Director of Development

Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Chris Long Foundation is seeking an experienced  Director of Development to provide strategic direction and implement effective strategies that enable the Foundation to achieve its goals for growth and deep program impact. Guided by our new three-year Strategic Plan, the Director of Development will lead the Foundation’s fundraising efforts across multiple revenue streams, including individual giving at all levels, institutional giving, corporate sponsorships, in-kind contributions, events, and the annual fund.

The Director of Development reports to the Foundation’s Executive Director. This position is part of a small, cohesive team and works closely with the founders, Executive Director, Associate Director of Programs, and Director of Marketing and Communications to align programmatic goals, fundraising efforts, and marketing strategies. This is an opportunity for an enthusiastic, creative development professional to help shape a first-rate fundraising program at a particularly exciting time in the Foundation’s organizational evolution.

The Director of Development position is a full-time role. The Foundation’s work is fast-paced, but we offer a collegial and collaborative work culture. We have a  casual office environment and opportunities for a hybrid work schedule. This position also offers interesting opportunities for domestic and international travel and meaningful engagement with colleagues from across the world of professional sports and sports media who support our mission. Employee benefits include health, dental, and vision plans and paid leave. The anticipated salary range is $80,000-100,000.

The Chris Long Foundation appreciates the value that diverse experiences and perspectives bring to our team and our mission. We strive to create an inclusive environment for all employees.

While we have a strong preference for candidates who can be based in our Charlottesville office, we will consider candidates based elsewhere in Virginia or the Washington, DC area who can commit to traveling to Charlottesville on a frequent basis.

Please send a resume and cover letter to Nancy Hopkins, Executive Director, at nancy@chrislongfoundation.org by August 31, 2023.

Job Duties

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement the Chris Long Foundation’s annual fundraising plan, built around the priorities in the Strategic Plan and centered within a culture of philanthropy among the founders, staff, and Board.
• Design and execute a sophisticated individual major gifts strategy.
• Secure support from institutional funders (foundations, corporations) for the Foundation’s mission and programs, with a focus on cultivating and sustaining long-term partnerships.
• Collaborate around creation of a development communications strategy (mainly digital) for a large, sustained base of individual donors and monthly givers.
• Collaborate with marketing and program colleagues to develop high quality collateral and stewardship materials for donors and prospects across revenue streams.
• Spearhead the creation of professionally presented pitch decks, concept notes, and funding proposals.
• Build out a robust donor research and prospecting function and strategies for expanding the number of Foundation supporters and partners.
• Help design high-impact fundraising and outreach events—including our annual Waterboys Charity Challenge golf tournament—that provide opportunities to showcase our mission and cultivate and steward our supporters.
• Lead donor acknowledgement and stewardship activities, ensuring a high-touch response that strengthens the connection to our work and mission.
• Track and report on key fundraising performance metrics; prepare regular internal reports and presentations to communicate progress and drive decision making; ensure rigorous record keeping and data integrity.
• Staff the founders, Executive Director, and Board members to support their respective roles in resource development; deploy and schedule them in effective ways; provide briefing materials and talking points as needed.
• Collaborate with the founders, Executive Director, and Board to identify, cultivate, and onboard new Board members.
• Serve as a key member of the Chris Long Foundation’s leadership team, helping to drive organizational strategy, priorities, and partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in resource development in a nonprofit organization. Strong knowledge of philanthropy, best practice fundraising strategies, and the nonprofit sector.
• Genuine interest in the mission of the Chris Long Foundation and a passion for mobilizing resources to support high-impact programs that make the world a better place.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect, solicit, and close six-figure gifts.
• Creative and strategic thinker, with a proven ability to forge and steward effective partnerships.
• Experience with (or understanding of) digital and peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills. High level of attention to detail.
• A consummate team player with strong interpersonal skills. Ability to foster productive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Highly organized and self-directed. Excellent time management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, team collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Monday.com), video conferencing (e.g., Zoom, Teams), CRM databases (Neon CRM a plus) essential.
• Ability to travel outside Charlottesville on an occasional basis and staff occasional events outside normal working hours.
• A passion for professional or collegiate sports and / or experience working with brand ambassadors, influencers, or celebrities desired but not required.

Additional Info

ABOUT THE CHRIS LONG FOUNDATION

The mission of the Chris Long Foundation is to mobilize ambassadors, service providers, and experts to help communities access clean water, address basic needs for youth and families, and inspire others to make an impact at home and abroad. Our vision is access and opportunity everywhere. Through our Waterboys and EdZone initiatives we support practical solutions to complex global challenges, catalyzing long-term change and improving the quality of life from the individual to the community level. Our champions from the world of sports and media spread the word about the importance of clean water and educational equity, raise funds and awareness, and catalyze collective action.

The Foundation was launched in 2015 by two-time Super Bowl Champion, global humanitarian, and media personality Chris Long and his wife Megan. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia.