Are you driven by the opportunity to guide change, lead a team, and foster donor relationships? Do you have comfort soliciting donations and know how to push your team to achieve while keeping them inspired? Are freedom, independence, and influence key factors to your best work life? Are you driven when there are goals to attain vs tasks to be completed?

We are seeking a dynamic Director of Development to join our leadership team and lead the fundraising efforts of the organization through a time of significant growth and expansion. Following a visionary strategic plan, our team will be working to provide transformational resources to ensure that all students reach their full potential. The right candidate must be value-driven, mission-focused, energetic, positive, and embrace a growth mindset.

REQUIREMENTS:

A. Education Level: Bachelors degree or equivalent experience.

B. Experience Desired: Five or more years of experience in planed giving, annual and major gift fundraising, including demonstrated success in increasing charitable contributions to a non-profit organization. Skilled in team building and management. Experience with Raisers Edge Software or other donor database product. Marketing or communications experience preferred, grant writing experience a plus. Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office products, email, and internet skills.Excellent verbal and written communication skills, proficiency in working with technology and data for fundraising success and demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and solicit gifts with potential and existing donors. Regular, dependable attendance is an essential function of this position. CFRE, CFRM, or CEFL preferred.

REPORTS TO: President

RECEIVES GUIDANCE FROM: Foundation Directors and the Foundation Board

SUPERVISES: A growing team of development professionals plus interns and volunteers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

NOTE: This is a generalized job description. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary.

Leadership Management and Accountability

• Provides leadership for the Development department of the organization; builds a cohesive team and leads all strategies for annual increases in organizational fundraising.
• Supervises and guides a cohesive development team of professionals to meet goals through performance accountability, professional development, and individual coaching.
• Assist in the implementation of a professional fund development program by using data, current best practices, and tools.
• Sits on the leadership team and supports the continued growth and strength of the organization. Helps create a positive, productive, value-driven, fun working environment.
• Coordinates staff and volunteers to provide quality service to donors.

Fundraising

• Builds relationships with donors and prospective donors in support of Lincoln Public Schools projects and priorities.
• Leads major gift and capital campaign fundraising projects as assigned; partners with the president and volunteers with LPS priority fundraising campaigns.
• Stewards and cultivates a portfolio of major gift donors across the development team with activities including face-to-face cultivation and gift solicitation.
• Meets or exceeds fundraising goals set in operating, annual, major, corporate, foundation, and capital campaign giving activities.
• Develops and manages the implementation of the annual fundraising revenue and expense budget of the organization.
• Designs and implements board giving, LPS staff giving, and other targeted fundraising campaigns.
• Prepares the president for donor cultivation activities as appropriate.
• Supports and guides the Fund Development Committee and special campaign committees of the board, as assigned.
• Collaborates with grant writing contractors to identify and prepare proposals to private and corporate foundations. Follows up on reports and stewardship requirements.
• Supports marketing to create philanthropy-focused content for all media platforms.

Strategy

• In partnership with the president, develops and implements the overall fundraising strategy including annual and major giving strategies.
• Leads cultivation and gift solicitation strategy efforts.

Management and Accountability

• Collaborates with the development and marketing teams to plan and manage special events, overseeing all fundraising events.
• Tracks and reports fundraising progress to the president and board monthly.
• Through regular contact, works collaboratively with team members to steward donors charitable intent and use of funds.
• Maintains procedures for position and other development team processes.

Community Relations

• Participates in community activities that relate to public education.
• Represents the Foundation at community meetings and projects.
• Volunteers 8 hours/year in the LPS system.
• Other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential. Sedentary, sitting, walking, occasional lifting (overhead, waist level) from the floor, bending, frequent near vision use for reading and computer use. Vary rare evening and weekend work is required. Hours can be flexible/remote with approval from the organization president.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• We use the Culture Index Assessment to better understand the unique characteristics and work preferences of all our applicants. Please use the following link to take the assessment.

If you have any questions about the assessment, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly at angelina.cunning@lps.org.
Link: https://go.cultureindex.com/p/qOJ552ZYbCYW5AUF

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Lincoln, NE 68510