Job Opening: Development Officer
Aug 21, 2023
Development Officer
Overview of Position
The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that is building a movement to advance the health, economic well-being, and rights of women, girls, gender expansive people, and their families in South Carolina. WREN engages and influences diverse audiences – from our 40,000+ member database, hundreds of nonprofit partners, elected officials, business leaders, donors, and the general public.
The Development Officer is a full-time position, reporting to the Director of Development. The Development Officer will be a member of the Development team.
Level, Compensation & Benefits
Salary range is $65,000-80,000, with final offer contingent on experience and qualifications.
- This is a full-time position, ideally based in Columbia, SC, but with flexibility for remote work within the state of South Carolina.
- Competitive benefits package includes medical and dental coverage (100% of coverage for employee), 12 weeks parental leave, paid time off and holidays, contribution to retirement plan, and support for professional development.
- Regular in-state travel and some additional domestic travel will be required. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.
Position Responsibilities
A pivotal leader on the Development team, reporting to Director of Development, the Development Officer will be responsible for creating and growing a major gifts program that contributes substantially to WREN’s annual revenue goals. The Development Officer’s primary responsibility is
developing major gift donor strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of existing and prospective donors. Secondary responsibilities include supporting Development’s grants and special event sponsorship activities.
The Development Officer is a new position within the Development and Communications Department, with the opportunity to help shape WREN’s future with the creation of a robust major gifts program. WREN leadership is dedicated to supporting strategic growth in development outcomes and has outlined progressive, achievable goals for the initial years of the major gifts program. In year one, the Development Officer will cultivate $500,000 in gifts from new and existing supporters, with a goal of $1,250,000 in revenue by year three.
- Serve as WREN’s frontline fundraiser, playing a vital role in managing relationships with existing donors and securing new sources of funding that will enable longstanding, tangible gender justice victories.
- Work with the CEO, Director of Development, board members, and other key volunteer leadership in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors, grantors, and event sponsors.
- With the Director of Development, develop short- and long-term revenue goals for major giving, grants, and event sponsorship, tracking progress closely to ensure that targets are met and strategies re-examined when necessary to ensure achievement of goals.
- Participate in pipeline development by documenting all prospect moves management actions, proposals and statuses within Raiser’s Edge NXT.
Overview of Responsibilities:
Build and lead a strategic major gifts plan for managing an individual donor portfolio at the $10,000+ level to grow WREN’s base of five- and six-figure gifts. (70%)
- Create a comprehensive major gift strategy that outlines individual goals for each donor in the portfolio based on giving history and the organization’s knowledge of the donor’s potential
- Directly solicit major gifts from assigned donor portfolio, and partner with the CEO and Director of Development on other key solicitations.
- Develop creative cultivation and stewardship opportunities that grow WREN’s base of major gift donors and encourage donor retention.
- Enlist the support of high-level donors, volunteers, and team members to plan and execute regular donor cultivation events, house parties, and educational opportunities.
Oversee a small portfolio of grantors/funder prospects to support WREN’s annual grant revenue goals. (20%)
- Serve as primary contact for approximately 10 grantors and prospects giving $10,000-100,000 annually, building relationships and keeping them informed on grant progress and organization updates throughout the year.
- Collaborate with the Development Associate in grants tracking and participate in some grant writing for assigned grant prospects.
Oversee a small portfolio of event sponsors/sponsor prospects to support WREN’s annual event revenue goals. (10%)
- Serve as primary contact for 12-15 event sponsors and prospects giving $5,000-20,000 annually, building relationships and keeping sponsors informed on organization updates throughout the year.
- Create and execute a solicitation and stewardship plan for each assigned sponsor and prospect based on capacity and affinity.
Qualifications
WREN seeks an experienced, entrepreneurial, and motivated individual with a commitment to building a diverse and inclusive movement for gender justice. Qualified candidates should be able to demonstrate:
- Keen interest in advancing the status of women, girls, and gender expansive people in South Carolina;
- At least three (3) years of successful, demonstrated fundraising experience with knowledge of the pillars of major gift fundraising;
- Experience building strong, long-term partnerships with donors. Direct work soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts is ideal;
- Experience conceptualizing and executing major campaigns with minimal oversight and to drive execution with team peers, board members, and supporters;
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across internal and external teams;
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex tasks while maintaining composure under deadlines;
- Excellent written, verbal, and analytical skills;
- Flexibility in approach and willingness to adapt when necessary; and
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically, show initiative, achieve goals, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
How to Apply
WREN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in
an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, or military service.
Deadline for applications is Friday, September 29, 2023. Please email cover letter, resume, three references, and any accommodations requests to jobs@scwren.org, with “Development Officer” in the subject line.
Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls, please.