Summary

Reporting to the President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and is primarily responsible for development strategy, fundraising, donor outreach, and marketing/communications. The CDO will help strengthen Epworth’s visibility, impact, and financial resources by designing and implementing a comprehensive plan for developing key external alliances and stewarding philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, and foundations as well as growing Epworth’s budget through major gifts, capital campaigns, government and non-government grants, and special events. The successful candidate will also expand and diversify Epworth’s donor base/pipeline, work closely with other team members to secure funding for new initiatives, and support board members as they take on a more active fundraising role.

Primary Relationships

The CDO reports to the CEO and serves as a member of the ELT. Within Epworth, the CDO has primary working relationships with the CEO, the ELT, and program leaders and directly supervises the development team in charting the direction of Epworth’s development efforts and ensuring the department’s effective operation. Outside Epworth, the CDO works with the Board of Directors, volunteers, donors, and funding sources as well as oversees vendors and consultants contracted to work directly on development-related initiatives.

Primary Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Development Strategy and Administration:

• Create and implement a comprehensive development strategy to strengthen and expand key external alliances and steward philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, and foundations as well as grow Epworth’s budget through major gifts, capital campaigns, grants, and special events.
• Create the annual department budget, communications plan, and calendar of development activities, including special events, volunteer opportunities, and recognition programs.
• Train, develop, lead, mentor, and evaluate the development team.
• Track, monitor, and report regularly on the progress of the development program against the annual work plan/calendar and departmental goals and metrics.
• Manage and strengthen development processes and systems, including recordkeeping, gift acknowledgments, renewals, and mailings.
• Create and maintain donor and prospect records, gift management systems, and informational reports as well as continuously conduct robust prospect research.

Fundraising:

• Devise an overall funding strategy and continuously research funding sources and trends, with foresight, to help position Epworth ahead of major funding changes or trends.
• Lead efforts to identify and secure new funding sources, including outreach and substantive presentations to prospective funders about Epworth’s current programs and future projects.
• Support and partner with the CEO, the ELT, and the board on all major fundraising initiatives, including strengthening relationships with current funders and cultivating new funding sources.
• Develop a comprehensive grants strategy in partnership with the ELT and program leaders, oversee grant proposals and report writing, and coordinate, develop, and track budgets and compliance for existing and proposed grant projects.

Donor Outreach and Engagement:

• Develop and implement a stewardship program aimed at cultivating deeper ties with current donors to increase gift size, frequency, and retention through donor events, social media, online, and direct mail streams, and informal communications.
• Lead efforts in identifying and securing new donors at all levels and establish an effective, useable donor database within Raiser’s Edge to expand and diversify Epworth’s donor base/pipeline.
• Partner with the CEO, the ELT, board members, and volunteers to identify, cultivate, and solicit potential significant donors to help meet funding goals for Epworth.
• Oversee the stewardship, gift accounting, and reporting functions, ensuring that all donors receive personal and timely acknowledgment of their gifts.

Marketing and Communications

• Develop an overall marketing and communications plan to increase program visibility and to attract and retain funding sources and donors.
• Lead and collaborate with the ELT and program leaders in developing effective messages for new and broader donor audiences.
• Direct the writing of funding proposals, annual reports, direct mail letters, special event materials, social media posts, and other fundraising support documentation.

Board and Volunteer Relations:

• Coach, support, and encourage the board’s development efforts.
• Prepare development reports, including plans, accomplishments, and challenges, in advance of board meetings.
• Function as a resource to the board on all matters related to fundraising and serve as the primary liaison for relevant board, special event, and volunteer fundraising committees.
• Oversee Epworth’s volunteer program and recognition events.

Qualifications

Knowledge and experience in the following areas are required: the nature and dimensions of philanthropy; motivations for giving and volunteering; research and cultivation practices; communications planning, social media, and public relations; standard fundraising techniques including face-to-face solicitation, proposal writing, special events, online and telephone solicitation, and direct mail; and development office functions including gift processing, prospect and donor histories, and fundraising reporting. The individual is especially expected to have demonstrated experience and confidence in asking people to contribute time and money.

Additional qualifications include the following:

• Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s preferred) with an emphasis in fundraising, marketing, public relations, or business.
• 5-10 years of executive-level development experience with demonstrated success in the following areas:
  1. Managing and implementing a successful, comprehensive strategic development plan, annual development calendar, and fund development program to achieve goals.
  2. Identifying and securing grants and major gifts of five figures and up.
  3. Generating increased funds from individual donors, both major donors and annual appeals, through a coordinated, strategic approach.
  4. Conducting initial outreach to prospective funders/donors, arranging for organizational leadership to meet with prospective funders/donors, and successfully preparing leaders for such meetings.
• Membership in a professional fundraising association is expected. Baseline certification in fundraising, the CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Professional) is preferred.
• Experience with and detailed knowledge of Raiser’s Edge (or comparable) software as well as Microsoft Office suite.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long ‐ term relationships.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and mentoring skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and focus on key objectives while managing multiple tasks/projects simultaneously.
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
• Ability to work independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside Epworth.
• High energy and passion for Epworth’s mission, vision, and values.
• Customer focus with a donor-centric vision.
• A professional and resourceful style with a willingness to step in where needed.
• The physical requirements of this job include sitting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs on a regular basis, lifting up to 25 lbs, and pulling and/or pushing on occasion.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Epworth is an EEO/AA employer. Consistent with this policy, Epworth embraces diversity and welcomes colleagues and applicants of all backgrounds. Our goal is to empower every day and build a community that is inclusive, drawing upon the strengths of the diversity of our colleagues to exceed the expectations of our clients.

Benefits

• Eligible for medical, dental, vision, life & disability on date of hire
• 401K with employer match
• 40 hours of PTO on date of hire; additional hours earned after 90 days
• 11 paid holidays
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• Extended illness bank

About Epworth

Founded in 1864, Epworth is a multiservice agency that seeks to empower youth who have experienced trauma to realize their unique potential by meeting essential needs, cultivating resiliency, and building community. Thousands of youths and families turn to Epworth each year for a full range of services including therapeutic foster care and case management; residential and intensive treatment; individual/family therapy and comprehensive psychological testing; emergency shelter and longer-term housing services; life skills and vocational training; as well as crisis care and outreach through the Drop-In Center, food pantry, and 24-hour crisis help-line. Epworth is headquartered at 110 N. Elm Ave. in Webster Groves, Missouri, and has locations in Normandy and South St. Louis City.

Our Mission
Empowering youth to realize their unique potential by meeting essential needs, cultivating resiliency, and building community.

Our Vision
A world in which every youth experiences life in all its fullness.

Our Values

Respect: We recognize the inherent worth and promote the well-being of every client and colleague.

Excellence : We offer evidence-based, high-quality programming and provide exceptional care and service.

Community: We cultivate a sense of belonging and solidarity among colleagues and advocate for racial equality and social justice throughout our communities.