Action for Healthy Kids is the nations leading nonprofit and largest volunteer network specifically addressing the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes at school. We provide expertise, volunteers, programs and resources nationwide through a unique collaboration of more than 40,000 constituents and volunteers professionals, parents, educators, community volunteers, business leaders and students in partnership with professional associations, government agencies and corporations.
Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) seeks a driven and experienced Director of Development and Communications to provide business development and strategic communications leadership for its growing nationwide non-profit operations. This position is located in Chicago. Specific responsibilities for the position include:
Development Responsibilities (80%):
- Develop and execute a strategic development plan to achieve the short- and long-term fundraising needs of the organization. The director leads, participates in, and conducts national fundraising activities to grow the organizations $5 million annual budget, including but not limited to:
- Institutional fundraising from corporations, philanthropic foundations, and government agencies
- Individual fundraising from major and annual donors
- Earned revenue streams
- Fundraising events
- Work collaboratively across the organization to engage the Executive Director, Board of Directors and management staff to achieve fundraising goals.
- Become knowledgeable of core AFHK programs, as well as competitive intelligence, mission differentiation, and positioning within the field to support organizational growth.
- Manage a portfolio of existing donors through stewardship activities while facilitating engagement with new individual donors, corporations, and foundations.
- Work closely with communications and technology staff to ensure the integration of donor messaging into marketing materials and the organizations website.
- Coach, counsel, and periodically assist AFHKs State Teams as they fundraise to support their state-level operations.
- Lead and oversee AFHKs proposal writing process to ensure that all proposals are a strong fit with funding opportunities, and convey creative and compelling value propositions that achieve funders goals.
- Engage the Executive Director to develop and refine AFHKs long-term resource development plans.
- Refine AFHKs Development reporting processes to ensure timely and accurate financial forecasts and management reports.
- Provide strategic and tactical direction and input for the organizational operating plan.
- Recruit, hire, supervise and professionally develop all Development staff.
- Provide leadership to leverage and compel the Board of Directors and its Resource Development Committee to strengthen its ability to participate in the identification, cultivation and solicitation of new donors.
- Represent the organization at external events to grow the AFHK brand and presence.
Communications and Marketing Responsibilities (20%):
- Lead the development and implementation of an integrated strategic marketing and communications plan and process.
- Develop and oversee a high-level marketing and brand strategy to support the organizations vision for growth.
- Oversee the development and delivery of messaging assets, social media, and internal cascading communications.
- Oversee continual development of http://www.actionforhealthykids.org and online presence in general, including web updates, redesign, email marketing, audience segmentation, etc.
- As part of AFHKs media/PR activities, serve as a spokesperson for the organization.
- Supervise Communications staff.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelors degree, with minimum 7 years nonprofit development experience with leadership or management accountability.
- Minimum 5 years experience in nonprofit communications/marketing at a management level, or above.
- Demonstrated success in securing major and annual gifts from individuals and institutions.
- Demonstrated success in meeting annual fund goals and sponsorships.
- Demonstrated success in developing and executing compelling multichannel (electronic, social media and direct mail) campaigns that meet or exceed a budgets goals in this area.
- Experience with donor databases, direct mail, social networking, and individual asks.
- Working knowledge of donor database software and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- Experience engaging with donor networks.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Forward-thinking, with broad knowledge base and perspective.
- Ability to anticipate trends, likelihoods, and consequences to inform healthy risk-taking in decision making.
- Thorough, organized and detail-oriented approach to work.
- Ability to lead multiple long-and short term projects simultaneously, meeting all related deadlines; make decisions and solve problems effectively and creatively.
- Excellent verbal communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills to build personal and organizational credibility with all stakeholders.
- A high level of personal and professional integrity, with the ability to inspire confidence and cooperation.
- Ability to understand and explain the approach of Action for Healthy Kids and connect it to the priorities of funders and donors.
- Ability to manage and share pertinent information with Staff and Board.