At least 5 years of progressive fundraising and development experience, including a proven track record of securing significant gifts across multiple fundraising channels.
A mature Christian faith, described as being in the midst of a mature walk with Jesus Christ.
Demonstrated experience leading and managing a comprehensive development program and a high-performing team.
Strong understanding of philanthropic principles, donor cultivation and stewardship practices, and fundraising best practices.
Proven ability to develop and implement successful fundraising strategies and achieve ambitious goals.
Strong written and oral communication skills to articulate the organization's mission and impact persuasively.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills for engaging donors, board members, volunteers, and staff.
Proficiency with donor database software and other fundraising technology.
Strong organizational and project management skills, including managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
Understanding of and commitment to the Buffalo City Mission's mission and values.
Responsibilities
Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the organization's strategic plan and financial goals.
Represent the Buffalo City Mission externally and build and nurture relationships with donors, partners, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
Establish annual and long-term fundraising goals and metrics, track progress, and provide regular reports to the CEO and Board of Directors.
Monitor philanthropy and fundraising trends and best practices and incorporate innovative approaches into development efforts.
Develop and manage the Development department budget and ensure efficient and effective resource allocation.
Represent the organization at external events, conferences, and meetings to raise awareness and cultivate potential donors and partners.
Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with high-capacity individual donors to secure significant major gifts.
Develop and implement strategies to grow and sustain individual giving through annual appeals, online giving, and other initiatives.
Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate partnerships to secure sponsorships, grants, and in-kind donations.
Provide strategic direction and oversight for fundraising events to ensure they are planned and executed effectively and achieve fundraising goals.
Implement and manage donor-retention strategies to strengthen relationships with existing donors, maximize loyalty, and increase lifetime giving.
Develop and implement a planned-giving program to encourage and secure legacy gifts.
Provide strategic leadership and direction to Volunteer Services and align it with organizational needs and development efforts.
Collaborate with the Volunteer Services Manager to develop and implement volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement strategies.
Foster appreciation and recognition of volunteers.
Explore opportunities to integrate volunteer engagement into fundraising initiatives.
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and mentor the Development team and foster a collaborative, results-oriented work environment.
Set performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance evaluations for direct reports.
Promote effective communication and collaboration within the Development team and across organizational departments.
Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate financial reporting and donation reconciliation.
Desired Qualifications
A master's degree is preferred.
Description
Sr. Director of Development
Buffalo, NY
$70,000.00-$75,000.00 per year
Buffalo City Mission is seeking a Sr. Director of Development. This position is full-time, working across our Buffalo, NY locations.
Serve with Purpose:
Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are more than a workplace. We are a community united by faith, compassion, and a shared commitment to changing lives. At Buffalo City Mission, we believe everyone deserves a second chance. Every day, we witness lives transformed through the power of grace, love, and hope. Our mission is to serve men, women, and families facing barriers to stability. Offering not just shelter and support, but the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
Why Buffalo City Mission:
We are proud to offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical coverage with a single-high premium paid in full by the employer, a Health Savings Account (HSA), vision coverage, employer-paid life insurance, and supplemental insurance options. Beyond compensation and benefits, we cultivate a workplace where faith inspires action, service is a calling, and every team member plays a role in restoring hope.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & External Representation:
Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the organization's strategic plan and financial goals.
Serve as a key external representative and spokesperson for The Buffalo City Mission building and nurturing relationships with donors, partners, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
Establish annual and long-term fundraising goals and metrics, track progress and provide regular reports to the CEO and Board of Directors.
Stay abreast of current trends and best practices in philanthropy and fundraising, incorporating innovative approaches into the organization's development efforts.
Develop and manage the Development department budget, ensuring efficient and effective resource allocation.
Represent the organization at external events, conferences, and meetings to raise awareness and cultivate potential donors and partners.
Fundraising & Donor Relations:
Major Gifts: Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with high-capacity individual donors to secure significant major gifts.
Individual Giving: Develop and implement strategies to grow and sustain a robust base of individual donors through annual appeals, online giving, and other initiatives.
Corporate Partnerships: Identify, cultivate, and solicit partnerships with corporations to secure sponsorships, grants, and in-kind donations.
Events: Provide strategic direction and oversight for fundraising events, ensuring they are well-planned, executed, and achieve fundraising goals.
Donor Retention: Implement and manage strategies to cultivate strong relationships with existing donors, maximizing donor loyalty and increasing lifetime giving.
Estate Planning: Develop and implement a planned giving program to encourage and secure legacy gifts.
Volunteer Services Oversight:
Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Volunteer Services department, ensuring alignment with organizational needs and development efforts.
Collaborate with the Volunteer Services Manager to develop and implement effective volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement strategies.
Foster a culture of appreciation and recognition for volunteers.
Explore opportunities to integrate volunteer engagement into fundraising initiatives.
Team Management & Collaboration:
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and mentor a high-performing Development team, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented work environment.
Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance evaluations for direct reports.
Promote effective communication and collaboration within the Development team and across other organizational departments.
Collaborate with the Finance department to ensure accurate financial reporting and reconciliation of donations.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in fundraising and development, with a proven track record of success in securing significant gifts across multiple fundraising channels.
In the midst of a mature walk with Jesus Christ
Demonstrated experience in leading and managing a comprehensive development program and a high-performing team.
Strong understanding of philanthropic principles, donor cultivation and stewardship practices, and fundraising best practices.
Proven ability to develop and implement successful fundraising strategies and achieve ambitious goals.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate the organization's mission and impact persuasively.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively engage with donors, board members, volunteers, and staff.
Proficiency in using donor database software and other fundraising technology.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Understanding of and commitment to the mission and values of The Buffalo City Mission
Job postings are not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. The employee may be asked to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically stated in this description.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone has the chance to thrive.