Senior Director of Development

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Development, the Senior Director of Development is responsible for the strategic identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual prospects with capacity at the $50,000+ level. The position will manage a portfolio of prospects and work collaboratively across the organization to build on WABE’s fundraising success. They will manage the Cornerstone Society Coordinator.   

Work Performed 

• Identify, cultivate and solicit major gift prospects in all phases of the fundraising cycles, with a focus on those with the potential capacity to make gifts of $50,000 and above.  
• Develop and manage a portfolio of prospects and maintain active efforts to evaluate prospects identified through fieldwork, screening and research.   
• Develop, execute and lead strategies for involvement, cultivation and solicitation of single and multi-interest donors, including appropriate referrals to and/or joint work with colleagues and board members.    
• Clear and efficient use of language skills to learn qualification information and invite prospects into collaborative discussions. Manage a disciplined approach to confirming details of a proposal verbally with prospects by asking clarifying questions. Ensure that the giving conversation is grounded in the measurable and emotional impacts a gift/donor can have on a priority.   
• Strategically utilize resources for cultivation and solicitation. Collaborate with higher level WABE staff and effectively leverage other donor stories to illustrate the ways in which others partner with WABE.   

• Demonstrate decisiveness and sound judgment to predict how a decision will affect individuals and groups in the organization and develop strategies to build support for the decision.  
• Develop thoughtful stewardship plans for key donors; initiatives involve high level impact reports, dedications and special events. Maintain a focus on re-qualifying donors when they move from stewardship back into the donor engagement process.   
• Assist with planning and/or directing cultivational events or programs.   
• Direct research requests to provide information on prospective and current prospects.   
• Serve as a mentor for other members of the development team, including leading and participating in training sessions.   

• Assist in campaign planning and execution.   
• Assist in supporting the Development Committee of the WABE board.   
• Manage and mentor the Development Coordinator, fostering a collaborative relationship.   
• Maintain a robust knowledge of organization-wide funding priorities, and a general knowledge of program funding priorities. Assist leadership in the recognition and prioritization of institutional and departmental funding needs; keep abreast of organizational priorities, programs, personalities and events. Volunteer and Relationship Management   
• Identify staff and train individual volunteers and volunteer committees, encouraging their placement on WABE boards or other activities, involving WABE representatives as appropriate. Suggest changes to strengthen membership of existing volunteer boards or organizations.   

• Facilitates collaboration among various functional or stakeholder groups.   
• Maintain active communication with development officers throughout WABE to coordinate prospect activity and to make and “take” referrals.   
• Sophisticated understanding of the organization and effectively communicate the greatest needs, top priorities and practices. Independently manage relationships with key staff, leadership and board members. Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.   

Required Competencies:    

Necessary Experience and Requirements 

• Collaborating with others: Ability to work collaboratively, formally and informally within one’s team and across the organization.   
• Goal & Task Management: Prioritize and coordinate tasks with attention to deadlines, concurrent management of projects and ability to create and follow a set strategy for short and long-term goals and objectives.   
• Curiosity & Information Seeking: Expresses an underlying curiosity in people and an ability to go beyond questions that are routine to gain an understanding of the prospect’s capacity, affinity and inclination.   
• Decisiveness & Judgment: Uses sound judgment to make appropriate, timely decisions in complex situations for which there are no set procedures.   

• Ability to influence: Ability to move or persuade others to act in a desired way. Uses indirect influence.   
• Flexibility: The ability to adapt to and work effectively with a variety of situations, and with various individuals. Adapts strategies appropriately.   
• Dealing with Ambiguity: Makes decisions and takes action with limited information. Anticipates impact of change and directs self and others in smoothly shifting gears.   
• Expressing ideas orally and in writing: Ability to effectively and persuasively communicate ideas, thoughts, and facts orally and in writing.   
• Listening: Is an “active listener”. Establishes rapport with and is receptive to speaker. Picks up on underlying messages; “hears between the lines”.  

• Managing Others: Ability to effectively manage, coach, and lead others.  
• Organizational Awareness: Ability to learn and understand organizational relationships and dynamics. Uses networks, alliances and individuals to achieve objectives.   
• Leadership: Ability to effectively manage and guide group efforts. Takes an active role in developing motivational strategies. Preferred   

Qualifications: 

• Five to ten years fundraising experience, preferably in major gifts for an academic environment or public radio.  
• Must be willing to travel.  
• Ability to understand the needs and interests of leadership and prospects and align those with WABE priorities.  
• Interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting WABE’s fundraising priorities.  
• Demonstrates a high probability of gift closure.  

• Strong collaborative abilities and enthusiasm for working in teams. Significant experience staffing major gift volunteers; campaign volunteer management preferred.  
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple, complex fundraising activities simultaneously.  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; demonstrate active listening. High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation.  
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality with respect to prospects and donors.    

Work Environment & Physical Demands: The physical demands and work environment 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. Individuals may need to sit or stand as needed. May require walking primarily on a level surface for periodic periods during the day. Reaching above shoulder height, below the waist or lifting as required (up to 10 lbs.), filing documents or store materials throughout the workday. Proper lifting techniques required. For the most part ambient room temperatures, lighting and traditional office equipment as found in a typical office environment. Candidates must be willing to work in a hybrid environment but provide their own transportation to the station. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to support departmental events or during high-volume periods (membership campaigns).