Director of Development

Summary:

We are looking for a candidate who believes strongly in Habitat's mission, vision and guiding principles. The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator and collaborator, willing to jump in and help others generate creative ideas and solutions. Successful applicants will be committed to learning about Habitat and the neighborhoods we serve. We are looking for someone who can navigate easily between digital and offline communications channels, who is organized and able to prioritize competing tasks to achieve our organizational goals.

This position is currently our only fundraising position, which means that the Director of Development will be responsible for both high-level planning and administering daily and weekly fundraising tasks. The Director will report to and work closely with Habitat's Executive Director, who actively participates in our fundraising and communications initiatives.

As Habitat's lead fundraiser, this position must also contribute, integrate, and hold themselves accountable to community-centric fundraising principles and our values of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Traditional fundraising experience is not necessarily required. We view this role as a primary connector between Habitat's network of supporters - donors, volunteers, newsletter subscribers, partners - and the organization. You will join a small but efficient administrative team of colleagues that supports each other and collaborates frequently. We are the largest affordable homebuilder in the region and one of the top producing Habitat affiliates in New York State - but we're also still a bit scrappy. We are continuously refining our systems and processes, and will actively seek your input on how we can improve and grow our organization.

Primary responsibilities

• Fundraising - Individual Giving & Team Build Program (50%)

Individual Giving

• Manage and grow the Carpenter's Club, Habitat's monthly giving program. Identify strategies to increase monthly giving, retain and recognize current monthly donors.
• Identify new ways to engage individual supporters to become advocates for Habitat's mission and financial donors.
• Coordinate Habitat's direct mail program, including the writing of solicitation letters, preparation of targeted mailing lists from Habitat's database and coordination with third-party design firms and vendors. We typically send 2 - 3 direct mail appeals a year.

Team Build Program

• Lead the implementation of our Team Build program for businesses, schools, houses of worship and other groups. Responsibilities include recruiting new Team Build participants, scheduling their volunteer day with the construction department, sending logistical information to participants, processing and acknowledging their Team Build sponsorship and performing day-of hosting responsibilities.

General fundraising responsibilities

• Manage donation processing, database maintenance and internal donation reporting.
• Implement a meaningful donor recognition program through thank you letters, newsletters, events, and permanent recognition (naming opportunities, gift clubs, etc)
• Assist finance staff in annual budgeting and financial modeling of program growth and budgetary impacts.

Grants Management - Private and Public (25%)

• Oversee public and private grants, serving as primary reporting and compliance liaison between grantors and affiliate.
• Manage calendar of funding proposal and grant submission deadlines. Maintain detailed records of proposal submission, stewardship, and reporting activities.
• Identify potential new corporate, foundation and government funders.
• Coordinate compliance requirements for various grants and funding contracts. Develop and maintain overall compliance strategy and specific checklists for funding contracts; educate and inform program staff on relevant compliance requirements.
• Prepare, review and approve necessary reports and reimbursement requests of activities for grants.

Communications & marketing (25%)

• Write content for print and electronic communications including Habitat's email newsletters, donor communications, solicitation letters and media outreach.
• Manage and update web content using Squarespace platform, including writing regular blog posts that highlight Habitat's impact.
• Prepare simple marketing and solicitation materials using approved templates and established brand guidelines. When necessary, manage relationships with third-party design firms, printers and vendors for production of materials.
• Assist in creating and posting engaging content to Habitat's social media channels on a regular basis and manage social media interaction, in collaboration with other staff members. Please note that while social media is a component of our communication strategy, we prioritize other forms of digital communication (newsletter, website) over algorithm-based platforms.
• Coordinate with the executive director to implement a public relations strategy, including preparing and distributing press releases, maintaining a current media contact list and coordinating press events. Monitor media coverage, maintain press archive and develop strategies to leverage positive media stories.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and writing skills: ability to articulate Habitat's mission, goals, and opportunities persuasively to various audiences.
• Strong strategic, analytical and project management skills: demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for a diverse number of projects and to manage and complete them in a timely manner with attention to detail.
• Exemplary interpersonal skills: ability to collaborate effectively and increase inclusiveness within the Habitat community.
• Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office Suite and familiar with internet applications, including best practices for the effective and appropriate use of social media. Experience with Squarespace website management platform and fundraising CRM databases a plus, but not required.

Compensation and additional information
Full-time, exempt salaried position, with occasional evenings and weekends as needed. We value work-life balance, and are committed to maintaining a flexible, supportive work environment and schedule, supported by generous PTO and benefits.

Compensation: $60,000 annual salary. In order to counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, the starting salary is non-negotiable.

Our hiring process and timeline
Applications must be submitted through our job board, which can be found at . Under "Additional Information", please describe any prior experience with Habitat for Humanity and tell us why you are passionate about working toward Habitat's mission. Help us get to know you - share any information you think is relevant for us to know.

We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. If you are invited for an interview, you will meet with our Executive Director and our Director of Operations.

ONLY CANDIDATES WHO FOLLOW APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE.