People who grapple with poverty, violence, trauma, and oppression are often forced to make difficult tradeoffs that may provide short-term gains at the expense of their long-term wellbeing. Instead of interrupting these cycles, well-intentioned interventions may have the opposite effect, solidifying inequities that not only hold back individuals, but society as a whole. The Full Frame Initiative (FFI), based in Greenfield, Massachusetts, partners with pioneering organizations, systems, and communities across the country to fundamentally shift their focus from fixing problems to fostering wellbeing—the needs and experiences essential for health and hope. FFI demonstrates how this shift in focus creates lasting change for people and opens the door for greater equity in society, replacing poverty, violence, trauma, and oppression with wellbeing and justice.

FFI uses a variety of tools—from policy, practice and culture change with partners; to thought-provoking insights that challenge the field; and mobilization of those who are ready for big change—to reveal how a new perspective can turn into new responses. From there, FFI amplifies systemic successes to spur broader action and seed a movement for wellbeing.

Founded in 2009 by Katya Fels Smyth, FFI is experiencing significant growth and increased national recognition. From an original staff of two, FFI has expanded to 12 staff members–in Greenfield and around the country–and will continue to grow in 2019 and over the next five years. Now at a pivotal juncture in its history, with new funding in place and a new national board of directors, FFI is dramatically accelerating growth across all strategic areas of the organization.  More information about FFI can be found at: https://fullframeinitiative.org

Position Summary

FFI’s fast growth—doubling in size and budget every two to three years—requires new staff, new partners and new funders. Our revenue comes from a blend of private philanthropy, earned income and government contracts, and the percentage of our funding that comes from high net worth individuals is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The Director of Development will play a pivotal role in managing the donor relationship process and supporting the CEO in her recruitment and cultivation of new major donors. In 2019, this position will concentrate almost exclusively on FFI’s need to raise $2 million in growth capital commitments by December 1, 2019, in order to secure an additional $2 million growth challenge. In the first year, the Director of Development will support the creation and implementation of the annual development plan and will be responsible for the majority of development related administrative functions, while working closely with the Special Assistant to the CEO. We anticipate hiring additional administrative support as the organization grows.  In the second year, the Director of Development will act as lead in the execution of the annual development plan. At first, the Director of Development will periodically support the CEO, other staff, and contractors as needed in prospecting for new foundation partners, writing and editing grant applications, and preparing reports. Eventually, this position may take on foundation fundraising responsibilities. This position will be expected to maintain the utmost discretion and confidentiality in all matters.

Key Development Duties and Responsibilities

Annual strategy and planning

• Support (year one)/lead (after year 1) creation and implementation of annual development plan.

Expand FFI’s major donor support

• Prospect/Donor Research, Cultivation and Stewardship
  • Using a broad spectrum of resources and tools, research potential investors in FFI’s operations, programs and growth, to include biographical and financial capacity and inclination, as well as linkages to FFI. Identify and report on highest potential investors.
  • Augment board member and FFI leadership identification of prospects; assist in identifying additional potential major donor prospects.
  • Help maximize CEO’s time to include identifying key prospects in the moment at events and when traveling.
  • Participate in some “Asks”; oversee strategy for ongoing cultivation and stewardship.
• Support FFI’s CEO and Board members in Cultivation
  • Extract and communicate key information and collaborate with leadership to develop and implement group and individual engagement strategies.
  • Monitor press and media for pieces that are relevant and of interest to specific prospects and major donors, and share this information with the CEO.
  • Maintain awareness of top donors and prospects and their individual interests to identify opportunity for engagement and “touches” and “moves.”
• Engagement Planning
  • Create and oversee program of engagement activities relevant for the profile of FFI’s donor base and that can support building FFI’s profile: event design, oversight, implementation.
• System evolution
  • Co-create and maintain efficient systems using FFI’s database and other electronic tools.
  • Oversee the creation and timely maintenance of records, reports and briefings on prospects to include information that tracks their movement throughout the relationship development process.

