DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
CHARLOTTESVILLE OR VERONA, VA
CHARLOTTESVILLE OR VERONA, VA
Do you want to utilize your proven fundraising experience to support a cause that makes a daily difference in people’s lives? Are you passionate about strengthening your community’s social safety net? Use your people skills and story-telling ability to inspire donors to improve the lives of food-insecure neighbors.
The Director of Development & Community Engagement (DODCE) is a key leadership role on the Development team, responsible for planning and executing strategies that deepen community and constituent relationships, with a primary focus on increasing financial and volunteer support for the Food Bank. This position leverages strong interpersonal skills and best practice fundraising strategy, focused primarily on businesses and organizations, to engage and activate constituents through targeted, localized initiatives that inspire donors to support food-insecure neighbors. Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the DODCE represents the Food Bank in public settings, media interviews, and events. This position is an integral part of a dynamic, highly collaborative Development team whose charter states: As the economic engine of the Food Bank, we connect people who need help with people who can help. Respectfully, strategically, and collaboratively we engage community members to embrace our vision, to share their gifts, and to be nourished.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/ TASKS
Management and Leadership
- Develop, implement, and evaluate annual community engagement strategies
- Create and monitor systems and procedures for smooth operation of events, volunteerism, and food drives.
- Propose and manage the Community Engagement budget.
- Set clear priorities, communicate project plans, and coach team performance to align with Food Bank values and promote continuous learning and cross-departmental collaboration.
- Collaborate with the Chief Philanthropy Officer to set annual fundraising goals and forecast income from managed constituents (businesses and organizations).
- Ensure strong customer service and accountability to donors.
- Manage a portfolio of high-value donors (businesses, organizations, community groups, individuals); lead solicitations, cultivation, stewardship, and coordinate staff involvement as needed.
- Plan or oversee donor engagement strategies and evaluate their effectiveness
- Lead grassroots outreach through the Speakers Bureau and similar efforts to boost engagement; deliver community presentations.
- Ensure timely, accurate gift processing and personalized donor acknowledgments
- Maintain database proficiency for reporting, initiative analysis, and donor behavior tracking.
- Use software tools for donor prospecting, communication, stewardship, and analysis.
- Guide and supervise implementation of strategies designed to engage community members as volunteers across all four geographic areas, and to steward and build those relationships over time
- Guide and oversee a program designed to encourage food drives and to engage community members in the work of the Food Bank through the act and stewardship of food donations. This area overlaps significantly with Operations; therefore, logistics must be appropriately coordinated.
- Two regional Volunteer & Food Drive Managers, overseeing volunteer engagement and food drive operations across the service area.
- Community Engagement Coordinator, responsible for fundraising and awareness initiatives.
- May also manage volunteers or work through committees.
Examples of Expected Decision-Making:
- Manage and coach direct reports with timely, supportive feedback to improve performance.
- Customize donor cultivation and stewardship strategies using best practices.
- Analyze donor behavior and potential to maintain and grow a top prospect portfolio.
- Evaluate fundraising events for effectiveness and make decisions on activities, media, budget, and staffing.
- Use research and data to guide the best practices in volunteer recruitment and retention.
- Collaborate with the Chief Philanthropy Officer to develop the annual Community Engagement plan and set goals for events, corporate and online giving, volunteers, and food drives.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
- A minimum of five years’ experience in fundraising, including special event coordination and/or marketing, along with demonstrated expertise in volunteer management best practices.
- At least three years of experience in a supervisory role—preferably within a nonprofit or fundraising environment—with a proven track record of effectively supervising and developing staff.
- Ability to work independently in a complex environment while collaborating effectively within a dynamic, cross-functional team.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills to engage diverse constituents with enthusiasm and respect.
- Exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills; strong public speaking and written/verbal communication.
- Strong leadership, sound judgment, ethical standards, diplomacy, persuasion, decisiveness, and adaptability.
- Highly organized with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficient in constituent relationship management (CRM) systems (Salesforce preferred), database and file management, and Microsoft Office.
- Familiarity with the local geographic and cultural area is ideal.
- Able to work in a safe, climate-controlled office, performing sedentary and moderate physical tasks (lifting up to 20?pounds, stooping, reaching, fine motor work).
The role is onsite and based in our Verona or Charlottesville office and reports to the Chief Philanthropy Officer. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required. Must have a valid driver’s license with a good driving record. Occasional travel within the Food Bank service area is required.
To be considered for this role, please submit a cover letter & a resume to: humanresources@brafb.org, or mail to:
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Human Resources Office
P.O. Box 937, Verona, VA 24482
The position will be open until filled. To learn more about the Food Bank, visit www.brafb.org.
The BRAFB is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person’s perspectives and lived experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information
