Director of Development

THE ORGANIZATION

Ukandu has been serving families battling childhood cancer since 1986, with a mission of bringing hope, joy, and connection to communities impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer.

For 31 years, the organization focused solely on one week of summer camp, making it the most impactful week it could be for a patient/survivor and sibling. Since 2016, Ukandu's service and impact goals have grown substantially, with the development of five additional programs offered throughout the year and designed to meet the needs of the whole family. All programs are 100% free of charge for our families.

Ukandu has recently announced a $16 Million dollar capital raise to build an innovative pediatric cancer family resource center, The Ukandu Loft, for the families we serve. The capital campaign has been successful and is nearing completion to build this first of its kind facility in the United States.

POSITION OPPORTUNITY

With the addition of The Loft, the overall annual budget for Ukandu is projected to grow from its current $1.5 million to around $3 million over the next two to five years. The Development Director will help ensure ongoing operational success, as they build upon our recent growth and the financial success of the capital campaign. Cultivating and stewarding the new donors, relationships and partnerships developed through this campaign will be critical to this effort.

The Development Director will play an integral role in helping bring Ukandu to the next phase of its organizational development. This includes building and managing a development department team to sustain our recent growth and success.

POSITION SUMMARY

Ukandu seeks an experienced, self-directed, results-oriented professional with a strong sense of alignment with and commitment to our mission. The Director of Development, a key member of Ukandu’s senior leadership team, will work collaboratively with the CEO, Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to create, lead and execute a long term, comprehensive, strategic fundraising plan, encompassing annual, capital, and fundraising events as well as special projects as they arise.

They will ensure that all organization ambassadors are fully equipped to be successful in their supportive fundraising efforts. Leading with authenticity, they will collaborate with a team who cares deeply about the families we serve, and they will take responsibility for extending Ukandu’s reach and deepening our connections in the community.

Status Classification: Regular full-time; exempt (salaried)

Reports to: CEO

Staff Liaison to: Board of Directors Development Committee

Manages: Development Associate

OUR COMMITMENT TO A STRONG WORK CULTURE

Ukandu is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace. It provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons, regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, military, veteran, marital, or citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. Ukandu strives to create an inclusive working environment in which our differences contribute to our collective strength. Ukandu strives to hire team members who share backgrounds of the communities we serve.

Ukandu is a dynamic and demanding work environment, and we recognize the emotional weight our work carries. We offer a flexible, four-day, 35 hour per week schedule.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate and strategize with the CEO, Board and Development Committee to develop and secure individual, foundation, and corporate gifts.
• Set and meet annual development goals in all areas of giving, including annual operations and capital projects.
• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with major donors and stakeholders with a focus on increasing their engagement.
• Identify new prospects, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts on behalf of Ukandu.
• Provide proactive and responsive donor stewardship.
• Develop the overall strategy for and provide oversight of donor/prospect management in Ukandu’s CRM, Salesforce.
• Build and execute a fundraising strategy pertaining to donor engagement, lapsed donor re-engagement, Ukandu program alumni, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Partner with the CEO in creating and overseeing annual budgets, monitoring revenue and expenditures to ensure Ukandu meets or exceeds fundraising goals.

MANAGERIAL DUTIES:

• Oversee the strategy for all donor communications, that are created by the Development Associate in conjunction with the Marketing Department.
• Oversee the creation, accuracy, and maintenance of all internal and external reports and collateral, including web updates, social media postings, and annual reports, to ensure effective and consistent donor communications.
• Manage and oversee the financial submissions of public and private grant proposals, applications, and reports drafted by Development Associate.
• Partnering with the CEO, oversee planning, strategy and execution of all fundraising, cultivation, and donor appreciation events.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A passionate and unwavering belief in Ukandu’s mission and strategies to bring hope, joy, and connection to communities impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer.
• A Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5-7 years of demonstrated development success meeting and exceeding annual budget and fundraising goals.

(substantial experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirement)

• Demonstrated ability to initiate and build authentic relationships on behalf of an organization and a genuine enjoyment of working in high level fundraising.
• Strong presentation and writing skills adaptable to various forms of communication.
  • Writing Samples will be required as part of your application. Up to three examples may include: Personalized major donor communication, Grant application, Grant report or donor presentation materials.
• Demonstrated experience creating and managing budgets; successful track record of building a strategic revenue plan to match projected expenses.
• Self-starter, resourceful, organized, driven, and able to work highly effectively as part of a team.
• Flexible, creative and curious thinking that adapts to external forces and unforeseen conditions.
• Managerial experience in a previous position.
• Initiate, prioritize and manage multiple projects independently and able to synthesize information into new ideas and solutions.
• Comfort level with technology, ability to adapt to new systems.
• Proficiency in Salesforce is preferred.
• Ability to transport items up to 50 pounds; ability to be stationary for extended periods of time; may require the ability to climb stairs.

COMPENSATION:

$110,000 – $130,000 annually (depending on experience)

Medical/Dental/Vision

401k with employer match