Senior Development Director

ROME GROUP; Missouri; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Professional development opportunities

Health stipend

Job summary

Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation seeks a Senior Development Director to design and implement our fundraising strategy, grow annual revenue, and build lasting donor relationships. This leader will collaborate with the Executive Director, Board, and volunteers to expand individual gifts, corporate partnerships, and grants.

The role requires a track record in major gifts, events, and nonprofit leadership. Hybrid work from Webster Groves, MO, with some evening/weekend fundraising activities and travel.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive fundraising experience.
• Proven success in donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience leading nonprofit boards/committees to build philanthropy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement MOHF’s comprehensive annual development plan and calendar.
• Cultivate major donors and corporate/foundation partners with the ED and Board.
• Oversee events with a contract planner and manage sponsorship strategies.
• Ensure marketing aligns with fundraising and maintain donor database integrity.
• Represent MOHF at community events and fundraise with high ethical standards.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Board engagement

Event planning collaboration

Communications & stewardship

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

CFRE certification a plus

Tools

CRM database

Event planning tools

Job description

Senior Development Director

Reports To: Executive Director

Hours: Full-time

Supervises: Currently no direct reports, however this position will expand over time and additional fundraising staff may be hired. Contract event planner also works collaboratively with this position.

Our Mission

Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation’s mission is to support families of children diagnosed with congenital heart defects financially, emotionally, and in ways unique to their needs.

Overview of Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation

One in every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect (CHD), making it the most common birth defect in the United States. The Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation (MOHF) exists to be a source of strength, assurance, and hope for families navigating this challenging journey. Founded in 2011, MOHF’s mission is to support families of children diagnosed with congenital heart disease financially, emotionally, and in ways unique to their needs – giving families the freedom to be a family and find hope amidst the chaos.

MOHF’s core program provides direct financial assistance to families whose children are receiving treatment for CHD. By reducing the burden of everyday expenses, we help parents spend less time worrying about bills and more time focused on supporting their child through hospitalization, surgery, and recovery.

Position Overview

This is an exciting time at MOHF as we just celebrated 15 years! Reporting to the Executive Director, this newly created Senior Development Director role will serve as our expert fundraising professional and is responsible for designing and implementing all aspects of our comprehensive fundraising strategy in order to grow our annual fund so we can help more families. The Senior Development Director will build meaningful relationships with donors, corporations, foundations, and community partners while helping to implement our 10-Year Impact Statement. This key individual will work closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and volunteers to strengthen a culture of philanthropy and grow sustainable revenue to support our mission.

This position will be responsible for raising $1,000,000+ a year, with a special focus on closing individual gifts beyond events and sponsorships. The Senior Development Director will also attend the Finance Committee meetings, as requested, to ensure alignment between finances, budgets, and fundraising and ensure goals are being met each year.

We are seeking an individual with a high EQ who is dedicated to working within a collaborative culture. The Senior Development Director is a key hire for MOHF and we are looking for a “builder” who is excited about growing our fundraising program to help more CHD kids and families.

Core Responsibilities

The following are core responsibilities associated with this new Senior Development Director position.

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan and fundraising calendar aligned with MOHF’s strategic and financial goals. Current strategies include individual/major giving, digital/online fundraising, direct mail, corporate partnerships, grants, special events (Oakes Outing Golf Tournament, Uniti Golf, and A Mighty Night Gala), a monthly giving program, and tribute/bequest initiatives.
• Create and lead fundraising initiatives to expand individual, corporate, and foundation support.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors in collaboration with the Executive Director and Board leadership.
• Ensure grant/foundation goals are being met, and cultivation/stewardship is occurring in a timely manner.
• The Senior Development Director will oversee, plan, and implement all events, working alongside a contract event planner. Responsible for overall event sponsorship strategy and securing both cash and in-kind support.
• Ensure marketing/communications are dovetailed with fundraising initiatives.
• Maintain donor database integrity and fundraising analytics.
• Ensure adherence to ethical fundraising standards and donor confidentiality.
• Represent MOHF at community events and partner meetings, as requested.

Board Development and the Development Committee

• Support and educate the Board in their fundraising roles; attend all Board meetings.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Development Committee.
• Assist Board members in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding prospective donors and support their community outreach.
• Provide fundraising education, tools, and coaching to Board members.
• Assist with Board and Development Committee recruitment.

Qualifications and Preferred Attributes

• Passion for the mission of Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated success securing donations and gifts.
• Excellent relationship-building skills.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
• Strong project/organizational management skills, as well as the ability to handle multiple and varying tasks. Self-starter with the ability to set fundraising goals, priorities, timelines.
• We are looking for a collaborative leader who works effectively with our team in a collaborative environment.
• Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors and committees is important.
• Results-oriented and organized; meets, and exceeds, fundraising goals and is comfortable working in an environment of high accountability and creativity. Organized with attention to detail and a quick learner.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and adaptive; embraces innovation, flexibility, and is energized by continuous learning in a changing philanthropic landscape.
• Knowledge of the local philanthropic landscape is helpful.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and/or donor meetings. There is at least one work trip each year for a golf tournament in Florida.
• Working knowledge of non-profit fiscal management and budgets.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in a fast-paced, self-driven role.
• CFRE a plus.

Experience

• 7+ years of progressive experience in fundraising, with demonstrated success in donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Demonstrated success managing and growing donor portfolios in the five-figure plus range.
• Experience leading and educating nonprofit Boards and committees to build a culture of philanthropy.

Compensation and Benefits

• The base salary range is $90,000-$100,000 and will be commensurate with the candidate’s background and experience.
• An annual performance bonus based on mutually agreed-upon, pre-established goals related to the Senior Development Director’s responsibilities.
• Four weeks of paid vacation.
• Twelve paid holidays each year.
• Additional time off is accrued for vacation and sick time.
• Our team works in a hybrid, flexible environment. The office is in downtown Webster Groves and work from home is acceptable 2-3 days a week.
• Professional development opportunities, including paid dues (i.e., AFP).
• Monthly heath stipend will be provided.

Since 2011, Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation has helped thousands of families navigate the financial and emotional challenges of congenital heart disease. Our team is small, collaborative, mission-driven, and passionate about making a measurable difference in the lives of heart families. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of a growing nonprofit organization with ambitious strategic goals and a strong reputation throughout the pediatric heart community. Together, let’s choose to be MIGHTY!

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested candidates can send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Eric Lowenstein, Executive Director: [e-mail]. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential. Please note Senior Development Director in the subject line. No calls please.

Note to Interested Candidates: We encourage you to apply even if you do not feel that you meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If this job excites you and aligns with your career aspirations, we strongly encourage you to apply. We will train and support the right candidate in this fundraising role so they can grow as MOHF grows.

We celebrate diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status.