Overview
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of girls in NYC? PowerPlay NYC is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the lives of girls through sports, helping them grow physically, emotionally and academically stronger.
PowerPlay offers sports-based after school and summer programs for 1,100 youth (ages 8-18). Over 90% of our participants are youth of color (predominantly Black and Latinx) and most reside in low-income neighborhoods in the five boroughs of NYC. Our programs provide a safe space for our girls, assist in boosting their self-confidence and foster a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. We seek to amplify their voices and build resilience so they can become change agents in their communities.
Position Summary
We are looking for a mission-driven Senior Director of Development and Events to lead our fundraising efforts.
The Senior Director of Development and Events is responsible for the successful implementation and execution of the fundraising efforts. S/he will be responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewardship of corporate, individual, foundation and government donors. This is a full-time position. The Senior Director of Development is expected to work evenings and weekends when needed.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include the Following:
Set Strategic Direction
- Develop fundraising strategies across corporate, individual, foundation, Board, Junior Board and government funding streams. This includes developing an annual grants strategy.
- Design strategies to influence and motivate new and existing external constituents to invest in PowerPlay
- Facilitate new revenue streams
Manage, Acquire, Retain and Grow Portfolio of Donors
- Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, steward and manage a portfolio of corporate, individual, foundation and (NYC, NYS and county) government donors to meet and exceed annual financial goals. Analyze progress to goal, making strategic decisions to inform actions and campaigns, and executing on cultivation plans to drive towards revenue growth.
- Build a pipeline of prospective corporate, individual, foundation and government donors
- Work with President & CEO, Sr. Program Manager and Finance team to apply for, manage and renew 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal grant
- Work with President & CEO, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Finance team to apply for, manage and renew NYC Council grants (discretionary contracts via DYCD)
- Complete and submit PowerPlay’s NYC Council’s grant applications each year, and work with the Finance team to support the contract development process
- Knowledge of DYCD contract management and registration process (MOCS & PASSPort) strongly desired
- Establish systems to ensure that we track donor progress through donor lifecycle
- Review, summarize and track data on grant awards received in database and files
- Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with current and new donors
- Establish and promote matching gifts to applicable donors
Fundraising Campaigns & Events
- Develop editorial calendar, as well as fundraising campaign and events calendar
- Plan, organize, lead and control fundraising events (including, but not limited to at least two salon events per fiscal year and the annual Golf & Tennis Tournament)
- Identify, recruit and oversee event volunteers, committee members, chairs and co-chairs
- Plan, organize, lead and control annual appeal program (including Giving Tuesday and end of the year appeal)
- Manage and monitor timeline, budgets (expenses and revenue), fundraising progress and all logistics for the event(s)
- Manage event communications and logistics with venue, performers, printers, photographers, videographers, designers, caterers, auctioneer, President & CEO, board, junior board, staff, program participants, supporters, coaches, guests, donors and vendors
Grant Writing
- Continually research private, corporate and government grant opportunities (especially multi-year grants) compatible with PowerPlay’s mission, values and programs
- Manage, track and oversee all grant writing activities, including completing applications and RFPs, as well as writing high quality letters of intent and full proposals. Special attention should be made to checking for completeness against grant instructions, spelling, grammar and style to ensure compliance and regulatory requirements
- Respond to inquiries regarding drafted and submitted proposals
- Maintain records and submit reports related to grant opportunities
- Attend grant application training conferences and trainings, as necessary
- Work collaboratively with PowerPlay Program and Finance staff to complete grant applications, including submitting budgets
- Oversee and track all grant milestones including, but not limited to proposals in development, proposals submitted to funders, deliverable deadlines, communications and awards. Ensure that all content is complete and up to date at all times and calendar reminders are established.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Reporting
- Work with President & CEO and Finance team to create event and annual budgets, forecasts, and reports for the board of directors and grants processing/submissions
In-Kind Donations
- Source, solicit and secure items and services for in-kind donation
Fundraising Platforms and Database Management
- Manage PowerPlay’s fundraising platforms: Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud Online Express, JustGiving, and Blackbaud’s Events Module, and other platforms such as GiveSmart
- Maintain and update donor records (via Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, GiveSmart and Constant Contact), ensuring that they are accessible, accurate and comprehensive
- Oversee management of all fundraising platforms, including but not limited to: data entry, reviewing and cleaning data, compiling and updating mailing lists, running reports/queries, tracking campaigns and assessing donor trends and analytics
- Manage donor gift processing, continuously ensure that fundraising platforms are reflective of all fundraising activities. This includes ensuring acknowledgement emails and letters are distributed to donors in a timely fashion.
Communication
- Script and tell our organizational story (to all stakeholders) in an impactful and compelling manner
- Develop elevator pitches for internal constituents
- Oversee internal and external communication surrounding all fundraising campaigns and events
- Prepare and execute written correspondence including, but not limited to solicitation proposals, letters of inquiry and acknowledgement letters
- Develop donor communication plan
- Draft communication on behalf of the President/CEO (or Board and Junior Board Members) to individuals and groups: preparing communication briefings as necessary; review all documents to be shared externally (via mail, email, or digitally) for accuracy
- Write donor and grant reports
- Compile information for and complete Board and Junior Board score cards
- Create and distribute quarterly newsletters across various platforms (including social media, PowerPlay website, Constant Contact and emails)
- Coordinate communication plan (including social media, PowerPlay website, Constant Contact and email) associated with all fundraising campaigns and events
Other
- Complete NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government semi-annual filings each year
- Prepare materials, research, and background information for meetings with Board, Junior Board and various constituents
- Oversee and manage PowerPlay’s Junior Board
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Strong oral and written communications skills, using appropriate and diplomatic language, grammar, spelling, and style
- Ability to identify and anticipate problems, analyze situations and recommend solutions/problem-solve
- Demonstrated achievement in a demanding work environment
- Well organized with systematic and meticulous attention to details
- Flexible and adaptable – Ability to work with changing conditions and priorities and willingness to work some evenings and weekends
- Have the ability to manage and balance a wide range of projects and duties in fast moving environment
- Proactive, “can-do” approach/attitude; demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness
- Excellent team player with a positive attitude and the ability to connect and collaborate with others
- Accountable – willing to accept appropriate levels of responsibility for tasks, projects and outcomes
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree is required
- Minimum 8+ years of work experience in nonprofit development/fundraising/grant writing required; directly executing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities with an assigned portfolio
- Experience and/or familiarity with youth development and/or girl-focused initiatives
- Demonstrated experience managing fundraising targets of $2M and above
- Understanding of the New York State and NYC grant landscape
- Sports background a plus
Computer Skills:
- Intermediate or better proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of products and general ability to learn new software; experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM required