Vice President of Development

Position Description

The Vice President of Development plays a critical role in growing The Academy for the Individual’s ultimate impact on the state at large. The Vice President of Development will lead the creation and implementation of a comprehensive development program and strategy to identify, cultivate and secure new investors; advance a comprehensive planned investing/earning program focused on professional advisor outreach; formulate and execute plans to increase community partnerships; and ensure facilitation of all contributions from prospective investors. The Vice President of Development is a member of the Academy’s Leadership Team and is responsible for leading the Development operations.

Reports to the Head of Schools.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Develop long-range strategic asset development and annual work plans, including goals for asset development in accordance with the Academy’s goals

  • Lead the Academy team to cultivate and strengthen relationships that ultimately grow our ability to impact positive educational change in Mississippi

  • Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close major investments through new prospects, professional advisors (attorneys, accountants, wealth managers and trust officers), and nonprofit and community groups encouraging their giving

  • Organize and oversee the fundraising efforts

  • Train and support the team to secure investments, gifts, and grants

  • Coordinate investor/donor relations, investor/donor engagement and income/gift processing efforts and services

  • Serve as lead staff liaison to professional advisors including managing the Professional Advisor Committee and broader network.

  • Regularly connect with and presents to professional advisors and their firms to ensure the Academy is top of mind for their client’s investment/philanthropic planning

  • Lead promotion and facilitation of all complex investments/gifts, including bequests, planned gifts, real estate, closely held business interests and private foundation conversions

  • Manage estate administration for bequests including any estate litigation interface with legal counsel

  • Remain informed on legal and technical issues related to community foundations and the philanthropic field as it relates to current and prospective donors and gifts; advises the staff on these issues as necessary

  • Ensure the Academy has a strong system for maintaining up-to-date and accurate records of contacts with investors/donors, prospects and professional advisors

  • Ensure effective administration of investments/gifts, maintenance of investor/donor records and communication of investor/donor and Fund information, tracking investor/donor contacts and interests, recognizing investors/donors through new and existing programs, ensuring timely delivery of reports and communications

  • Develop marketing tools for all development initiatives and charitable giving programs and to communicate new donor and fund development results

  • Proactively seek opportunities to deliver presentations to boards, agencies, professional and civic organizations regarding the Academy’s giving resources and serves as an external spokesperson for the Academy with a focus on investment and charitable giving

  • Engage in community outreach and maintain positive relationships with constituents, community, and business leaders

  • Other duties and special projects as assigned

Requirements

  • Joy for fundraising, including enthusiasm to make asks and manage investor/donor relationships

  • Sense of humor, creativity and an appreciation of the role of sales, fundraising, and philanthropy in building community

  • Proven record of closing major gifts and/or sales

  • Proven ability to work as a team player with diverse groups and excellence in managing and developing teams

  • Highly motivated, self starter with strong organizational skills and ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail

  • Strong interpersonal skills both internal and external

  • Expert-level written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to handle confidential information with discretion

  • Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently and be proactive with approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability

  • Commitment to diversity, accessibility and inclusion

  • Excellent time and task management skills as evidenced by a proven ability to efficiently and effectively handle multiple tasks at the same time as well as appropriate delegation

  • High level of integrity, professional maturity and sound judgment

  • Availability to work outside of traditional business hours, to travel locally, and occasionally regionally and nationally

  • 3+ years of relevant experience leading sales/investment/fundraising efforts for mission driven institutions (educational development experience preferred)

  • Experience leading a highly effective team toward outstanding results

  • Excellent skills and experience with Google Workspace, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, working with databases and internet research

Compensation

  • Status: Contract

  • Salary: 20% of all closed funds

    Please submit resume and cover letter to hos@academyi.org