Director of Development & Public Relations

Director of Development & Public Relations

Department: Development

Reports To: Executive Director

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Amount of Travel Required: Limited

Job Type: Regular

Positions Supervised: 3 (Dev. Asst., Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer, Grant Writer-contractor)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Development and Public Relations (“DDRP”) creates, implements and manages the overall Development Ministry strategies for the Mission in order to cultivate and strengthen Mission relationships with the donors, partners/sponsors and the community; engages others in God’s kingdom work at the Mission; and increases the financial support - both cash and gifts-in-kind - required to further the Mission’s ministries.

Primary development responsibilities include development/management of major donors, planned giving, acquisition/ cultivation campaigns, capital campaigns, grant solicitation, special events, liaison with outside consultants. Public relations responsibilities include development/implementation of the communications and P.R. strategies, as well as the relationship building with the local media, community/special interest groups, corporations, churches, and others in the Dallas-Area Homeless’ Continuum of Care. Other responsibilities include development planning, budgeting, development-donor reporting, and other special projects as assigned.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Development

The DDPR develops and coordinates the overall strategy for the total Mission fundraising projects and expansion of the donor base while emphasizing the development of major gifts and planned giving. Major responsibilities include:

1. Assures the Mission calls and writes established major donors to cultivate continued and upscale giving, as well as large capital contributions.

2. Leads and assists with developing new and prospective major donors and planned givers.

3. Manages the research and applications to foundations, corporations, churches, and associations for major annual and/or special gifts (i.e., legacy gifts).

4. Coordinates and monitors records and files necessary to track the progress of key donors.

5. Manages the planning and coordination of special fundraising events and projects - both UGM and interest group/individual led (i.e., golf tournament, praise banquet, games day).

6. Serves as a liaison with outside consultants such as Russ Reid, Gateway, and the grant-writing consultant for capital campaigns, operating campaigns and major gift acquisitions.

7. Ensures that research on existing, as well as prospective, major donors are appropriately engaged so to facilitate acquisition of new and/or upgraded major gifts.

8. Oversees all in-house activities relative to direct mail, acquisitions, and space-ad activities.

9. Prepares and reviews all correspondence related to communicating with donors including those prepared by Russ Reid.

10. Develops and implements a Planned Giving program in conjunction with outside consultant (Crescendo).

11. Assists Executive Director with Board-related development/fund-raising committees, reporting, and related activities as needed.

12. Collaborates with the Chief Administrative Officer and support staff (Accounting, Mail Shop, database admin.) to insure the successful data capture/entry and maintenance of donor-volunteer database (Orange Leap) and its integration with the accounting system and third-party service providers (Paperless Transactions; 2Dialog).

Media Relations

The DDPR is responsible for developing and implementing a media relations plan to facilitate the on-going education and communication regarding the Mission, its services, and needs to the community-at-large (media, churches, businesses, special interest groups, government, etc.)

Responsibilities include:

1. Develop and update the media relations plan.

2. Implement the media relations plan to include identifying newsworthy media opportunities and presenting those opportunities to the print and electronic media in an interesting manner, with the objective of obtaining television and radio air-time, as well as placement of stories in print publications, which may include daily and weekly newspapers and magazines.

3. Serve as the secondary spokespersons to the media for the Mission, after the Executive Director. Appoint other secondary spokespersons on an as needed basis.

4. Radio Program Development: work with the Executive Director and/or guests, initiating on-air topics and negotiating working arrangements with the radio stations.

Written and Visual Publications and Production

The DDPR is responsible for developing written and audio/video publications and productions that align with the Mission��s overall media relations strategy and address the pertinent issues surrounding homelessness. The primary responsibilities are the drafting, producing and placing of these publications/productions in the appropriate media and marketing channels such as traditional media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines), as well as online social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Responsibilities include:

1. Development of news articles, speeches, letters to the editor, and opinion and/or editorial pieces for submission to various publications at times under the name of the Executive Director.

