At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead fundraising efforts and build relationships with donors to support our mission.
- Company: Join a passionate team at Walking Mountains, dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health insurance, generous PTO, and 401K match.
- Other info: Flexible work environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in philanthropy while growing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in nonprofit fundraising and strong relationship-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 100000 £ per year.
The Director of Development is a senior member of the Walking Mountains Development Team who reports to the President and has several direct reports. The Director manages and deepens relationships across an assigned portfolio of individual donors, family foundations, and major corporate donors and is accountable for achieving fundraising goals across these portfolios, helping to strengthen the organization's overall pipeline of philanthropic support. The Director also qualifies and cultivates existing prospects and identifies and qualifies new prospects; leads the annual giving program; helps develop strategies to expand corporate partnerships; and provides overall leadership for Development-related events, including Walking Mountains' signature gala.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and grow a portfolio of individual, family foundation, and corporate donors and prospects.
- For current donors in the Director of Development's portfolio, use active cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and moves management to deepen engagement, grow philanthropic support, and build the pipeline of future mid-level and major donors.
- Identify and qualify existing and new prospects, partnering with the Vice President of Development on prospect and portfolio strategy, assignments, and next steps.
- Lead the annual giving program, developing strategies and helping shape messaging to retain and upgrade donors, reactivate lapsed supporters, and increase philanthropic support.
- Manage select major corporate donors and prospects, pursuing opportunities to deepen relationships, grow corporate support, and expand the reach of the corporate partnership program.
- Provide overall leadership for Development-related events, including orchestration of A Taste of Nature, Walking Mountains' signature annual gala and its auctions.
- Working closely with the Vice President of Development and with the support of Development staff and other colleagues, the Director provides overall coordination and oversight to help ensure a successful fundraising event and a well-run, positive experience for guests, volunteers, and staff.
- Provide strategic oversight for additional donor cultivation and stewardship events, including EdVentures and the Holiday Open House.
- Manage several direct reports, providing day-to-day oversight and strategic direction in fulfilling the responsibilities of their position.
- Collaborate with all members of the Development Team, including working with the President, Vice President of Development and Senior Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives.
- Create agendas for and run every other week Development Team meetings as well as contribute to four times per year Development Committee agendas and Development Reports to the Board.
- Partner with the Vice President of Development and other colleagues across the organization on fundraising strategy, donor communications, donor and prospect engagement, and other Development priorities requiring cross-department collaboration.
- Assume increasing responsibility over time for departmental budgeting, revenue forecasting, and monitoring financial performance.
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Qualifications
- The ideal candidate is an experienced, relationship-driven fundraiser who enjoys engaging with donors, is comfortable asking for significant gifts, is tenacious and thoughtful in follow-up, and brings strong skills in moves management, prospect development, staff management, event oversight, and fundraising strategy.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible nonprofit development or comparable fundraising experience preferred.
- Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and more deeply engaging donors to increase philanthropic support, including major donors.
- Experience planning and implementing successful annual giving campaigns and utilizing effective moves management strategies and processes to advance donor relationships and fundraising goals.
- Experience managing staff and providing leadership for fundraising initiatives and events.
- A skilled leader with experience motivating teams with effective communication, collaboration, trust, empowerment and respect.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and project-management skills.
- Proficiency with donor database systems and commonly used business technology, including Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, and Sheets) and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
- Strategic, collaborative, self-motivated, and accountable, with enthusiasm for the mission of Walking Mountains.
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse teams and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- A flexible, team-oriented approach and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as donor engagement, events, and other Development priorities require.
Compensation and Benefits:
- Salary 85,000-100,000, depending on qualifications
- Employer-supplemented health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401K Plan with employer match
- 15 days of PTO (starting), 12 paid holidays, and 12 days sick leave
- Flexible Spending Account and Healthcare Savings Account options
- Life insurance and short-term disability insurance
Senior Director of Philanthropy & Donor Partnerships in England employer: Walking Mountains
Walking Mountains provides a collaborative and supportive work environment that encourages professional growth and engagement in impactful philanthropic initiatives. Employees have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and contribute to meaningful projects that strengthen community ties.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director of Philanthropy & Donor Partnerships in England
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Walking Mountains.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Walking Mountains.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Walking Mountains.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Walking Mountains. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director of Philanthropy & Donor Partnerships in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Walking Mountains. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Senior Director of Philanthropy & Donor Partnerships, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Walking Mountains
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Walking Mountains. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
