The Director of Development is responsible for leading Buffalo Seminary's development program, and for maintaining active and productive relationships with board members, donors and all members of the SEM community.The Director of Development reports to the Head of School, is a member of Buffalo Seminary's administrative team, and manages a current staff of 3 - 5 people.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree. Master's degree preferred.
- A minimum of 5 years fundraising experience in a leadership capacity, preferably with an educational institution.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience with an ability to work as both team leader and team member.
- Experience leading Annual Fund, Endowment and/or Capital Campaigns
- Experience handling a portfolio of major donor assignments - for qualification, cultivation and solicitation.
- Maintains an active community presence in WNY area.
- Regarding board, volunteer and donor relations, understands the value of relationship-building and maintaining productive working relationships.
- Familiar with Donor-centric fundraising thought/programs.
- Knowledge and experience with fundraising software.
- Experience with Microsoft Suite, DonorPerfect, and Constant Contact. Knowledgeable about other research tools and social media.
- Understands donor analytics.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills.
- Knowledge of planned giving, foundation and corporate grant writing.
- Familiarity with fundraising events.
Responsibilities:
- Reports regularly to Head of School.
- Oversight, active involvement, and responsibility for SEM's fundraising program including major donor recognition groups, Annual Giving, Endowment and Capital Campaign programs.
- Works closely with Head of School on all fundraising initiatives.Develops strategies to initiate and meet aggressive fundraising targets.
- Reports several times each year to the Development Committee, providing all requested information, reports and updates.
- Works with Finance Committee to develop annual fundraising targets, as well as division goals.
- With Development staff members, models and encourages integrity, proactive thinking, responsiveness, timeliness, attention to detail and other key skills.
- With Annual Fund Director,
- Sets messaging, tone and yearly calendar of activities, mailings and reports
- Identifies volunteers at all levels of the organization, including Parents, Founders solicitors, etc.
- Develops and schedules activities for the Founders' Society, SEM's major giving club.
- With Records Manager, oversees all aspects of database use and record-keeping, including all gift processing activities.
- Coordinates Development Research activities.Oversees creation of grants and foundation applications.
- Plans and implements major donor cultivation and solicitation goals for self and schedules meetings, visits and activities and travel schedule.
- Coordinates Head of School's major donor cultivation and solicitation efforts.
- Attends SEM events and meetings
- Analyzes and evaluates events, emails and other communications after they have happened.Organizes post-event meetings with all parties involved.
- Creates annual reports for SEM's endowment fund donors.
- Works closely with Director of Communications and the Director of Admissions to ensure appropriate, accurate, consistent and timely messaging.
- With Director of Communications, produces the Annual Report and drafts any requested publication materials.Offers ideas and support for social media activities.
- Responsible for Development Department budget. Meets with Director of Finance as necessary.
SEM concluded a major capital campaign in June 2016.A key component of this this position is knowledge of necessary activities leading up to the next major campaign.