Major Gift Director - Higher Ed. jobs in Detroit, MI

Director, Advancement and Major Gifts
(Any CEO office location)

The Opportunity

The Director I, Advancement and Major Gifts works closely with the Fund Development team to strategize, cultivate and grow key relationships with funders, corporate partners, and other key stakeholders. Under the guidance of the Senior Director of Development, the Director will play a pivotal role in achieving annual resource development and partnership objectives. This position entails spearheading Major Donor Cultivation and Donor Stewardship initiatives, contributing significantly to the team's overarching goal of raising $32 million.

As part of our mission, we strongly encourage individuals who have lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system to apply for this role.

Who We Are

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Across the United States, 8,000-9,000 people participate in CEO each year, transitioning to employment that supports themselves, their families, and their communities.

What began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970s to address employment barriers facing the formerly incarcerated following release in New York City has grown into the leading reentry employment organization in the country, where over 30,000 formerly incarcerated individuals have secured full-time employment since 1996.

Who You Are

• You have 5 years experience with a proven track record of success in fundraising,  project management, business development, business consulting, organizational development, policy or sales
• You have 3 years of previous people management experience leading high-performing teams
• You have a high degree of emotional intelligence and proven ability to network effectively and create positive relationships with clients and other key stakeholders 
• You have fluency in the use of Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and G Suite (Google Apps)
• You have proficiency in writing and strategic communication and presentation skills 
• You have superior client engagement and relationship management skills 
• You have excellent time management, organizational, and follow-up skills
• You have the ability to exercise a high degree of accountability and transparency on progress toward goals, schedule, and workflow management 
• You are a superior presenter with the ability to design and deliver best-in-class learning experiences in person or online to a broad audience including funders, employers, workforce partners, employers, and policymakers 
• You are a creative and collaborative thinker who can work with others to solve problems and advance the work
• You are a persuasive Writer and Communicator, who can clearly articulate the values and practices that make CEO a leading organization in the criminal justice, workforce development, and evidence and learning communities, edifying and building CEO’s reputation among diverse stakeholders 
• You display strategic and visionary confidence to collaborate with CEO leadership and across other CEO teams to execute CEO’s strategic plan.
• Professionals who the criminal legal system has directly impacted are welcomed and encouraged to apply

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Key responsibilities of the Director, Advancement and Major Gifts include but are not limited to:

Major Donor Cultivation and Solicitation Leadership (30%):

• Provides overall direction, oversight, strategy, and advice for CEO’s major donor ($10,000 ) cultivation strategy, in conjunction with the overall fund development strategy and in collaboration with team leadership, to grow the organization's relationship with external funders
• Develops CEO’s Major Donor Cultivation plan for the review and approval by the Senior Director and oversees and monitors the implementation of the plan
• Drafts, maintains, and distributes new and existing cultivation processes and policies
• Identify and utilize diverse research tools, networks, and referrals to pinpoint potential major gift prospects among individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Foster enduring connections with donors by tailoring cultivation, providing thoughtful stewardship, and maintaining consistent communication.
• Engage donors effectively by conducting in-person meetings, delivering impactful presentations, and arranging site visits to make persuasive requests for financial support.

Leadership and Team Management  (30%)

• Effectively manage and project manage VISTA Members, Associate and Manager level team members to achieve key strategic objectives. Will have direct line managerial responsibilities, contingent upon budgetary and organizational growth, providing the opportunity for professional development and leadership within the role. 
• Act as a bridge linking the Fund Development and Program teams to drive forward critical relationships and projects.
• Craft persuasive fundraising materials, such as proposals, impact reports, and case statements, to proficiently convey the significance of major contributions.
• Monitor and present updates on fundraising advancements, objectives, and performance metrics to the development team and senior leadership
• Craft routine reports and evaluations of revenue, donor retention, and acquisition to guide strategic decision-making
• Provide regular written progress reports to internal and external stakeholders and log interactions on Salesforce
• Work with other internal teams to build a strong organizational culture, address emerging needs and advance innovations that strengthen CEO’s culture and work.
• Serves as a core member of CEO’s Senior Team
• Serve as a partner to leadership across the organization on advancement efforts and strategies 
• Facilitate and lead team meetings 
• Other duties as assigned 

Donor Stewardship and Relationship Management (30%):

• Oversee and guarantee the prompt acknowledgment and appreciation of significant contributions, underscoring gratitude for donors' generosity and the difference they make.
• Create, execute, and evaluate individualized stewardship strategies to consistently involve major donors. This includes personalized communication, updates on program achievements, and exclusive engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with the development team to organize and execute donor engagement events, meetings, and exclusive experiences, with the goal of strengthening relationships and nurturing a sense of community among major contributors.

Prospect Research and Pipeline Development (10%):

• Perform thorough prospect research and analysis to pinpoint potential major gift candidates, evaluating their philanthropic interests, capacity, and alignment with CEO's mission and programs.
• Establish and sustain a dynamic pool of prospects while diligently documenting interactions, donor information, and advancements within the donor database.
• Work in tandem with the fund development team to execute strategies for prospect identification, qualification, and moves management.

Compensation and Benefits  

The salary range for this position is $86,400-$117,000/annually. CEO's compensation philosophy considers a variety of factors including experience, internal equity, and the labor market associated with the city in which the position is located. This position can be located in any of the cities in which CEO operates. The labor markets associated with the cities in which CEO is based are variable, and the salary range included here reflects this. Our salary offer will fall within this range and will be reflective of the labor market of the city in which the position is based, as well the other factors named above. 

We recognize that salary is a part of the overall compensation package and also provide a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, as well as professional development opportunities to our staff.

We also offer paid parental leave, participation in a retirement plan, sick and vacation leave, paid holidays and more. We are a workplace that promotes continual learning and teamwork, offering lunch and learns, team outings, holiday gatherings and more for our staff.

More About Us

The Center for Employment Opportunities believes that everyone deserves the chance to shape a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our commitment to being an anti-racist organization that is inclusive across all identities and experiences drives us forward every day. We exist to create greater opportunities for people who face multiple barriers to personal and professional success, and we’re passionate about being agents of change who promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to opportunities for all.

People who are justice involved, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ , and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. CEO’s commitment to DEI aligns with the CROWN Act, creating an open space where our employees can present as their true authentic selves. We are an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

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