Development Manager

Pie Ranch is a sustainable food system education and advocacy organization that inspires and creates a new generation of farmers, educators, entrepreneurs, and advocates with the knowledge and the skills to work together to build a healthy, sustainable, and inclusive food system.

Position Overview:

Pie Ranch is in a phase of intensive growth, and we are seeking to hire our first in-house Development Manager (DM) to implement fundraising responsibilities that support and advance our ambitious annual fund and capital campaigns. Our 2010 operating budget is $567,000, and our multi-year capital campaign goal is $5 million.

In addition to managing our on-site development office, the DM will also provide support to a contracted capital campaign director. The DM is envisioned as a full-time position that reports to the Executive Director. The DM will work closely with the Operations Manager, contracted consultants, and Board committees, particularly the Development and Capital Campaign Committees.

Responsibilities:

Development Systems Management (30%):

• Ensure accurate entry of all donor contributions and grants into the donor database; ensure that data is maintained in a consistent, systematic manner.
• Process gifts and thank/acknowledge donors in a timely manner,
• Reconcile gift records on a monthly basis with the accountant/bookkeeper.
• Develop and oversee comprehensive development department filing system
• Oversee and maintain inventory of essential development collateral including brochures, letterhead and remit envelopes, postage supplies and capital campaign donor packets.
• Ensure proper functioning of electronic appeals and online donation system.
• Maintain the development calendar and priority task lists; schedule and keep minutes of all development department and fundraising committee meetings, donor meetings, events and other activities.
• Ensure that all relevant notes and minutes, scheduling information, messages, etc., are received by all appropriate parties in a timely manner.

Annual Fund Appeal Management (20%):

• Coordinate all aspects of spring and year-end donor appeal mailings (via hard copy and email) from drafting the appeal letter to producing personalized acknowledgement letters and receipts.
• Track and report on contributions made in response to each appeal.

Event Management (10%-20%):

• Play a lead role in coordinating and supporting 1 major fundraising benefit per year at Pie Ranch (150+ guests).
• Coordinate and support 2 to 3 offsite, board-driven fundraising events per year, and numerous house parties for the capital campaign.

Grants Management and Reporting (10%-20%):

• Work closely with a contracted grantwriter to ensure the timely submission of grant-related documents including letters of inquiry, proposals, reports and supplemental documentation requested by foundations and other funders.
• Coordinate the production of all necessary grant reports.
• Produce acknowledgement letters for all grants received.

Major Donor Program Support (10%):

• Conduct research to identify and support major donor solicitations.
• Track gifts and generate personalized acknowledgement letters.

Track and Report on Fundraising Progress (5%):

• Produce regular reports on progress made towards dollar goals and action-items that are detailed in the development plan.
• Work closely with the Development Chair to ensure proper reporting at board meetings.

Development Department Budget Management (5%):

• Ensure that costs for all fundraising activities stay within the limits established by the approved budget.
• Complete and file all necessary paperwork and reports to support accurate fund accounting.

Qualification: 

Required:

• Demonstrated strong management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of development systems commonly used at comparable non-profit organizations.
• Proven experience and skills in working with a relational donor database, preferably eTapestry.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, thoughtfulness and diplomacy to build amiable, effective working relationships with Board members, volunteers, donors and staff.
• Superior attention to detail.
• Proven self-starter, with the ability to work independently, set ambitious priorities and carry them through to completion; entrepreneurial spirit.
• Proficiency with appropriate information-technology tools for development office management.
• Highly skilled in verbal and written English, including the ability to produce clear and persuasive written communications vehicles for diverse audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a demanding, high-energy environment and manage multiple tasks and priorities, while maintaining a sense of humor.
• Experience working collaboratively in a team environment with successful outcomes.
• College degree or equivalent level of training and professional experience in fundraising.
• U.S. citizen or legal right to work in the U.S.

Desired:

• Knowledge of agriculture, sustainable food systems, education and/or youth development.
• Ability and willingness to work some weekends, evenings, and occasionally travel on short notice.
• Professional, friendly, and enthusiastic personality.
• Enjoyment of farming and gardening, cooking and baking, and interacting with youth.
• Familiarity with the Peninsula/Silicon Valley philanthropic community.

Other Requirements:

• Position will require the Development Manager to spend at least a portion of the work week at Pie Ranch, and can accommodate some work-at-home time, to be negotiated.
• Access to a car is required.

This is a full-time salaried exempt position.

Compensation: Benefits and compensation commensurate with experience.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2010

To Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates should please submit a cover letter, resumé, and writing samples relevant to the requirements outlined above to Pei-Yee Woo, Operations Manager, by e-mail. No phone calls, please.

Applicants only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.

Pie Ranch is committed to providing equal opportunity employment opportunities to candidates and employees without regard to race, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin citizenship. Pie Ranch encourages women and minorities to apply for employment opportunities.