Development Director

Reports to Executive Director

Summary

The Development Director at Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) leads fund development and public relations initiatives and supports strategic development. The position collaborates closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to integrate development efforts across the organization. The position spearheads the organization’s fundraising initiatives, bolstering MEC’s financial resources to support its work of advancing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The position also spearheads branding, communication, and advocacy, and oversees the staff responsible for executing that work. Such efforts represent MEC in a consistent and favorable light for donor and public relations. This position requires exceptional leadership, advanced strategic fundraising capabilities, and sophisticated communication skills, complemented by a robust understanding of nonprofit management and the ability to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with diverse and spearhead philanthropic donor relations.

Duration and Category

Full-time; Exempt

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervisory oversight of assigned contractors and staff; includes Sr. Public Affairs Coordinator, Impact Data Specialist and Communications Coordinator

Essential Duties

• Strategic Fundraising and Donor Management
  • Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies that align with MEC’s long-term goals
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with key donors, sponsors, and philanthropic entities
  • Oversee the planning and execution of fundraising events and campaigns
  • Establish a balanced mix of income sources and fundraising programs to attract and retain customers, donors, and volunteers
  • Maintain knowledge of fundraisers’ interests and cultivate relationships with fellow employees and volunteers
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
  • Establish and maintain branding and communication style guides across the organization and its programs
  • Supervise department staff to guide mission advocacy and communication of MEC’s public image and community presence
  • Guide and oversee communications work to ensure that fundraising communications align with MEC’s overall communication strategy
  • Represent MEC in public forums and engage with external media as needed to promote the organization’s mission and programs
• Program Development and Support
  • Lead planning, campaign development, grant applications, support appeals, and marketing and promotions of fund development activity
  • Keep abreast of developments in philanthropy and fund development, informing staff as necessary for fund development success
  • Work alongside Development Department staff and Program Managers to identify funding needs and opportunities to expand or enhance service offerings
  • Ensure grant applications are prepared accurately and submitted on time
• Compliance and Ethics
  • Ensure adherence to all relevant regulations and laws pertaining to nonprofit fundraising operations.
  • Maintain the integrity of fundraising practices in accordance with ethical standards.
• Performance Monitoring and Supporting
  • Establish performance measures, monitor results, and evaluate the efficacy of program development, public relations, advocacy, impact data management, and fund development.
  • Establish and maintain performance metrics for fundraising activities and monitor the effectiveness of development strategies.
  • Provide regular reports to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors regarding fundraising progress and recommend strategic adjustments.
• Team Leadership and Development
  • Lead, motivate, and develop a robust Board Development Committee, fundraising volunteers and development team to achieve fundraising goals
  • Foster an internal culture of gracious and responsible service surrounding project development, communications production, advocacy work, impact data management and fund development
  • Facilitate training and professional development opportunities for staff involved in development and fundraising activities

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Relations, Communications, Nonprofit Management or a related field. A Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management or Public Administration is preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in fund development is required, with a strong focus on managing annual and capital campaigns, major gift fundraising and grant writing
• Must demonstrate success in developing and executing communication strategies and achieving goals
• Proficiency with CRM tools for managing donor relationships and analytics is highly desirable

Skills and Competencies

• Leadership Skills: Must be a self-starter, able to work independently and with staff at all levels and customers toward common goals and demonstrate a respect for others and their ideas. Proven experience effectively supervising and directing staff. Ability to influence the actions and opinions of others in a desired direction; to exhibit judgment in leading others to worthwhile objectives.
• Organization and Planning Skills: Strong organizational skills, with proven ability to plan, execute, and oversee multiple fundraising projects simultaneously while adhering to deadlines. Efficient in managing both individual and team tasks, maintaining commitments, and balancing competing demands.
• Fundraising and Financial Expertise: In-depth knowledge of fundraising strategies, donor management, and financial planning. Experienced in developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising campaigns and securing major gifts. Understands the importance of sustainable financial practices within the nonprofit sector.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Outstanding listening and communication skills are required, including the ability to synthesize and convey complex information to a variety of audiences with minimal use of jargon clearly and concisely. Must possess strong interpersonal skills to engage with diverse constituencies and maintain respectful and sensitive interactions across cultural differences.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Sharp analytical abilities and excellent problem-solving skills, with a realistic understanding of issues and the capacity to use data and feedback to guide fundraising strategies. Adaptable, capable of managing frequent changes and unexpected events, skilled in recommending process improvements and strategic innovations.
• Computer Skills: Strong knowledge of the Microsoft Office 365 Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Planner/Project), with proficiency in Customer Resource Management software such as Salesforce, and experience with data analysis tools essential for effective fundraising and donor management.

Work Environment

MEC offers teleworking options, appropriate for the work duties and at the discretion of supervisors. Most work for this position may be completed remotely. Some in-person meetings and office time are required.

The noise level in the office environment may be moderate due to staff phone calls and conversations. However, alternate working space is available throughout the coworking facility to use as desired.

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary range: $63,000 – $73,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience

Benefits

• Flexible scheduling and teleworking
• 24/7 access to coworking space
• Paid vacation Leave, paid sick leave, and paid holidays
• Group health, dental, vision
• Free life insurance
• Professional development opportunities
• Opportunity for unpaid leave for volunteerism.
• Paid jury leave, bereavement leave, etc.