Director of Development and Stewardship

Summary

Join the Emmett Till Interpretive Center (ETIC) as their Director of Development & Stewardship! This role is crucial in building and growing the development function at ETIC, driving fundraising campaigns, events, and donor relations. You will work closely with the senior team and Board to identify potential donors, maintain donor databases, and prepare grant applications and reports. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an organization with a strong fundraising track record and a commitment to enhancing its development approaches. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day execution of development strategies and will collaborate with various team members. This is a remote position with occasional travel to Sumner, Mississippi, and offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of related and progressively responsible experience, with at least 3 years in fundraising and development
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines and complete assignments with minimal supervision in a fast-paced workplace
• Impeccable organization; you are highly detail-oriented and someone who gets a real sense of satisfaction from producing polished work and managing smooth and orderly processes
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion. You're always asking: "whose voice is not at the table?" You have experience working with diverse teams and successfully navigating cross-cultural communication in both local and remote contexts, and you deeply value creating a workplace that is supportive of difference

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and Manage Donor Relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with funders, major donors, and prospective donors. Support the Executive Director, Chief Program Officer, and Board members in their donor engagement efforts
• Expand Funding Opportunities: Lead initiatives to establish and nurture new partnerships with foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other organizations, both locally and nationally
• Foster a Culture of Philanthropy: Promote an entrepreneurial and philanthropic mindset among staff and the Board of Directors
• Enhance Organizational Visibility: Create and manage strategic partnerships, programs, and initiatives to elevate ETIC's profile within the community, locally, and nationally
• Support Fundraising Events: Assist in the planning and execution of fundraising events, managing logistics, invitations, and on-site activities, in collaboration with the Board and event planners
• Identify and Qualify Prospects: Conduct proactive research to identify and qualify potential major gift, grant, and other funding prospects
• Develop and Submit Grant Proposals: Prepare and submit compelling grant proposals and reports to foundations, corporations, and other funding sources
• Implement Fundraising Strategies: Execute long-term fundraising strategies, encompassing all potential revenue streams, including grant writing, campaigns, corporate and individual donations, and events
• Maintain Accurate Donor Records: Maintain precise records of current and potential donors, diligently track donations, and ensure prompt acknowledgment of all contributions. ETIC currently uses Bloomerang as its donor database
• Track and Maintain Donor and Prospect Information: Track and maintain detailed donor and prospect records, including outreach activities, interests, and contribution history
• Generate Fundraising Reports: Create and distribute regular fundraising reports, providing the ED and Board with up-to-date information on the organization's fundraising performance

Preferred Qualifications

• An Effective & Excellent Writer. You write well and take pride in your ability to do so, especially when communicating an idea, topic, or vision that you are passionate about
• A Convener. You recognize that a well-prepared and supported community can achieve far more than a single, highly talented individual
• A Relationship Builder. You thrive on meeting new people and like to foster relationships. You like learning what motivates people, what inspires their giving, and what makes them feel appreciated
• Meticulous. You’re highly organized, with an eye for detail and excellent proofreading skills
• Resourceful and Adaptable. You’re at ease with ambiguity and rapid change. You possess a positive attitude and identify creative solutions to obstacles. You can juggle many important responsibilities at once and are rigorous about prioritizing
• Self-motivated. You proactively take the initiative, identifying problems and opportunities across your portfolio, developing recommendations, and taking action on those recommendations

Benefits

• Employer-covered medical insurance, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• A 401k plan with employer contributions
• 15 PTO days each calendar year (combined sick and personal time)
• The hiring range for this position is an annual salary of $92,000-$100,000. The final salary within this range will be determined based on relevant experience
• This is a remote position, but the candidate will be expected in Sumner quite often (on average, once a month) and, therefore, should live within a decent driving distance. Memphis and Jackson would be great, though cities further away, Birmingham, New Orleans, Nashville, and even Atlanta would suffice. If you have roots and/or existing connections to the Mississippi Delta, we would be willing to support you with relocation expenses