Development Director

The Helis Foundation

New Orleans (LA)

Hybrid

USD 75,000 - 85,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

100% health insurance coverage

Matching funds for retirement plan

Generous vacation

Disability Insurance

Sick leave

Life Insurance

Job summary

The Helis Foundation seeks a Development Director to lead its fundraising efforts in New Orleans. This full-time role involves implementing strategies to secure financial support through individual and corporate donors, grant writing, and managing relationships across programs. The ideal candidate will have over 6 years of fundraising experience, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to motivate staff and volunteers. Salary ranges from $75,000 to $85,000, with benefits including health insurance and a retirement plan.

Qualifications

Must embrace the mission of Arts New Orleans.
6+ years of experience in development and professional fundraising.
Strong interpersonal and writing skills.
Knowledge of fundraising techniques, particularly major gift fundraising.
Ability to motivate staff, board members, and volunteers.
Self-starter with goal-driven mentality.

Responsibilities

Implement comprehensive fundraising strategies.
Write and manage grants and seek funding opportunities.
Cultivate and maintain donor and sponsor relationships.
Oversee Development Manager and related functions.
Plan donor cultivation events to enhance engagement.
Monitor fundraising strategies and adjust as necessary.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Grant writing

Interpersonal skills

Donor relationship management

Leadership

Organizational skills

Job description

Arts New Orleans seeks an experienced development professional and arts champion to lead and grow its fundraising efforts. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in fundraising and development, including donor relations, grant writing and management, and revenue generation.

This role is responsible for increasing support from individual, corporate, government funders, and foundations; managing grant writing and reporting; and strengthening donor relationships across all programs, including LUNA Fête, Arts Market, and the Young Artist Movement (YAM), and all Arts New Orleans Programs.

The Development Director will oversee key fundraising initiatives, major gifts strategy, all grant writing and management, and develop a planned giving program.

This person will oversee a Development Manager, who is responsible for database management, organizing events and helping in other areas as assigned.

Arts New Orleans’ team currently works remotely but may transition to working a couple day a week in person. The Development Director is required to attend bi-weekly in-person staff meetings at our office located at 1474 N. Broad St. This full-time employee position requires 40 hours per week, including attendance at some evening and weekend events.

Ideal Qualifications

Must embrace the mission of Arts New Orleans
6+ years of experience in development, professional fundraising, grant writing and management
Strong interpersonal and writing skills
Knowledge of and experience in fundraising techniques, particularly major gift fundraising
Possess the skills to work with and motivate staff, board members, and volunteers
Have the desire to build external relationships
Be a self-starter and goal-driven to work with the President and CEO and our board to participate in donor visits and fundraising calls
Be organized and exhibit “follow through” on tasks and goals
Display a positive attitude, show concern for people and community, demonstrate presence, self-confidence, common sense, and good listening ability
History of managing personnel

Responsibilities

Implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure financial support for the organization’s programs, projects, and operations.
Write and manage foundation, corporate, and government grants.
Work closely with the President and CEO, Board of Directors, Deputy Director, the Development Manager, and other staff members to align fundraising efforts with the organization’s overall goals and objectives.
Oversee the Development Manager
Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors and corporate sponsors to expand the organization’s funding base.
Conduct prospect research to identify new funding opportunities and potential donors.
Prepare and submit sponsorship requests to secure funding from corporate sponsors.
Manage and strengthen existing donor relationships through regular communication, acknowledgment, and stewardship activities.
Plan and execute donor cultivation events.
Grow a major gifts program, including identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors.
Lead and continuously the Arts New Orleans membership program, implementing strategic improvements to grow engagement and revenue.
Build our first planned giving program focusing on deferred gifts such as bequest expectancies.
Direct annual fundraising drives, including Give NOLA day, a program of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, and fundraising drives for LUNA Fête as necessary.
Collaborate with the marketing and other team members to develop fundraising materials, campaigns, and promotional strategies.
Oversee the creation of publications to support fundraising activities.
Collaborate with the President & CEO and accountant to create and manage budgets for development activities and ensure accurate tracking and reporting of fundraising goals and results.
Stay informed about trends and best practices related to nonprofit fundraising and development.
Represent the organization at community events, networking functions, and professional conferences to enhance its visibility and reputation.
Working with the Development Manager, maintain the donor database to track donor information, interactions, and giving history.
Acknowledge and recognize donors.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising strategies and initiatives, adjusting as necessary to achieve fundraising goals.
Attend in-person staff meetings, participate in board meetings, and lead all Development Committee meetings in conjunction with the CEO.
Demonstrate professional conduct.
Perform other related duties as requested and serve as an Arts New Orleans team player by assisting with organizational and/or programmatic needs that may fall outside of development responsibilities.

Salary & Benefits

This full-time employee position requires 40 hours per week, including attending some weekday evenings and weekend events. The salary range is $75,000 – $85,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits include: