Job Opening: Development Director – New York

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Job Summary

The Development Director assists the Area Development Director (ADD) in the implementation of action plans developed with the national office; reaches fundraising targets to support the thirty-seven (37) UNCF member institutions and serves as an ambassador for UNCF, by engaging donors and leveraging relationships to meet revenue goals. The Development Director submits solicitations and conducts other fundraising activities to maintain a high level of public awareness, regarding the importance of philanthropic donations, to support and further the mission of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assist the ADD in securing new sources of revenue from events, grants, major gifts, individuals, local community partners, foundations, corporations and other campaigns. A significant proportion of donations raised must be unrestricted funds.
  • Assist the ADD in execution of fundraising strategy, including taking the lead on some campaigns and designing new ones.
  • Maintain timely and consistent contact with current and potential donors in order to establish, sustain and enhance repeated and upgraded gifts.
  • Develop and submit proposals and design and implement special fund-raising events.
  • Establish guidelines and implementation procedures for special events.
  • Write fundraising correspondence, letters of acknowledgment and appeals and maintain a regular schedule of in-person visits with foundations, donors and board members.
  • Assist in identifying, recruiting and training volunteers, campaign leaders, Advisory Board members and other needed resources who are representatives of all segments of a given community.
  • Assist with the planning and implementation of campaign committee meetings and the development of the campaign calendar.
  • Establish and manage relations with volunteers, conducting initial orientation, outlining goals and objectives for each committee.
  • Train and monitor the progress of all volunteer activities, maintaining constant communication, written and oral, on a weekly basis leading to fundraising events.
  • Compile and maintain a volunteer bank consisting of active and new volunteers.
  • Cultivate volunteers and stimulate their involvement by continuous contact throughout the year.
  • Assist and distribute campaign materials and develop communication and promotional programs in support of local fundraising efforts.
  • Maintain current and accurate files on all donors.
  • Manage and review monthly reports to include major donors and prospects, office visitations, recaps of meetings, projections and missing gifts.
  • Generate queries, reports, exports and other collection data as needed.
  • Assist in managing the area office to ensure compliance with organization policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
  • Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May directly supervise an administrative assistant. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

  • Analytical – Synthesizes complex or diverse information.
  • Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.
  • Project Management – Develops project plans.
  • Technical Skills – Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills.
  • Interpersonal Skills – Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Listens to others without interrupting; Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things.
  • Oral Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
  • Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Able to read and interpret written information.
  • Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
  • Change Management – Builds commitment and overcomes resistance.
  • Leadership – Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Accepts feedback from others.
  • Quality Management – Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
  • Strategic Thinking – Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization’s strengths & weaknesses; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
  • Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
  • Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
  • Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
  • Quantity – Completes work in timely manner; Works quickly.
  • Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
  • Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
  • Dependability – Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
  • Initiative – Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
  • Innovation – Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others’ attention.

Qualifications and Skills

  • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • A Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university and at least 5-7 years experience in fund-raising, marketing or public relations.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Other Skills and Abilities

  • Ability to conduct major fund raising activities, including capital campaigns and annual giving drives; ability to think critically and communicate clearly; excellent organizational skills; outstanding human relations and managerial aptitude; demonstrated initiative and ability to work and meet deadlines with minimal supervision; exceptional responsiveness and a capability to thrive in a fast paced environment.
  • Ability to travel locally and nationally.
  • Language Skills – Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
  • Mathematical Skills  – Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
  • Reasoning Ability  – Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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About UNCF

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, has been an engine of minority educational achievement for more than 75 years. UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of black students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates. UNCF is committed to closing the educational attainment gap between African Americans and other populations by increasing postsecondary access and success for students from underrepresented groups, particularly low-income and first-generation students.