Northstar promotes educational excellence and career opportunities for students with disabilities who have academic, physical, or social challenges. Since 1996, Northstar has been serving young people with a wide variety of learning differences. They serve students in grades K-12 at the Academy and provide vocational training for young adults ages 16-24 through the Northstar Career Center.
Responsibilities:
As the Director of Development at Northstar, you will be responsible for:
- Development and implementation of Northstar Academy’s (NSA) development strategy for achieving fundraising goals and engaging sponsors.
- Cultivating new individual donors.
- Collaborating with the Communications & Marketing Director for marketing, public relations, and communications strategies to increase community awareness and strengthen key relationships.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead Northstar’s Development function.
- Work with the Head of School (HOS) and the development committee to create the fundraising plan and budget.
- Cultivate, nurture, maintain, and grow individual, corporate, and foundation donor base.
- Work with individual board members to introduce potential donors to Northstar.
- Work with Board committees to provide training, support, and/or information.
- Ensure accurate documentation of major gift solicitation plans and activities in Northstar’s data management system.
- Coordinate the composing, editing, and publishing of fundraising reports and solicitation pieces.
- Coordinate events, recruit and engage staff, board, and others in fundraising efforts (general fund, capital gifts, scholarships) and events (Gala, luncheons, open houses, etc.).
- Work with the Head of School and members of the Campaign Committee and Board to cultivate prospects and schedule meetings with prospective donors.
- Manage and oversee grant submissions and reports and coordinate with HOS and Director of Finance.
- Work collaboratively with Development associates and other Northstar staff.
- Possess exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact well with donors and colleagues and to motivate volunteers.
- Collaborate with the Communications & Marketing Director to further the mission of Northstar by increasing brand awareness, enhancing the image, and ensuring regular contact with target constituents.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Participate in the Leadership Team:
- Along with the Head of School and other key members of school administration, serve as a part of the School’s leadership team to create a community that leads to success for Northstar’s students.
- Report to the Head of School regularly about ongoing and possible projects, upcoming events/activities, weekly meetings, and accomplishment of goals.
- Work collaboratively to support the faculty and staff.
Success in the job will be measured by the following:
- Ability to be a team-player with a positive “can-do” attitude, flexibility, high degree of initiative, and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated increase in donor base and engagement with donors.
- Demonstrated ability to meet development targets - raise NSA budget (increase general fund, scholarships, gifts, etc.).
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and demonstrate success in development strategies and implementing marketing strategies with positive outcomes consistent with the mission, philosophy, and Strategic plan of Northstar.
- Increased awareness of NSA in the Central Virginia community demonstrated by quantitative results of implemented development and marketing strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to work in partnership with the Head of School, Board of Directors, and NSA administration.
- Demonstrated ability to possess strong verbal communication skills and strong partnership-building skills.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated number of personal contacts, email contacts, calls to prospective donors.
Required Qualifications:
- Required Education, Experience, Expertise, Skills:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, or related field. Non-profit training or development training preferable.
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in Development. Additional experience in marketing, communications, or public relations preferred.
- Skills: The ability to develop and maintain a strategic perspective based on the needs of Northstar while promoting and advancing the direction of NSA based on the collaborative decision-making of the Head of School, Board of Directors, subcommittees, and school administration.
- Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation
- State Police Criminal History Investigation
- Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation
- Tuberculosis Screening/Test