Manage Annual Appeal and Other Small to Medium Giving Campaigns

• Plan, coordinate and direct all aspects of the annual appeal, including developing content in consultation with CEO and other staff.
• Plan and implement other direct mail and online giving campaigns co-developed with the CEO and Leadership Team.

Communications

• Create high quality, compelling written and visual fund development collateral materials to communicate FFI’s potential and impact.
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure general communications (e.g., Newsletter) are aligned with donor communications.

Foundation Fundraising

NOTE in 2019 this is not expected to be a substantial activity and may be supported by contractors, or other staff.

• Work with Leadership Team to identify, cultivate and submit applications and reports to foundation funders.
• Maintain the grants calendar and ensure the submission of applications and reports is timely and accurate.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Overall Leadership

• Serve as a member of FFI’s leadership team and support the organization’s continued strategic growth, through annual and long-term planning.
• Consciously and systematically move equity and inclusion forward in all aspects of the work.

Organizational Stewardship

• Participate vigorously to support FFI’s continued growth and to develop, implement, track, and report on annual and project plans in support of our strategic direction.
• Other tasks, large and small, to support a growing organization.

Qualifications: Required

• Demonstrated passion for social justice and social change to upend inequities, and for FFI’s mission
• Fundraising:
  • At least 10 years of experience in development and prospect research in an organization raising $3-$10 million in philanthropic funding annually; consideration will be given to candidates who have less than this experience yet have a demonstrated ability to be relentlessly curious and highly relational.
  • Demonstrated success cultivating major gifts and successful proposals; experience with prospect identification and research required
  • Great communication skills—persuasive and accurate writing and editing skills; strong relational, verbal presentation, and presentation skills
    • Demonstrated ability to write well and quickly in ways that successfully reach key audiences, in particular high-net worth individuals
  • Ability to recall, recognize, and communicate interrelated information pertaining to prospective and current donors and board members
  • Always discreet and ethical handling valuable organizational and personal donor information that are often confidential
• Project management and tech
  • Strong project management and problem solving experience
  • Knowledge of best practices for development infrastructure, including development information systems, planning, and campaign tracking and management
  • Proficiency in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or donor relations software, experience with Salesforce for Nonprofits preferred
  • Command of Google Apps in a collaborative environment (G-Suite: Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Hangouts, etc.); Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); and high aptitude for learning new technologies and technology troubleshooting.
  • Experience with processes and tools to manage multiple projects, schedules, and calendars.
  • Ability to independently manage multiple, deadline-driven projects from beginning to completion and to move rapidly from one task or project to another without dropping balls
  • Strong attention to detail, yet able to hold the big picture
  • Extremely well-organized, with the ability to organize information so that it can be readily understood and effectively utilized by others
• Experience in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Highly perceptive and able to read people and situations
• Able to keep calm under pressure
• Flexible, able to anticipate as well as to respond to change and to quickly adapt priorities based on constituent needs and new opportunities.
• High energy, positive, “can-do” attitude; teamwork-oriented
• Comfortable in a growing and evolving organization; able to learn quickly

Qualifications: Preferred

• Demonstrated knowledge of major foundations in the areas of poverty, violence, and trauma (services and policy) preferred, but will consider candidates with strong transferable skills and initiative.
• Demonstrated capacity to investigate, analyze, and synthesize large quantities of data into a user-friendly and concise format for the use of the development team
• Excellence in building internal and external relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders

To Apply

A personalized cover letter and resume are required. In your cover letter, tell us about yourself, why you want to work at FFI, how the Director of Development position is a great fit for you, and how you are a great fit for this position. Please include where you heard about this opportunity. This letter is important – your application will not be considered without a customized application to our organization’s posting.  E-mail your cover letter and resume as attached documents via e-mail to [email protected]. Please put “YOUR FIRST NAME LAST NAME Development Position” as your subject line.

The deadline to apply is May 24, 2019.

FFI is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ applicants and people from other underrepresented groups to apply, recognizing and respecting that diverse perspectives and experiences are valuable to our team and essential to achieving our purpose.