Sr. Development Manager (event fundraising and donor relations)

Company Description

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers in chapters across the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter @JDRF.

As a JDRF team member, you can look forward to interesting and challenging work, building strong relationships with fellow staff and our network of volunteers, and having a meaningful impact on the lives of everyone affected by this devastating disease. JDRF supports a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.v

Job Description

The Sr. Development Manager (Sr. DM) will serve as the overarching strategy and execution lead for all integrated engagement and fundraising efforts for the Chapter’s Signature events program of work. Though Gala, Golf and Other Special Events fall within the Signature Events category, the priority is scaling the already highly successful ($1.6M) Hope Gala, while building additional Signature Event opportunities across the Chapter footprint.  

Centered on event oversight, which includes community stakeholder/key leadership engagement, committee development, individual and corporate sponsorship, direct giving opportunities, and procurement for event fundraising components, the Sr. DM will also directly supervise Chapter Development Staff working in partnership within this area of focus, while collaborating with National and Regional staff who help drive success.  

Additionally, this position will lead a Chapter effort to expand the mid-level giving volume through identifying, qualifying, and stewarding a pipeline of leads/donors who meet agreed upon criteria for ‘mid’, ‘high-mid’ and ‘major’ giving potential, within and outside of our event structure.  In partnership with the Chapter, Regional and National staff teams, and utilizing donor data, the Sr. DM will help build strategic and tactical plans to achieve and ideally exceed Chapter financial short, mid, and long-term growth optimization expectations across all revenue streams through greater individual acquisition, retention, and upgrade.  Using an account/relationship management structure, the Sr. DM will be responsible for a mutually agreed upon portfolio value totaling the mid-to-high six figure range with early seven figure potential. She/he will also partner with volunteer leaders and committees to facilitate donor development plan creation and execution, and partner in key components of the moves management process. This position will help ensure the Chapter creates a positive, engaged, inspired, and rewarding experience with new and existing mid-level donors.

The Chapter’s footprint covers three states, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, with most of the current support and activity taking place around the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro area.   Direct donor work will require the Sr. DM to be physically available for in-person meetings, residing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro area. The Chapter office is currently located in Bloomington, MN.

Additional and Emphasized Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Executive Director, Associate Executive Director, and Chapter staff, manage the growth strategy of the Chapter’s mid-level individual giving program(s) to grow the pipeline, identify new opportunities, increase retention, and upgrade giving for greater mission support.
• Utilizing existing data dashboard, determine if and where current giving is received and allocated, by whom, how much and why (history) as a foundation for portfolio creation and moves management planning and execution.
• Builds event key stakeholder leader pipeline / bench strength.
• Initiates / ideates growth opportunities and discussions, within and outside of the Signature Events structure.
• Provide strategic direction and execution support for Chapter functional leads where substantial individual giving plays a key role.
• Oversee the growth of the strategic pipeline development within the Chapter as it applies to new and increased mid-level individual giving in a significant way.
• Manage CRM / donor database input