The Development Director is responsible for strategizing and implementing development plans to support the work, growth, and sustainability of Chatham Literacy.
Qualifications/Experience:
- Development experience: At least three years of experience as a frontline fundraising professional with a nonprofit organization, focusing on fund development, including annual giving, grants, special events, online giving, and capital campaigns.
- Knowledge of the nonprofit sector: Understanding of development related regulations, best practices, and current trends.
- Passion for literacy: Deep commitment to the mission of promoting literacy and improving the goals of Chatham Literacy.
- Experience in budgeting and implementing annual and multi-year development plans with the proven ability to analyze, evaluate, and prepare reports regarding development results.
Candidate Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal skills: Ability to build rapport with diverse individuals and cultivate long-term donor relationships.
- Excellent written and verbal communication: Crafting compelling development materials, proposals, and presentations.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task
- Computer proficiency, including prior experience with using a donor database.
- Available to work some evenings and weekends.
- A bachelor's degree is required; a master’s degree is a plus.
- Must possess a valid state driver’s license.
- Dependable and demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups and in a team-oriented environment.
- Special Note or Consideration: Spanish fluency (written and verbal) is a plus.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
- Create and implement a comprehensive development plan.
- Research and apply for grants.
- Identify potential sources of support.
- Build strong relationships with the community to secure ongoing financial support.
- Maintain accurate information about donors within the organization's donor management system.
- Communicate development progress to the Executive Director and other constituents as directed, defining priorities and expected tasks.
Strategy and Plan:
- Work collaboratively with the Executive Director to create a multi-year multi-faceted development strategy.
- Create an annual tactical plan that forecasts specific financial revenue streams, including individuals, businesses, foundations, events, online, direct mail, etc. This includes defining priorities and expected tasks.
Development:
- Manage all development activities, including major giving, planned giving, sustainers, special events, direct mail, and business/corporate partnerships. This includes conducting research, prospecting, and pursuing multiple donor sources.
- Cultivate relationships with donors and prospects, including individuals, foundations, government agencies, corporations, and donor-advised funds.
- Oversee donor recognition and stewardship initiatives to ensure donors feel valued and engaged.
- Directly solicit previous and potential donors.
- Track development progress.
- Assist the Executive Director with solicitations, including donor history/portfolio information, strategic counsel, and donor communications.
Grants Administration:
- Research and identify grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, nonprofits, businesses, and government sources.
- Collaborate with the Executive Director to ensure all grant proposals are prepared appropriately and are submitted on time.
- Track and manage deadlines, requirements, and outcomes.
- Manage the development, writing and submission of grants with volunteers.
- Develop relationships with current and prospective funding sources.
Administration:
- Oversee the maintenance and expansion of the organization’s donor database.
- Analyze revenue sources to identify trends and develop strategies for meeting the organization's financial goals.
- Prepare status reports for the Executive Director.
- As directed by the Executive Director, provide staff support for the Development Committee and work with the Special Events committee on events.
Board Relations:
- Facilitate the participation of board members and other volunteers in development activities.
- As directed by the Executive Director, collaborate with Board committees associated with development to ensure alignment of efforts with Chatham Literacy development plans.
- As directed by the Executive Director, collaborate with Board members to identify and secure partnerships or sponsorships to increase revenue and/or reduce expenses.
- As directed by the Executive Director, produce financial documents for the Board about historical and current Development activities and outcomes.
Communications Related to Donor Cultivation Activities:
- With the Executive Director, serve as a public representative of the organization when cultivating donor relationships with community members.
- Collaborate with Executive Director on developing press releases, publications, e-mail marketing, messaging, and other communications related to fund development, including website.
- Develop and distribute donor communications, including impact reports and thank you letters.
- Work with the Executive Director to leverage partnerships and media relationships to expand Chatham Literacy’s visibility in the community to promote increased revenue streams.
Finance:
- Annually or as required, develop a fiscally sound development budget proposal for review. Present to Executive Director for approval.
- Ensure development activities are within budget, and practice maximum resource utilization.
- It is expected that the amount raised by the individual in this position will increase as the individual strengthens Chatham Literacy’s overall development capacity.
The above statements describe the general nature of the work to be performed by someone assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Office location is: 110 Village Lake Road, Siler City, NC 27312.
By Friday, June 13, 2025, submit cover letter with resume to: Vicki Newell, Chatham Literacy, P.O. Box 1696, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
No calls please.