Description

Desert Foothills Library

The Desert Foothills Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is privately funded and open to the public. Nestled in the foothills of the town of Cave Creek, Desert Foothills Library is a dynamic and beloved community asset serving the communities of Cave Creek, Carefree, and North Scottsdale. Open to all ages, Desert Foothills Library provides free access to resources, educational programs, and cultural events that enrich lives and strengthen the community. It is also home to the Chapter2 Bookstore, offering a wide selection of books for purchase to support library programs.

Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with library board members and staff, the Development Director will design and manage all fundraising activities for the library to include individual giving (including major gift fundraising), event fundraising (including the annual gala), direct mail and digital outreach, grant fundraising, corporate and civic group relations.

The Development Director requires deep knowledge of fundraising principles and requires experience working with donor databases, managing events, writing fundraising copy, writing and managing grants, and analyzing and preparing data and reports. Additional skills in leading marketing and branding are a plus. The successful candidate will be an exceptional team player, donor-centric with excellent communication skills and the ability to represent the library with donors, partners, and the community at large. The Development Director will supervise the library’s database administrator. Some weekends and evenings are required as needed.

Essential Functions

• Work with the board and Executive Director to develop short- and long-term fundraising goals, strategies and KPIs to expand funding from existing donors, while also building a strong pipeline for new funders.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, develop and manage a fundraising plan and budget for each year.
• Oversee gift accounting and processing, including solicitation mailings and thank you letters, as performed by the database administrator.
• Ensure best practice use of analytics, data and metrics to forecast and track progress and success of fundraising goals, strategies and tactics.
• Partner with other managers and staff to ensure efficient communication about key program goals and fundraising opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and external partners to ensure an integrated and compelling approach to communications and marketing strategies to support fundraising outcomes, including events, annual reports, presentations, press releases, newsletters, etc.
• Work with the board Advancement Committee and Executive Director to create strategic events to enhance organization standing and brand with key stakeholders.
• Plan and execute with board Advancement Committee online and in-person fundraising events throughout the year.
• Maximize the use of Bloomerang, website, Mail Chimp, social media, research, and analytics. Ensure fundraising activities are carried out in keeping with the library’s values, mission, vision and plans.
• Model best practices in donor communication, stewardship follow-up, and relationship management.
• Ensure the right tools and systems are in place to support the fundraising work of the Executive Director and Board.
• Nurture a culture of excellence, learning and continuous improvement.
• Manage a team of volunteers that assist with events, gift processing and mailings.
• Research, apply for and manage grants.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will share the Desert Foothills Library’s commitment to its mission and will bring a broad range of skills and experience including but not limited to:

• Knowledge and experience in all aspects of philanthropy, including giving trends, benchmarks, and best practices; research; fundraising techniques and strategies; data analytics; and development operations such as gift processing, donor database management, prospect and donor research, and fundraising reporting.
• Experience in marketing, communication and branding.
• Commitment to providing an excellent internal and external customer experience.
• Experience planning and executing large events.
• Energy, initiative, creativity, and drive; ability to perform at a high level in a fast-paced environment and manage/supervise multiple projects to meet timelines and deadlines.
• Excellent spoken and written communications skills; goal-oriented and close attention to detail.
• High comfort level with improving systems, analyzing data, and using data and metrics as management tools.
• Track record of successfully establishing and nurturing effective working relationships with organization leadership, board members, donors, prospects, and staff.
• Experience supervising staff and/or volunteers.
• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 7 years' experience as a development director or fundraising manager at a non-profit organization.
• Have a valid AZ driver’s license.
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification is a plus.
• The person employed by Desert Foothills Library as Development Director shall reside in the State of Arizona during his or her active employment by DFL, regardless of whether the employee is approved for remote work.