Development Director

VermontFull-time6 hours ago

Share this job

Position Summary Addison Housing Works (AHW) seeks a motivated, mission-driven Development Director to help lead and grow our fundraising program during an exciting period of organizational evolution. As an organization ...

Encoded

Position Summary

Addison Housing Works (AHW) seeks a motivated, mission-driven Development Director to help lead and grow our fundraising program during an exciting period of organizational evolution. As an organization providing affordable housing and helping lead the conversation around one of the most important issues of our time, AHW is expanding our capacity to build strong, lasting relationships with donors, foundations, community partners, and supporters.

This full-time Director will play a central role in shaping and advancing AHW’s development and communications programs, with responsibility for major gifts, annual giving, donor stewardship, fundraising communications, public engagement, and the systems needed to support these activities. Working closely with the Executive Director, Board, Development/Outreach Committee and volunteers, the Development Director will help build the relationships, strategy, and infrastructure necessary to sustain and expand AHW’s impact.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts Program Support (50%)

Lead AHW’s major gifts strategy, working closely with the Executive Director and Board to identify prospects, develop prospect strategies, set goals, and build meaningful relationships.

Serve as the strategic partner to the Executive Director and Board solicitors, preparing individualized donor strategies, briefings, proposals, meeting materials and follow-up plans to help them be effective fundraisers.

Coordinate, track, and evaluate major-gifts moves, ensuring that each priority prospect has a clear strategy and next step, with responsibilities assigned to the appropriate staff or volunteer and follow-up tracked.

Help develop compelling donor materials, including case statements, proposals, outreach materials, and stewardship plans – tailored to individual donors and opportunities.

Annual Giving & Donor Communications (30%)

Lead AHW’s annual giving program – developing an annual fundraising plan, goals, calendar, messaging, and strategies to grow engagement and revenue.

Oversee design and execution of spring and year-end appeal campaigns, including strategy, timelines, messaging, segmentation, evaluation in coordination with Executive Assistant and other administrative staff.

Craft messaging for donor acknowledgments, including personalized thank-you letters and notes for key donors

Engage Board and Committee involvement in annual giving and stewardship, providing outreach assignments, talking points and assigned follow-up tasks.

Oversee accurate and timely gift receipt and acknowledgement procedures.

Coordinate grant writing with support from Executive Director. Research and write grant proposals, track deadlines and reporting requirements.

General Communications and Public Engagement (20%)

Lead, with support from the Development/Outreach Committee, an annual community “friendraiser” designed to build visibility, deepen relationships, and expand AHW’s base of supporters. Responsibilities include developing the event strategy, securing sponsorships and in-kind support, coordinating entertainment and food, and building attendance.

Develop a strategic calendar of smaller gatherings, including porch and house parties, designed to introduce new people to AHW, cultivate prospective donors, and deepen relationships with existing supporters.

With support from Executive Assistant, generate content demonstrating AHW’s impact in the community, including resident success stories and other promotional materials highlighting AHW’s work

With input from the Development/Outreach Committee, develop a marketing strategy to generate public enthusiasm for AHW’s work, and create and maintain a communications calendar (including social media, direct email communications, print, Front Porch Forum, community calendars, etc) to support the marketing strategy

Write and disseminate a quarterly newsletter highlighting AHW’s mission and impact

With Executive Director, support creation of the Annual Report by generating content and providing editorial input

As needed write and disseminate press releases publicizing AHW news and achievements

Systems & Support

Manage donor data entry, mail merges, and appeal logistics with support from Executive Assistant and/or other administrative support staff

Maintain donor database integrity and ensure consistency in gift tracking and acknowledgment

Create and analyze fundraising reports, including appeal performance, donor retention, major gifts pipeline, and other key performance indicators

Qualifications

2-4 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, communications, or related work

Strong written communication and project management skills

Detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Comfort working both independently and collaboratively in a small team environment

Experience with donor databases and Microsoft Office (especially Word mail merges and Excel)

Problem Solver: Must be solutions-oriented and able to overcome hurdles to achieve objectives.

Passion for housing equity, community development, or related social justice issues

Preferred but not required

Familiarity with donor stewardship best practices and moves management

Experience supporting major gifts or capital campaigns
Knowledge of Canva or similar platforms

Terms of Employment

The position of Development Director is full-time exempt, and includes retirement matching, paid time off, holidays, and other benefits as described in AHW’s Personnel Policy. An individual in this position is hired and supervised by the Executive Director.

Physical Qualifications

Must be able to climb at least two successive flights of stairs, lift and carry packages of the size and weight typical of office deliveries and on occasion 40 lbs. or more, and perform tasks at a computer workstation for an eight hour workday, five days a week.

Prior Education/Experience:

Associates Degree or equivalent experience preferred. Ability to learn quickly and independently is essential. Demonstrated success in a similar role and office environment, or strong aptitude for same, required.