Senior Director of Advancement and Major Gifts

Summary

Foundation Academies seeks a Sr. Director of Advancement and Major Gifts / Executive Director of Friends of Foundation Academies to drive major fundraising goals. Reporting to the COFO, this role oversees donor cycles, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment, sponsorship, partnership and stewardship. The Sr. Director conducts prospect research, develops solicitation strategies, and manages a donor portfolio. This individual will also be the executive director of Friends of Foundation Academies: a separate but affiliated 501(c)3

Responsible: (Tasks you are responsible for. Tasks are subject to change)
Strategic Planning and Leadership
● Develop and implement comprehensive advancement strategies to support the organization’s fundraising and donor engagement goals.
● Provide visionary leadership to the advancement team, setting clear goals and priorities aligned with the organization’s mission and objectives.
● Collaborate with senior leadership to integrate advancement efforts with overall organizational strategy and initiatives.
● Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction to the Friends Board in alignment with the organization’s mission and goals.
● Work closely with the board chair and other board members to establish policies, procedures, and governance structures.
● Ensure that the Friends Board operates effectively and fulfills its legal and fiduciary responsibilities.
● Recruit, onboard, and orient new board members, ensuring diversity, expertise, and representation of key stakeholders.
● Facilitate board meetings, prepare agendas, and ensure that meetings are productive and focused on key strategic priorities.
● Foster a culture of engagement, collaboration, and accountability among board members, encouraging active participation and contribution.

Fundraising and Development
● Lead major gift fundraising efforts, cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors, prospects, and key stakeholders.
● Develop and execute targeted fundraising campaigns, events, and initiatives to increase revenue and support for the organization.
● Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including grants, corporate partnerships, and planned giving programs.
● Oversee the donor acknowledgment process and ensure timely and personalized communication with donors.

Donor Relations and Engagement
● Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, ensuring their continued engagement and investment in the organization’s mission.
● Develop strategies to enhance donor engagement and involvement, including donor recognition programs, stewardship events, and personalized outreach efforts.
● Collaborate with programmatic staff to communicate the impact of donor support and ensure alignment between donor priorities and organizational goals.

Team Management and Development
● Recruit, train, and mentor advancement staff and board members, providing guidance and support to help them achieve their professional goals and maximize their potential.
● Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, promoting teamwork, communication, and accountability.
● Set performance expectations and metrics for the advancement team, monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes to drive continuous improvement.
● Work with the board treasurer and finance committee to develop and oversee the organization’s budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
● Provide regular financial reports and updates to the Friends Board, informing decision-making and resource allocation.
● Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and reporting requirements, including tax filings, financial disclosures, and governance standards.
● Work with legal counsel and advisors to address legal issues, risks, and compliance matters as they arise.
● Lead with accountability, empathy, emotional intelligence and empowerment. Lead by example.
● Consistently model FA core values; be a visible and highly engaged leader in the school community.

Accountable: (What you are accountable for does not change, you are the decider on pivots within the system to meet the following goals)
Fundraising Target Achievement
● Secure a total of 3 million in donations by the end of the year through major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, and other fundraising initiatives.
Major Gifts Acquisition:
● Secure 4 major gifts from new individual donors totaling ($250,000 or more) and corporations ($500,000) to support organizational priorities.
Donor Retention and Stewardship:
● Increase donor retention and engagement rate by 25% through personalized stewardship efforts, including thank-you calls, donor appreciation events, and impact reports
Board Engagement:
● Increase board engagement in fundraising efforts by 30%, including board member participation in donor cultivation meetings, events, and peer-to-peer fundraising activities.

Consulted: (You should be deeply knowledgeable about the following. As a result, your input will be considered when overlapping decisions are made due to your expertise and brilliant perspective)
● Donor Relations
● Fundraising Events
● Board Engagement
● Partnership Opportunities

Informed: (Ensure you are up-to-date on how these systems influence the items you are accountable for)
● Fundraising Performance
● Donor Trends
● Campaign Updates
● Budget Allocations
● Programmatic Impact
● External Relations

Educational Background and Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience plus a minimum of 3-5 years (direct or equivalent) experience managing high level donor relationships with demonstrated success in closing gifts of $25,000 and above.
● Ability to conceive, plan, and execute a major gifts program, including: annual giving, special events, and special projects/campaigns.
● Excellent grasp of Salesforce database software.
● Willingness to be hands-on in a role that is demanding and requires a high level of energy and professionalism.
● High level proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, and a working knowledge of search functions for donor research purposes.
● Superior interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally with a culturally diverse group of volunteers, co-workers and donors.
● Excellent organizational and project management skills and ability to prioritize workload in a timely manner to complete assignments with many deadlines and competing requirements.
● Ability to pass a criminal background check.

Salary: $100,000-$130,000