Non-Profit Director of Advancement

Director of Advancement

Reports To:      Executive Director

FLSA Status:    Exempt

Location:          Asheville, NC

Supervision:    Director of Marketing and Communications

Partnership Director

Associate Director of Advancement Operations

Development Coordinator (.5 FTE)

Organizational Overview:

For over 55 years, North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) has been delivering challenging outdoor adventure programs for people of all ages and occupations. Every Outward Bound course is built around a progression that delivers powerful life lessons by encouraging participants to step safely and confidently outside their comfort zones while in spectacular wilderness areas, interacting through pivotal team building sessions, or problem-solving at an urban challenge course. No matter where or how it is delivered, our mission is to change lives through challenge and discovery.  

Position Summary:
Building on a strong legacy of philanthropic support, NCOBS seeks a dynamic, systems-driven, and people-focused leader passionate about the mission of Outward Bound. The Director of Advancement will work with an energetic team to scale the organization’s fundraising, brand, marketing, communications, and scholarship program to the next level of excellence. The Director of Advancement will lead and work with cross functional teams to champion and oversee fundraising, marketing and communications, three regional advisory boards, and the scholarship program, including a multi-year development strategy encompassing the Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Endowments, and a Planned Giving Program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

GENERAL

• Serve as a member of the Leadership Team.
• Develop and maintain strategic understanding of NCOBS educational, operational, financial needs, and organizational goals.
• Responsible for construction, implementation, and management of Advancement Department Budget.
• Develop annual and 3-year fundraising goals to support full implementation of NCOBS strategic plan, included but not limited to the sustainability pathway.
• Hire, train, supervise, and oversee Advancement Department staff to inspire a department culture of teamwork and accomplish department goals. 
• Foster a Culture of Philanthropy with NCOBS board, regional advisory boards, board development committee, NCOBS community, partners, alumni, and staff.

DEVELOPMENT

• Manage NCOBS Major Gifts Program and endowments in partnership with the Executive Director.
• Plan and administer a 2M annual giving program that increases donors and annual gift amounts.
• Utilize data to analyze giving trends for reporting out and to drive and achieve annual fundraising targets.
• Prospect, cultivate, close, and steward a portfolio of >50 major donors.
• Oversee NCOBS grants program; work with a cross functional team on existing foundation and corporate foundation grants, prospect new grant opportunities, assist with writing and reviewing grants, foundation relationship management, case statements, and program budgets.
• Initiate and grow a Planned Giving Program.
• Work with a team to manage and grow the Corporate Sponsorship Program.
• Partner with Executive Director to revive the NCOBS Invitational Expedition Program.
• Work in collaboration with Executive Director, Partnership Director, and Finance Department to manage Endowment Program to expand a robust scholarship program.
• Work with the Executive Director and NCOBS Board Development Committee to assess and build advancement infrastructure to successfully launch and steward a 60^th Anniversary Campaign.

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND OUTREACH

• Manage creative concepts, content, and timelines for implementing all fundraising print and digital appeals, case statements, funding proposals, annual reports, and other funding projects as needed.
• Devise and implement friend-raisers and community outreach events designed to steward donors, alumni, community members, staff, and new prospects.
• In collaboration with the Marketing and Communications Director, devise robust marketing campaigns, print and digital multi-channel platforms, and internal and external content creation designed to promote and steward NCOBS brand, showcase mission impact, and have strong call to actions when needed.

REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARDS

• In partnership and collaboration with the Executive Director and Partnership Director, oversee the management, fundraising goals, and strategic community objectives of three advisory boards in Charlotte, Washington D.C., and Miami.
• As a part of the strategic plan implementation, work with the Executive Director, Community Programs Team to implement a new Growth Plan designed to scale mission impact and increase fundraising to serve more students through day programming in the Charlotte and Atlanta metro regions.
• Frequent travel to visit and steward donors, partner organizations, attend scholarship events, and visit schools in the regions where our regional advisory boards and major donors support students through scholarships.

Required Education and Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, with CFRE preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of nonprofit experience in development and managing teams.
• Knowledge and passion for Outward Bound culture, programs, history and philosophy.
• Well-honed communication skills; can interact confidently and effectively with NCOBS board, advisory boards, staff, students, donors, life trustees, NCOBS community, the media, and alumni.
• Big picture, strategic thinker with experience and ability to conceptualize and execute strategic plan and lead within a collaborative, cross-functional team environment to achieve department and organizational goals.
• Proven track record cultivating philanthropic relationships, securing major gifts, implementing and stewarding development best practices, and driving a 2M Annual Fund.
• Experience developing, implementing, and stewarding case statements and fundraising campaigns.
• Exemplary writing, speaking, and presentation skills.
• Experience with implementing and managing donor software, CRM platforms, and Moves Management.
• Effective budget management experience.
• Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & SharePoint).

Preferred Education and Work Experience

• Familiarity and experience with Salesforce.
• Extensive marketing, communications, and fundraising campaign experience.
• Knowledge and use of development, marketing, and communications platforms.

Physical Requirements

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• All NCOBS Employees are highly encouraged to participate in a Personal Challenge Event (PCE) at our June All-Staff retreat.  This is roughly a 7-mile walk/jog hiking experience at our Cedar Rock base camp.   
• Ability to travel and stay overnight required frequently for this position.

Location and Travel

• The position is based out of Asheville, N.C.. 
• Hybrid work is approved for this position.
• Frequent overnight east coast travel for donor prospecting, cultivation, closing, and stewardship.
• Some irregular hours and weekend work expected.    
• Asheville Town Office work environment is usually quiet and dog friendly.  

Compensation and Benefits

• Full-Time Salary is equitable for position and experience level for non-profits in Western North Carolina.  
• Eligible for full-time benefits that includes Medical, Dental, Vision and Accident benefits.
• Eligibility in our 403(b) Retirement plan.
• Company paid Employee Assistance Program, Long Term Disability and Group Term Life Insurance.
• Generous Paid Time Off: including vacation time, sick time, comp time and 13 paid holidays per year.
• Eligible for a cell phone stipend.
• Incredible work culture within a mission driven organization.

The North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) prohibits discrimination against and harassment of any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, age, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable local, state or federal law. NCOBS promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics nor on differences based on gender identity or expression.

Salary : $110,000 - $115,000