Job Posting

Bridging | Roseville, MN
Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000

JOB TITLE: Director of Development
JOB CLASS: Exempt/Full-Time (40+ Hours/Week)
DEPARTMENT: Development
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
SALARY: $90,000 - $105,000
BENEFITS: PTO, Medical, Dental, VTO, Long/Short Disability 401K Match, Professional Development Funds
LOCATION: Roseville (primary)
DATE: September 17, 2024
HOW TO APPLY: Send Cover Letter and Resume to Mark.Wilkening@Bridging.org by October 7.

Organizational Summary
Bridging, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization primarily serving the Twin Cities Metro Area, empowers people to thrive in their homes by providing quality furniture and household goods for those pursuing housing stability. Bridging gives hope – and for many – a leap toward stability for the first time. With current locations in Roseville and Bloomington, Bridging is driven by volunteers and donations of basic home essential items from the community. Since it’s founding in 1987, Bridging has served more than 115,000 households (300,000+ individuals) and reduces landfill space by ~14 million pounds each year. More than 270 agency partners refer clients to Bridging for basic home set-up; more than half of the individuals we serve are children under 17 years of age. www.bridging.org

Bridging is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity; and we encourage qualified applicants of all racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+ identities and other groups to apply. We believe that creating an inclusive environment based on respect, trust and service are integral to how we serve our clients, support our team and achieve our mission. Read our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Statement (DEIB) here.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Director of Development is responsible for overseeing Bridging’s Fundraising and Marketing & Communications strategies and execution, managing the Development and Marketing & Communications staff and overseeing the budget and goal achievement in related areas. This position works closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. This position reports to the Executive Director and serves as a member of the Bridging Leadership Team. Direct reports include Development Manager and Marketing Manager. Additional Department Team Members include: Donor Database Administrator, Development Associate, contract Grant Writer and PT Communications Coordinator. This position has a specialty focus on Major Donor Stewardship, Prospecting, Cultivation and Growth; including Planned Giving and any future Capital/Special Campaign fundraising.

Development Department Lead

• Establish annual contributions (fundraising) goals and budget in partnership with the Executive Director and Director of Finance and Business Services. Current annual fundraising goal is ~$3M.
  
• Develop and work multi-year strategic fundraising growth plans.
  
• With Development Manager, establish annual fundraising strategies; and oversee the plan and budget to support the initiatives and achieve the annual goals.
  
• Oversee annual Development and Communications Collaboration Matrices (managed by Development Manager and Marketing Manager).
  
• Lead the bi-monthly Development Team Meetings.
  
• Oversee the Marketing Manager and Communications Coordinator in managing and executing all Bridging’s internal and external marketing and communications/storytelling needs.
• Lead the department & organization through an ongoing learning shift to a culture of Community Centric Fundraising.

Major Donor and Planned Giving Cultivation/Prospecting

• Identify new and cultivate existing major donors.
  
• Oversee annual and ongoing donor surveys.
  
• Lead Planned Giving strategy (in conjunction with Executive Director).
• Lead any future capital/special campaign planning and fundraising (in conjunction with Executive Director).

Strategic Sponsorships

• Identify new sponsors in partnership with the Development Manager and Director of Strategic Partnerships.
• Develop a year-long, organizational sponsorship program in partnership with the Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Foundation Relationships

• Oversee the grants process: in partnership with Contract Grant Writer and Development Manager, oversee the preparation and submission and reporting for all annual grants, as well as prospecting for new grant sources.
  
• Meet with ongoing Foundation funders, and new prospects.
• In collaboration with other departments, develop grant-funded projects and budgets.

Board of Directors

• Co-Manage and direct the work of the External Relations Committee with the Director of Strategic Partnerships.
• Act as the staff liaison for Board engagement in Development.

Other

• Active supervision of two direct reports – Development Manager and Marketing Manager.
  
• Public speaking and representing the organization at community events.
  
• Regular updates to Standard Operating Procedures under this role’s purview.
  
• Foster a culture of philanthropy and gratitude within the organization.
  
• Share Bridging messaging on personal networking and social channels.
  
• Work across functional areas and with colleagues to maintain strong organizational culture.
  
• Act as a role model for leadership in the organization.
• Any other duty deemed necessary by the Executive Director and/or Board of Directors to fulfill your role and/or needed by the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding of belief in and commitment to Bridging’s vison and model.
  
• Seven+ years leading and implementing successful fundraising strategies and initiatives ($2M+); with consistent achievement of goals and year over year growth/increased results.
  
• Five+ years in Organization Leadership Role and Department Management.
  
• Three+ years’ experience strategically managing a major gifts portfolio ($5,000+); prospecting, qualifying, cultivating, tracking activities.
  
• Mission and values-driven with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
  
• Prioritizes relationship-building above all else and has exceptional interpersonal skills.
  
• Strong knowledge of the Twin Cities philanthropic environment, a connector and an asker.
  
• Good sense of accountability, strong dependability, and impeccable integrity.
  
• Enthusiastic self-starter operating with sustained energy and showing great initiative.
  
• Detail-oriented and proactive approach to managing time-sensitive and competing workloads – skilled in prioritizing and time management.
  
• A quintessential team player with a willingness to support colleagues outside of one’s primary responsibilities.
  
• Emotionally intelligent and self-aware, including the ability to both ask for/receive and offer assistance or leadership when and where needed.
  
• Comfortable with and enjoys cross-team collaboration.
  
• Seasoned project manager. 
  
• Open to and appreciative of feedback, responsive to direction and coaching.
  
• Excellent communication skills with established competency in writing, public speaking and interpersonal communication.
  
• Tremendous skills in identifying, developing and maintaining positive relationships with a diverse group of constituents.
  
• Computer proficiency including Microsoft Office products, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Donor database proficiency; Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Along with meeting the career requirements and job specifications, there are some critical success factors that will enable the ideal candidate to be successful in this role. They are as follows:

• Growth Mindset: Be able to step into a situation and create opportunities for growth, leveraging existing resources and assets, with a desire for continuous improvement.
  
• Flexibility: Comfortable with gray areas, change, and flexibility.
  
• Decisive: Confident with project ownership and decision-making, but eager/curious for other input/ideas.
  
• Ideation: Value the ideation process, for the continued growth and improvement of the Development Team and organization overall.
  
• Stewardship: Understands the limitations of financial, time and people resources and maximizes the Return on Investment of all actions and decisions.
  Cultural Humility/DEIB Leadership: Enter intercultural relationships with humility, prepared to listen, learn, follow their lead, and adapt our methods and practices to achieve mutual benefit. Create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment based on respect, trust, and service.
  
• People Focused: Prioritize the experience and needs of all of our constituents.
  Driven Leader: Committed to quality work; continuously looking for ways to improve own work and the work of the organization. Efficient time manager and ability to prioritize workloads. Strong organizational and decision-making ability. Comfortable in an up-tempo, fast-paced work environment.
  
• Team Management: Promote a positive work environment through on-site availability, regular communication and staff meetings/check-ins. Manage the performance of staff and motivate and develop your team. Maintain a positive rapport with others to achieve annual goals.