POSITION SUMMARY
The Development Officer reports to the Development Director and is responsible for planning and implementing a program of Annual Giving, including special events. The Development Officer works closely and collaboratively with all members of the development staff and maintains collegial relationships with other Association entities. Primary responsibilities and relationships with other people in the school are outlined below.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Annual Giving Duties:
- Responsible for the management and implementation of the Association’s Annual Giving program (direct mail, in-kind donations, workplace giving, and online giving).
- Cultivate and steward gifts from individuals by maintaining frequent contact with new and mid-level donors and developing new relationships & communication channels with prospects.
- Research individual donor and prospect information.
- Work with the Development Director to develop strategies for new donor acquisition and growth.
- Ensure proper donor recognition and stewardship.
- Oversee special stewardship projects including: personal calls to donors, follow up letters after events, holiday card mailings, invitations to special events, etc.
- Assist in the creation of external content and collateral for the Development department, including but not limited to appeals, newsletters, social media, website, and invitations.
- Prepare mailing lists and department reports.
- Research and identify new government, corporate, foundation and private funding prospects to match
Association and/or school priorities.
- Generate high-quality proposals, narratives, applications and supporting documents in response to solicitations consistent with all policies and procedures of the CLHSA, and the requirements and guidelines of the funding agencies.
- Coordinate and follow up on the progress of submitted proposals
- Maintain primary responsibility for grant schedules and tracking grants
Event(s) Duties:
- Coordinate and manage the biannual Gala and all special events, including acting as the staff liaison to the Special Event Committee(s).
- In partnership with the Development Director, submit and secure corporate sponsorships as related to special events.
- Research and investigate all venues for events, including preparing overall cost analyses for each venue. Seek multiple bids prior to making final recommendation to Development Director and Superintendent.
- Solicit and manage all vendors related to special events, and manage and negotiate contracts with input from the Development Director.
- Work with the Development director to update corporate sponsorship materials for the Annual Gala, including in-kind (auction), sponsorship benefit levels and solicitation letters, track sponsor contracts, and ensure donor(s) receives all benefits.
- Provide sponsor logos, ads, and other materials to Communications & Marketing Office for use in event programs, slideshows, signage, or other representations.
- Gather details on auction items, including description, value, use restrictions, and other specifications so that auction signage and digital descriptions can be created for event(s)
- Secure event sponsors, including in-kind sponsorships.
- Collaborate with Special Event Committee members to plan events and solicit auction items.
- Prepare event collateral material, plan events, generate guest lists, coordinate leadership and staff, and follow through on event logistics and execution.
- Assist with and support CLHSA, Lutheran West, and Lutheran East cultivation events including Board, Alumni, Parents and others with the potential to increase revenue for the Association and/or schools.
- Develop and meet event revenue goals for existing and new events, manage event expense budgets utilizing metrics and data.
- Manage and recruit event committees and volunteers.
Other Duties:
- Provide support to other Association activities and campaigns as needed.
- Support the development and vibrancy of relationships with donors and sponsors.
- Provide professional, quality customer service to donors, alumni, volunteers, staff, and other community contacts.
- Prepare data for Development Director and Superintendent, to share ongoing results as related to metrics for fiscal year.
- Maintain all relevant data in Raiser’s Edge database include donor meetings, correspondences, actions, etc.
Skills and Abilities
- Proven success in identifying and soliciting funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations from a variety of sources and in developing relationships with donors.
- A record of measurable results in organizing and implementing such activities as major gifts, annual gifts, direct mail, and special events.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills required. Demonstrated ability to write clear and persuasive proposals and appeals.
- Excellent time management skills and a high degree of organization, careful attention to detail, ability to multitask and to prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Familiarity with North East Ohio and surrounding communities preferred, and flexibility to travel, the majority of which will be regional in scope.
- Ability to work on selected weekdays, nights, and weekend evenings as required.
- Demonstrated experience in managing people and budgets, and an ability to work in a hands-on environment.
- Computer literacy and knowledge of Raisers Edge is highly desirable.
- Well-disciplined, self-motivated and goal-driven; able to work with a high degree of independence as well as part of a team.
- Ability to appropriately handle confidential matters and information.
- Flexibility and willingness to assume new tasks and special projects.
- Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office software; Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
- Ability to participate in cross-departmental projects, using tact and diplomacy.
- Ability to effectively identify, analyze and solve problems.
- Professional maturity and a sense of humor.
