Position: Director of Development

Department: Development

Reports to: Executive Director

OUR THEORY OF CHANGE:

We believe that young people, when empowered with the skills and education necessary to improve their quality of life, will realize that they can play a leadership role in strengthening their communities.

OUR ORGANIZATION:

YouthBuild Boston (YBB) is an outstanding nationally-respected organization committed to empowering low-income youth. Founded in 1990 with the goal of providing underserved young people with the support and credentials needed to successfully enter the building trades, the new Director of Development will come into an organization with an extraordinary record of achievement in its 30-year history. YBB is a best-in-class leader in providing young people with fundamental opportunities for education and employment. With a budget of more than $2 million and approximately 20 employees, YBB has a diverse set of programs and income streams from grants, contracts, service fees, and revenue generated from its real estate holdings. 

OUR MISSION:

Our Mission is to empower and assist underserved young people from the Boston area with the essential social, vocational, academic, and life skills necessary to navigate a positive pathway to self-sufficiency and neighborhood responsibility. While YBB promotes the core values of youth development and community service, it stands out as an innovative non-profit offering a hands-on approach to building trades training. Our programs provide vocational education, counseling, and other life skills training that readily strengthen and prepare students for the workforce upon graduation. We focus on the assets of each individual to enable young people to navigate a pathway to a meaningful livelihood.  We connect young people to their peers, family, and community in a positive and supportive way.  Our programs include:

Building Trades Exploration: This 6-9 month academic and building trades program is for young people aged 17-24 who do not have a high school diploma. Participants gain exposure to construction and landscaping safety, tools, materials, techniques, and methods while taking HiSet prep classes for their high school equivalency test.

Pre-Apprentice: This 15-week program is for young people aged 18-25 who already have their high school diploma or equivalent and are interested in starting a career in the building trades. Students gain field experience on real construction sites to ensure that they are ready for employment in the field upon graduation.

The Designery: These 7 to 10-week sessions are geared toward high school students who want an enriching after-school experience. Students are paid a bi-weekly stipend while they hone fundamental graphic, modeling, and design-thinking skills through real design projects for non-profit clients around the city.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This vital position supports the mission of YouthBuild Boston by helping the organization raise annual revenue to achieve its budget goals in all areas including operations, program, and capital (special building projects/maintenance).  Currently, YBB has an operating budget of $2million, and capital needs vary.

 The  Director of Development is a member of the YBB leadership team and will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to meet annual fundraising goals through strong relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies.  Further the successful candidate will be a creative, organized, strategic  and entrepreneurial thinker with the ability to both plan ahead and attend to the immediate needs of the department. 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 

·       ANNUAL FUNDRAISING PLAN:  In collaboration with the Executive Director (ED) and the Development Team, the Development Manager will develop YBBs annual fundraising plan, which should include monthly timelines and quarterly benchmarks towards the accomplishment of annual revenue goals largely through the following efforts:

·       CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS and GRANT WRITING:  With the support of a GRANTWRITER develop a robust pipeline of relevant local and national grant opportunities that align with YBB’s  mission, work and values, and ensure submission of  competitive proposals in a timely manner based on a comprehensive grant submission plan that is created annually. Work in collaboration with the ED to build and sustain strong corporate and foundation relationships through a variety of stewardship and cultivation activities.

·       INDIVIDUAL DONOR CULTIVATION AND SOLICITATION:  Develop a solid understanding of YBB’s current donor base and execute a stewardship/cultivation and solicitation plan for individual donors, including monthly contact benchmarks, a communication calendar, produce and mail annual appeal, and conceptualize and implement special recognition efforts, with support from Development Team Members and ED

·       AMBASSADOR OF THANKS: With the support of the Development Associate, ensure that all philanthropic gifts are receipted (entered into the database) and acknowledged in a timely manner and that donor records are kept up to date. Essentially, ensure effective and efficient donor management process and information systems to ensure timely and relevant appreciation and celebration of YBB stakeholders. 

·       EVENTS:  Serve as lead on all of YBBs fundraising and Friend-raising events; develop an event calendar,  including overlap with YBB’s  programming events, and conceptualizing of other annual or bi-annual signature events.  

·       COMMUNICATION:  Develop standard communication practice to constituents across the organization to assure consistency of brand and experience.  Oversee/Develop annual communications calendar as well as collateral and marketing materials (digital and hardcopy).  Develop annual appeal direct mail campaign.

QUALIFICATIONS:

o   Demonstrated experience raising annual revenue for mid-size to large non-profits 

o   Superior verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to write and speak persuasively towards the development of quality, successful grant proposals

o   Demonstrated ability to effectively manage corporate/individual donors and prospects

o   Ability to effectively utilize and manage support staff, interns and consultants

o   Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly WORD, EXCELL and Power Point

o   Familiarity with budgets, Constant Contact & Salesforce 

o   Able to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize competing demands

o   Ability to successfully work independently as well as in teams

o   Bachelor’s Degree or Higher Required

o   Salary commensurate with experience

To Apply: Please send your resume, cover letter and 3 reference (2 professional) to Lori Britton, Development Counsel, via email at lori@crcfundraising.com.  No phone calls please.