Help Shape the Future of Philanthropy at Neighborhood House

1 hour ago

3 min read

We're hiring a Director of Development to strengthen and lead our fundraising program. Those who support Neighborhood House tell us we're one of their top giving priorities, but we haven't asked them to give consistently enough, or in a way that invites them to grow alongside our work. Closing that gap is what this role is all about.

A Defining Moment

Neighborhood House has served Southbridge and the surrounding communities since 1927. Families come to us for early childhood education, youth development, family services, and housing counseling. Our programs are designed to work together, so a parent who enrolls a child in preschool might also turn to one of our housing counselors when it’s time to buy a home.

Most of our funding comes from government sources. We're grateful for that support, and it will remain important. But there's room for the generosity of individuals, local businesses, and foundations to play a much larger role.

After completing a new strategic plan and an outside development assessment, our Board made a commitment to establish a professional, relationship-based fundraising program. The Director of Development is the key hire in that commitment, and we hope to have the right person in place as we enter our second century in Southbridge.

What the Job Entails

This is a builder’s role. Our next Director of Development will inherit deep community trust and donors who care about the mission and want to see it advanced. With that foundation in place, the opportunity is to help shape the future of philanthropy at Neighborhood House.

Alongside our Executive Director and the Board’s Development Committee, the new Director of Development will create and implement our first comprehensive annual fundraising plan. They’ll manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors and prospects, spending much of their time with them in person, whether that’s over coffee or on a walk through our building.

Over the course of the year, they’ll coordinate our spring and year-end appeals, oversee the grants calendar alongside our program directors, and plan two events: one signature fundraiser and one gathering devoted to thanking and getting to know our supporters. Working with the Board, they’ll also establish our planned giving program, including a Legacy Society to recognize people who include Neighborhood House in their estate plans.

Making sure our records are up to date is essential, so the new director will oversee our CRM, Little Green Light, keeping gift and donor records accurate and completing the cleanup of our existing database. They’ll also develop the gift acceptance, naming, and acknowledgment policies that guide how we receive and honor every gift, with help from our administrative development staff on gift entry and acknowledgments..

This position reports to our Executive Director, with weekly meetings to set priorities and donor strategy and a fundraising report at every Board meeting. Our Board is willing and ready to help, though most members are new to major-gift fundraising, so equipping them to open doors, make introductions, and join visits will be an important part of the role.

The Right Person for the Role

This role is suited for someone who is entrepreneurial and energized by building something rather than maintaining it. Our ideal candidate is a self-starter, comfortable with ambiguity, who enjoys asking people for money face to face. They’ll also need patience for the behind-the-scenes tasks of cleaning up data and writing policies.

Candidates should bring at least five years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, including direct, personal solicitation of major gifts, along with a record of building or significantly growing annual giving. Experience moving an organization from transactional to relationship-based fundraising is a plus, as are connections in New Castle County and the greater Wilmington philanthropic community.

Someone who is comfortable working in an organization with a faith-based heritage, and who feels at home in a busy community center, will fit right in.

How to Apply

You can apply online or send a resume and cover letter describing your fundraising experience and interest in working at Neighborhood House to Gwendolyn Henry at ghenry@neighborhoodhse.org. The full job description is available to download. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If a name came to mind while you were reading — someone who lights up at the thought of a donor visit and cares about the details that keep those relationships strong — please pass this along. We're eager to find the right leader for this mission-critical role.

Neighborhood House is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds.