Director of Fund Development

About the role

The Fund Development Director is responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive business and resource development plan. The successful candidate will lead fundraising campaigns, identify and steward donors, and cultivate new and expanded opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement resource development strategies to increase and diversify funding from multiple sources, including governmental, foundation, corporate and individual, with a long-term goal of growing the organization.
• Conducts research of government agencies, private and family foundations to identify potential funding sources.
• Analyzes current and potential fund development opportunities.
• Leads all large capacity grant-writing activities, writing funding proposals with input and support from program staff. Provides guidance to leadership when they engage in writing proposals.
• Creates and strengthens relationships with new corporate and philanthropic funders and assumes the leadership role, as assigned, in corporate Capital Campaign projects.
• Supports a positive SER brand identity by developing brand standards, maintaining an effectively updated web presence, leveraging opportunities for participation in conferences, and reaching significant influencers to capture opportunities.
• Maintain knowledge of trends and promising practices in the field of workforce development and education.
• Remains abreast of current labor market and occupational trends.
• Establishes annual revenue projections/goals that meet the organization’s needs.
• Prepares progress reports outlining all fundraising activities and their status for SER leadership/management.
• Contributes to the team effort by performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 6-8 years experience leading significant development opportunities preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field required. Master’s Degree Preferred.
• Significant understanding of workforce development and education fields, and considerable experience cultivating and maintaining relationships with funders.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Preferred experience in program design, development and implementation.
• Mental ability to handle pressures related to meeting deadlines, problem solving and coordinating multiple initiatives.
• Evening and/or weekend work hours may be required.
• Michigan Driver’s license and transportation required.