DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

JOB DESCRIPTION

Does this describe you?

• Do you have a track record of achievement that puts you in the top 5% in everything you do?
• Do you have the ability to persuade others to your point of view?
• Do you connect quickly and easily with others, relating across lines of difference?
• Do you have a strong desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others?
• Do you feel an intense sense of ownership and responsibility over the work in our organization?
• Do you ask tough questions, showing the ability to meet resistance confidently?
• Are you a numbers person with a strong desire to set and meet metric driven goals?
• Do you command attention with your presence and charisma?
• Are you able to provide structure and organization to your time and priorities?

Who We Are:

The Dayton Early College Academy (DECA) is an organization that believes a child’s zip code and household income shouldn’t determine their educational outcome. As an award-winning network of charter schools serving 1,300 students K-12 in Dayton, OH, we are singularly focused on helping young people from Dayton go to and graduate from college. Simply put, it works: our graduates finish college at a rate that is 5 times the national average for students in our demographic. Through the efforts of our dedicated teachers and staff working in tandem with our students and families, our schools have made up the highest performing school system in the city of Dayton for over two decades.

Mission:

We prepare future college graduates today to become the leaders of our community tomorrow.

Job Summary: 

The Director of Development is responsible for advancing the Dayton Early College Academy’s fulfillment of our mission to prepare future college graduates through driving the vision and execution of overall advancement, fundraising, and strategic network building. This position is responsible for devising and implementing the strategy, programs, initiatives, systems, and processes supporting fundraising efforts, donor relations, volunteer support, fundraising events, capital campaigns, and planned giving in support of DECA's continued growth. This position reports to the Superintendent/CEO.

Qualifications:

• BA and 5+ years of relevant professional experience.  Fundraising and/or Development experience is strongly preferred, but consideration may be given to those with a background in Public Relations, Marketing, and/or Non-Profit Management;
• Prior management experience preferred;
• CFRE certification helpful;

Duties/Essential Functions:

Fundraising Strategy

• Develop, implement, and execute the advancement and fundraising strategy in support of DECA’s mission;
• Oversee the administration of fundraising strategy and annual giving to meet financial and participation goals;
• Research, plan, and direct activities for major campaigns;
• Seek out unique grant funding opportunities and direct application activities as necessary;
• Solicit and cultivate major gifts;

Donor Relations

• Manage major donors and donor prospects through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship;
• Oversee the coordination of “friend raising” activities and events;
• Cultivate planned giving interests and opportunities;

Special Events

• Orchestrate annual fundraising and/or appreciation events;
• Identify and drive creation of new fundraising and appreciation events aligned with our annual fund and/or current campaign;

• Administrate the DECA High Student Ambassadors program for campus visits and special events;

Alumni Relations

• Support alumni relations efforts and the development of robust alumni engagement programming;

Team Collaboration

• Oversee all aspects of the Development Department;
• Advise and provide accurate information to the Superintendent to support organizational decision making processes;
• Travel to relevant community venues, as required, in support of DECA curricular activities; 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Proven ability to establish and maintain donor relationships;
• Exceptional judgment, sensitivity, and discretion;
• Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Track record of accomplishment;
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, take initiative, work independently and as part of a team, establish priorities and meet deadlines – while maintaining a sense of humor and positive demeanor;
• Knowledgeable in research, data acquisition and analysis, and successful implementation of strategies currently shaping advancement in an educational setting;
• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Skill utilizing social media and other forms of new media to engage a disparate audience;
• Ability to improvise and work through uncertainties;
• Possesses a deep commitment to DECA’s core values.

Terms of Employment:

• Very competitive salary and top of the market benefits
• Full time (includes 15 days of paid vacation and 13 paid holidays)
• In person, on-site
• Ability to work nights and weekends

Working Environment:

Workplace locations include:

• School, activity center, outdoor play areas;
• Retreat/field sites; and
• Other environments as deemed necessary/appropriate.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of his/her job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and/or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

Additional Working Conditions:

• The noise level in this work environment is quiet to loud depending on the activity and location.
• Working conditions for this job include (1) possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and tissue; and (2) occasional operation of a motor vehicle to transport students.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

The information in this job description is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for the position. Additional duties performed by individuals currently holding the position and additional duties may be assigned.

This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.