation relationships. Provide support with narrative insight for written proposals, assist in executing funding deliverables and coordinating appropriate donor recognition in a timely and effective manner.
• Collaborate with Communications & Marketing team when media alerts, social media posts, check presentations, etc. are appropriate for gift announcements and donor recognition.

• Represent Youth First annually at the Breakfast of Champions, the Passport to Adventure Auction, and other fundraising events throughout the year, as well as occasional key community events if needed, to develop and nurture strategic relationships with stakeholders and community leaders.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 3+ years of fundraising experience with demonstrated success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Experience in volunteer management, especially engaging, motivating and successfully utilizing volunteers to achieve fundraising goals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate well and work effectively with multiple constituencies and audiences.
• Excellent written/verbal communication skills and presentation skills with experience presenting to varied audiences.
• Ability to present and deliver complex prevention and outcomes data as well as speaking to the financial health of overall organization.
• General understanding of current market, economic, and political landscapes.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills with experience handling objections.
• Strong knowledge of the organization's mission, values,…