Status:           Full Time - Exempt
Reports to:     Executive Director
Supervises:    Senior Manager of Individual Philanthropy, Manager for Foundation and Corporate Relations, Development Coordinator, and interns and consultants

Project Exploration Background: Cofounded by paleontologist Paul Sereno and educator Gabrielle Lyon, in 1999, Project Exploration is a Chicago-based nonprofit science education organization. Project Exploration works to ensure communities traditionally overlooked by science—particularly minority youth and girls—have access to personalized experiences with science and scientists. At the heart of our work are youth programs, which impact the lives of hundreds of students each year by fostering a long-term interest in science. In 2009 Project Exploration received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Summary: The Director of Development and Institutional Advancement is one of four senior management team members that works with the organization’s leaders and board of directors to translate the organization’s vision and strategic plan goals into achievable steps. The Development Director leads the four-person development department in planning and executing a comprehensive fundraising plan which brings in over $1 million annually. This includes corporate, foundation, and government funding and sponsorship with a particular focus on growing individual giving.

The Director of Development will have primary responsibility for establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to grow the organization’s budget through the solicitation of major gifts, federal and state grants, special events, and corporate and foundation support. S/he will expand and diversify Project Exploration’s donor base and work closely with other team members to secure funding for initiatives outlined in the organization’s new strategic plan.

The Director of Development and Institutional Advancement represents a new, senior level position that will work closely with the senior staff, co-founders, and board of directors to position the organization as it takes significant steps forward, including launching a capital campaign (likely with outside fundraising counsel) in 2011/12.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in short and long-term strategic planning and overall organization capacity-building activities
• Actively work with the executive director and senior staff to develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy to include individual giving, sponsorship, government grants and corporate and foundation relations
• Support the executive director, co-founders, and board members on all major fundraising initiatives
• Follow major trends or changes in philanthropy and position Project Exploration to respond
• Hold primary responsibility for developing and executing all proposals with a long-term relationship-management approach
• Build on existing stewardship program with an eye on expanding the donor base and cultivating deeper ties with donors
• Develop, implement, and evaluate short and long-term fundraising strategies and departmental budget
• Monitor and report regularly on the progress of the development program; monitor donor information and documentation; provide and present analyses to board and senior leaders
• Identify, develop, and mentor the development team

Board of Directors and Volunteers Management

• Guide, train and support board, co-founders, committee members, staff, and volunteers to be effective fundraisers
• Staff and support the board development committee
• Supervise and evaluate development department personnel and consultants

Individual Giving

• Work closely with the senior manager of individual philanthropy to develop annual fundraising goals and strategies
• Serve as a lead solicitor and donor steward
• Work closely with the development team, executive director, and board to set income goals for each fiscal year; determine appropriate strategies and priorities for soliciting gifts from donors
• Identify and cultivate new and prospective donors
• Research and potentially develop technology-based fundraising strategies
• Work closely with the manager of foundation and corporate relations to develop annual fundraising goals and strategies
• Develop new initiatives to expand funder base and diversity of types of funders with a focus on grants over $100,000 and multi-year pledges
• Expand government grants to include NSF, other federal, state, and city grants
• Supervise the timely submission of proposals, sponsorship requests, budgets, updates, and end-of-year reports to corporate, foundation, and/or government funders
• Supervise the identification, research, and evaluation of potential corporate, foundation, and government prospects for solicitation including for special events
• Attend site visits with prospects and funders as appropriate

 Qualifications:
These minimum requirements must be met for the candidate to be considered:

• Minimum of twelve years experience in fundraising, with a minimum of seven years in a senior management position leading a development team and managing and monitoring budgets and income goals
• Minimum of five years of proven, focused experience in individual giving and major donor cultivation
• Proven ability to lead a fundraising effort that brings in $1+ million annually (in addition to other factors, performance is evaluated based on the ability to reach fundraising goals)
• Experience and proven success developing board and committee members as fundraisers
• Proven success managing small and large events
• Knowledge of the local and national funding community; particularly individual philanthropists
• Experienced with Microsoft Office. Proficiency with fundraising software, Raiser’s Edge software preferred

The ideal candidate will have:

• A background in development focused on supporting programs in science, education and/or youth development
• Worked as a member of development team successfully conducting a capital campaign
• Supervised outside fundraising counsel for a specific project, program, or campaign
• Excellent managerial skills and experience building a sense of team
• Out-going personality with an infectious can-do attitude
• Excellent writing, public speaking, and interpersonal skills
• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Professional) is preferred

Salary: $90K, commensurate with experience. 100% employer-paid health, dental, and life insurance.  403B available. Employer-paid parking. Excellent professional growth opportunities. 

To Apply:
Deadline September 19, 2010. Cover letter, resume, salary requirement and past salary history are required. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Email: directorsearch@projectexploration.org. No phone calls please.

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