WHAT IS A DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ?
The Development Director plays a crucial role in our organization, focusing on developing and managing funder relationships in collaboration with top management. This position is vital for strategically diversifying and augmenting the resources available to our newsroom and the community we serve. With significant autonomy, the Director seeks alternative funding sources that align with and enhance our mission, devising strategic plans to efficiently and economically secure essential funds. A principal duty involves building a pipeline for such funding sources, establishing and nurturing relationships with major donors, corporations, and other entities, while internally collaborating with newsroom leaders to honor commitments to funders.
Need-to-Know Overview of a Development Director
1. Development Director Roles and Duties
- Identify, pursue, cultivate, and enhance relationships with foundations and major donors, and organizations in support of funding needs
- Create a multi-year strategic plan to build a stable and sustainable source of funding from above noted donors, organizations, and foundations
- Create a plan to establish the organization as a social enterprise in the communities that we serve
- Meets or exceeds budget targets by effectively managing against objectives using metrics
- Serves as a key member of leadership team to ensure philanthropic relationships are in in sync with our overall mission and objectives
- Evangelize the journalism initiatives work to the community and to the news industry
- Develops and implements business plans and budgets to achieve business objectives towards fundraising.
- Directs staff to implement company plans. Monitors and reports on results.
- Stays abreast of industry best practices and anticipates needs.
- Constantly evaluates and improves processes and leads change as needed.
- Execute the strategy, management and follow-through of philanthropic funding goals.
- Oversee the research, preparation, submission, and follow-up of various grants such as industry, foundation, and government.
- Collaborate at the highest levels of the company including James M Cox Foundation leaders to create and cultivate relationship based on mutual trust and interest.
- Meet operational goals, and production/quality KPIs which are tied to short and long-term goals of the company.
- Works closely newsroom as well as other departments as needed to deliver on the promise made to funders.
- Works with Finance to develop and manage budgets, manage financial results to meet or exceed budget objectives while maintaining or exceeding funders expectations
- Establishes and maintains effective communications and working relationships with internal personnel and outside contacts to ensure a productive and constructive work environment.
- Supports and shares in company goals, objectives, and practices.
- Assists in the accomplishment of departmental and company objectives by performing other related tasks as assigned.
2. Development Director Experience and Capabilities
- 5+ years of donor and grant solicitation, marketing, business development or fundraising experience in an organization involving a significant number of people with diverse and varied interests and backgrounds
- Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to relate well to, and understand the needs and interests of donors, prospects, volunteers and other key audiences and the ability to translate this into effective fundraising.
- Ability to promote the organization’s fundraising and strategic priorities by developing excellent working relations with senior leadership and development staff.
- Must have solid relationship-building skills, able to interface with donors and prospects. Problem-solving, research and analytical skills.
- Senior management experience with demonstrated success in teamwork and coaching others (preferred), leadership, and developing and implementing innovative concepts
- Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically by obtaining information, identifying key issues and relationships relevant to achieving a long-range goal or vision; planning and committing to a course of action to accomplish the vision.
- Successful track record of growth in resource development, continually meeting or exceeding development goals.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and manage projects.
- Ability to successfully collaborate at all levels.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain stable performance under pressure or opposition; handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.
- Ability to take risks, to initiate action that tries to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage when potential negative consequences are understood.
- Demonstrated ability to read, write, listen, and talk clearly, effectively and concisely with customers, employees, supervisors, managers and co-workers.
- Demonstrated ability to build trust by operating with integrity, remaining open to ideas, and supports others even in the face of resistance or challenge.
- Ability to analyze financial information, create and track budgets.
- Proficient in MS Office
- Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record and proof of insurance
- Ability to work in a matrixed environment, while managing employees in multiple locations.
- Ability to negotiate: to effectively explore alternatives and positions to reach outcomes that gains the support and acceptance of all parties.
- Proven ability to negotiate and manage contracts
- Ability to manage conflict: to deal effectively with others using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people.
- Demonstrated ability to facilitate change through encouraging others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
- Demonstrated mathematical skills to determine maximum utilization of resources.