Director of Advancement - New York City Outward Bound Schools

Director of Advancement

Salary: $95,000 - $120,000

ABOUT NYC OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLS

Why can’t school be more like an Outward Bound course? NYC Outward Bound Schools believes that students benefit greatly from tapping into the world beyond their classroom and their immediate community to partake in joyful learning experiences that can prepare them to thrive in community, college, and career. In partnership with the NYC public school system, NYC Outward Bound Schools is a non-profit organization that serves over 28,000 students in almost 80 schools across the five boroughs of New York City. NYC Outward Bound Schools provides opportunities for unique, liberatory, experiential learning for students in their social, emotional, and academic development. The organization supports NYC young people both by leading students in outdoor adventure programming that pushes beyond their traditional school experiences and also by coaching and supporting educators on how to incorporate lessons from these catalytic experiences within the classroom. Ultimately, our diverse and committed staff support NYC young people in unique ways to develop the knowledge and skills to lead with confidence and curiosity, persist in the face of challenges, and live fulfilling lives.

Role Summary:

The Director of Advancement leads the design, refinement, and execution of an integrated and strategic fundraising plan that ensures the sustainability of NYC Outward Bound Schools, fosters future growth, and advances strategic priorities. The Director of Advancement drives best-in-class philanthropic efforts, nurturing, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts from individuals, government, corporations, and foundations. The position will be responsible for policy and procedure development, database management and coordination with other staff members. The Director of Advancement provides oversight and direction to a small team to execute goals as well as develop the teams’ capacity while building upon their strengths. The Director of Advancement works in close collaboration with staff across the organization and the Board of Directors. The ideal candidate is a creative problem-solver who is energized by organizing and optimizing processes, continuous improvement, and can effectively communicate across teams.

Essential Functions:

• Create a fundraising model, inclusive of corporate and foundation relations, individual major gifts, corporate donors, annual giving, and new potential sources of philanthropic support
• Design, lead, and evaluate the systems, processes and tools that allow for the efficient and accurate operational components of fundraising, marketing, analytics and reporting, gift management (processing, acknowledgments, and agreements)
• Establish and manage all key actions to meet or exceed overall fundraising goals, including maintaining a strong donor pipeline and cultivating new funding opportunities for major donor gifts and foundation grants
• Work with the CEO, Board, and development and program teams to lead all major fundraising efforts, track progress toward fundraising goals, and achieve annual fundraising goals to support the organization’s vision and strategic plan.
• Manage and develop detailed and documented portfolios of major individual, corporate, and grant donors and prospects, including developing targeted fundraising campaigns when appropriate
• Manage and execute on the fundraising outreach and event planning for the organization’s annual gala and other fundraising events
• Identify new grant opportunities and coordinate the grant-writing process
• Prepare and provide high-quality grant reports to existing funders that summarizes the effective and appropriate use of philanthropic dollars
• Develop and maintain a multi-channel calendar of events and engagement activities to increase donations from current and new donors
• As needed, support finance and program departments in execution of pre-and-post-grant award activities including budget development, revenue forecasting, financial and programmatic reporting
• Prepare and present regular reports on progress toward fundraising goals
• Draft and share donor communications and annual report
• Build positive external relationships, alliances, and partnerships that advance the mission of the organization and engage potential new prospects and partners
• Cultivate an engaging and inclusive environment that attracts and retains a diverse pool of qualified talent
• Recruit, hire, mentor, and supervise staff to effectively attain the goals of the department and the organization
• Monitor organizational culture and employee morale to identify improvement opportunities. 
• Provide regular meaningful feedback, coaching, and support to direct reports in alignment with NYC Outward Bound Schools’ mission, vision, and core values as well as to the individual’s developmental needs
• Foster a culture of cross-departmental collaboration, individual initiative, accountability, and responsibility across the organization
• Model and promote the organization's core values, including leading by example and bringing awareness to the importance of the organization's efforts toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Provide guidance and support to the organization's leaders and employees
• Develop presentations and memorandum, as needed
• Maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and best practices
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to educational equity for BIPOC youth, diversity, equity, and inclusio
• Demonstrates a dedication to our core values of community, courage, equity, integrity, and learning throughout all aspects of their work
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in development/advancement with non-profit organization, at least three (3) of which has been in leadership or management position
• Demonstrated success in all aspects of institutional advancement, with a track record of successful fundraising efforts from diversified sources and an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy
• Experience in the effective engagement of a board
• Proficiency in data-driven strategic planning, including the ability to develop and implement comprehensive plans and track progress toward the plan’s ultimate goals
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, work collegially, and achieve influence across a wide range of diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skills in harnessing and growing team talent to deliver on the goals of development and communication initiatives
• Ability to generate innovative ideas, originate action without instruction, take initiative, and prioritize tasks effectively
• Ability to remain detail-oriented while also maintaining focus on the big picture
• Skilled in working independently and following through on assignments with minimal direction
• Demonstrated flexibility, maturity, and ability to juggle competing priorities
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal; experience and skill in public speaking and presentations
• Unquestionable integrity and ethical standards in leadership
• Excellent digital literacy skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Office and Google
• Familiarity with the field of education is a plus

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• HRA/FSA/Transit accounts
• Life insurance
• 403(b) with employer match after one year
• Generous PTO

Location:

• Hybrid position: Requires multiple days per week on site in Long Island City as outlined in the organization’s remote work policy.

NYC Outward Bound Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against, and harassment of, any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable state or federal law.

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