2. Craft cogent media copy, including news releases, media advisories and public service announcements, as well as radio and video scripts.

3. Development, maintain and manage Mission and homelessness messaging and content for use on the Mission’s website and various online social media channels.

4. Work with UGM writers in the production of copy for appeal letters, brochures and annual reports, working with outside communication agencies or department in the design and printing process.

5. Assist in the scheduling and writing of the quarterly Searchlight Newsletter.

Special Events

The DDPR is responsible for providing leadership and hands-on participation in the planning and execution of special events, tours and promotional activities - both fundraising and outreach. Responsibilities include:

1. Outreach: Spearhead and/or play a key role in the planning and delivery of the outreach/in-reach events such as the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter special dinners, Mother’s Day, the Children’s Christmas Party, Games Day, and the Mission’s Annual Praise Banquet, etc.

2. Fundraising: Spearhead and/or play a key role in the planning and delivery of the fundraising events (cash & gifts-in-kind) such as the annual golf tournament, annual tele-a-thon, and matching gift campaigns.

3. Mission Tours: Lead tours of the Mission on an as needed basis.

4. Gift-In-Kind Events: Insure that UGM has a strong presence at GIK-related events such as food drives, automotive program donation campaigns, clothing drives, shoe drives, and various volunteer group’s donations of professional services (construction contractors, IT support, teachers, etc.).

Other Duties

The DDPR must perform other duties as assigned. Examples include the following:

1. Provide counsel to the Executive Director and staff regarding public relations and public affairs issues that will affect the Mission, looking at short- and long-range effects. It is useful if the DDPR has a background working with media agencies and other non-profit organizations, as well as church and para-church organizations.

2. Work with photographers to make sure the Mission stock of photographs is up-to-date.

Speak at public functions in lieu of the Executive Director. Other duties may be assigned at the Executive Director’s discretion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Reasonable Accommodations Statement:

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions Statement(s)

• Interact with volunteer groups, plan special events.
• Write Development job descriptions and help to develop a team.
• Oversee Donor Response Process and participate in donor relations.
• Conduct tours of the Mission’s facilities.
• Produce, edit and oversee production of quarterly Searchlight newsletter.
• Write, or have written, edit print and oversee mailing of monthly newsletter.
• Correspondence: Mail letters to donors and those in whom donations have been given in honor of or in memory of; personal thank you notes; respond to donor notes.
• Assist in maintaining donor database by updating address information or deleting donor from list as requested.
• Oversee the ordering of paper and envelopes for fundraising letters and receipts.
• Evaluate donor campaigns & approve print copy.
• When producing monthly appeal letter in-house, compose, edit and oversee production.
• Work with other staff members and or volunteers to organize annual fundraising events- such as banquets and golf tournaments, etc.
• Participate in foundation and business grant writing.
• Speak to groups about the Mission's work and needs.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Competency Statement(s)

• Interpersonal - Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.
• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
• Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
• Management Skills - Ability to organize and direct oneself and effectively supervise others.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Experience:

• Maturing in Christian walk.
• BA degree or higher in Business, Sales, Marketing, Fundraising or related field.
• Extensive experience in non-profit organization (NPO) development, fundraising, and/or sales management.
• Strong preference for experience in direct response, foundation/corporation capital campaign fundraising and planned giving.
• Strong Public Relations skills and experience.
• Ability in grant writing.
• Experience in journalism, media relations, and social media.
• Extensive experience in leading, organizing and managing a Development Department.
• Knowledge of homelessness and its pertinent issues.
• Strong public speaking skills and a willingness to participate in engagement on behalf of the Mission.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

N (Not Applicable) = Activity is not applicable to this position.

O (Occasionally) = Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs/day)

F (Frequently) = Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs/day)

C (Constantly) = Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs/day)

Stand = C

Walk = F

Sit = F

The company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the company may deem appropriate.