Director of Fundraising

Parks & People works to sustain and improve Baltimore’s parks and open spaces through public-private partnerships. Since 1984, P&P has a history of making investments in green park projects to revitalize neighborhoods and is a major provider of programs to allow children, youth and adults to learn, grow, and explore their natural environment. Parks & People envisions a Baltimore City where green renewal contributes to economic investment and population growth, where people enjoy green spaces that spark wonder, and where communities build the strength and leadership to steward the environment.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

We support an annual operating budget of $5 million through a comprehensive development program. This role provides the vision and the leadership to build and sustain the development programs for fundraising and donor relations. The role manages a team consisting of a Donor Relations Manager and Grants Manager. The objective is to marshal P&P fundraising potential and guide all its major functions to the next level of excellence, with the support of a staff team and consultants. The Director, working with the CEO, would be responsible for launching an endowment campaign, cultivating and securing at least $500K in major gifts annually, planning and executing annual giving campaign, ensuring corporate and foundation grants and reports are completed, and developing and executing the strategy for sponsorships and donations at P&P’s special events.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

   1. Identify and cultivate major givers: This role includes identifying, engaging, and asking current and prospective major gift donors for at least $500K in annual support and multi-year commitments, and administering a program of outreach, communications and stewardship on a continual basis to establish and sustain relationships with current and prospective donors.
   2. Manage Parks & People’s development staff to ensure all individual, foundation, corporate and event fundraising efforts are performed.
   3. Provide leadership for a $5M endowment campaign: This role includes performing a feasibility study, developing a case statement, and creating the strategy to meet the endowment goal.
   4. Provide professional development training and opportunities to P&P’s development staff.
   5. Staff the Board of Directors’ Development Committee:  In this role, the Director provides guidance on specific fundraising matters, creates and presents regular reports on progress toward annual fundraising goals, and encourages the active engagement of Committee members in fundraising programs.
   6. Work collaboratively with the President & CEO to get in front of leaders in the public, private, and voluntary sectors, major donors, and other individuals and groups capable of helping to advance the mission and vision of Parks & People.

MANAGEMENT & OVERSIGHT:

   1. Manage all activities of the Development division, including all designated staff and consultants, to ensure that overall annual development goals for fundraising are met.
   2. Oversee the donor database system, grant tracking & reporting systems, prospect research program, and a moves-based portfolio management system.
   3. Establish and oversee a comprehensive data management and reporting system that includes financial projections and periodic development progress reports.
   4. Oversee creation of collateral material in support of fundraising endeavors.
   5. Perform all other duties as assigned by the President & CEO.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

   • At least seven (7) years of development experience with a history of securing major grants and awards.
   • A solid knowledge of standard financial data (e.g., balance sheet, income statement, cashflow projects, AR/AP aging reports, and monthly reconciliations).
   • Solid knowledge of MS-Office Suite and Development CRM Software.
   • Excellent time-management skills needed to handle multiple, concurrent projects, which are often associated with deadlines.
   • Demonstrated experience and success in building and providing leadership for a collaboration-oriented team of professional staff members and volunteers.
   • Possess the interpersonal and leadership skills needed to work with and motivate staff, board members and other volunteers, as well as build and maintain positive and effective relationships with current and prospective donors.
   • Collaborative work ethic and ability to understand and identify opportunities and connections between fundraising activities and other divisional and organizational activities.
   • Ability to use data and analytics as tools to communicate progress and make strategic and timely decisions regarding program effectiveness and impact.
   • A willingness and availability to work beyond the usual 8:30am-5pm business day and on weekends as needed.