Director of Development

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Department:

WAMU Advancement

Time Type:

Full time

Work Modality:

Hybrid 02 (On Campus 2 days/Week)

Union:

Excluded

Job Description:

About the Department/Unit

WAMU 88.5 is a public media station owned and operated by American University. WAMU is the source for local, regional and NPR news and original programs in Washington DC. Since 1961, WAMU has been amplifying voices and sharing stories from the many neighborhoods and communities in the District of Colombia, Maryland and Virginia.

Summary:

The Director of Development supervises a team of professionals responsible for advancing Major and Mid-Level Giving, Planned Giving and Institutional Giving to support WAMU’s mission. In collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer the Director of Development contributes to strategic planning, co-creates financial goals and maintains, tracks and drives the plan to achieve them. This is a hands-on fundraising position that manages a portfolio of donors in addition to strategic responsibilities.

The Director of Development manages the team responsible for identifying, cultivating and stewarding major and mid-level individual giving. This position is also responsible for providing direction for cultivation of WAMUs giving societies. . In collaboration with the leadership team, this position manages the process for soliciting foundation gifts. As a member of the Cross Functional Team, this position informs and supports leadership decision making.  

The incumbent provides oversight of acknowledgments, donor stewardship activities and events assistance; and develops or provides data analysis and advice on operational workflows for the fundraising team.

Essential Functions:

• Portfolio Management & Foundation Fundraising – The Director of Development manages a portfolio of individual and foundation donors and stewards them towards an annual fundraising goal. Manages process for submission of foundation proposals, letters of intent, and reporting requirements following any award from government, quasi-government (CPB) and private foundations.

• Team Supervision, Planning & Administration – Lead a team of professional fundraisers in achieving fundraising goals for the organization. Establish processes and ensure correct use of CRM and other tools used in cultivation and stewardship. In collaboration with Chief Development Officer, establish individual financial goals for all gift officers.   Participate as a member of the Cross Functional Team to support overall station strategy and inform leadership decision making.

• Donor Stewardship & Cultivation Planning  – In collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer and Sr. Director of Branding and Audience Engagement, develop, plan and execute annual communication plan for all managed portfolios to include impact, urgency and giving societies such as Tower, Leadership Circle and 1961. Manage the use of on-air hosts, talent and executive staff as assets in donor cultivation. Manage development and implementation of giving level stewardship and communication plans. Ensure proper documentation of stewardship activities in CRM. Oversee donor recognition in all forms. Facilitate and coordinate with appropriate staff on donor events. Coordinate with University Advancement on individual donors as needed.

• Prospect Development – Design and implement system to identify new major donor prospects, using available donor data and other resources. Design, deploy and implement methodologies for prospect research and conversion into the donor pipeline. Monitor progress, advising gift officers of assignments and providing management reports. Conduct or orchestrate prospect research of hi