Development Director - New York, NY

Job Description

The Development Director supports the Area Development Director (ADD) in expanding UNCF's presence in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. The role includes securing fundraising targets to support the 37 UNCF member institutions, engaging donors, and leveraging relationships in these markets. The Director will develop new opportunities, execute action plans, and raise awareness for UNCF’s mission, primarily focusing on these emerging markets.

About UNCF

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, has been an engine of minority educational achievement for more than 80 years. UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of black students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates. In addition, UNCF ensures that its member institutions remain respected models of best practices in moving students to and through college. Since its inception in 1944, UNCF has raised over $6 billion in private support, distributed more scholarships to help minorities attend school than any entity outside of the federal government, and enabled more than 500,000 minority and low-income students to graduate from UNCF’s member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and launch professional careers. UNCF is committed to closing the educational attainment gap between African Americans and other populations by increasing postsecondary access and success for students from underrepresented groups, particularly low-income and first-generation students.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties

• Assist the ADD in expanding UNCF’s market in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, securing new revenue from events, grants, and partnerships.•    Lead and design fundraising campaigns specifically tailored to these regions, including event planning and donor engagement strategies.
• Establish relationships with local donors, foundations, and corporations, emphasizing regional growth and fundraising goals.
• Implement special events and outreach initiatives to cultivate partnerships in these new areas.
• Maintain consistent contact with current and potential donors, with a focus on sustaining long-term relationships.
• Identify and recruit volunteers and leaders in these communities to support UNCF’s regional growth.
• Manage donor files, reports, and campaign materials while tracking and reviewing development efforts focused on Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island.
• Assist the ADD in securing new sources of revenue from events, grants, major gifts, individuals, local community partners, foundations, corporations and other campaigns. A significant proportion of donations raised must be unrestricted funds.
• Assist in identifying, recruiting and training volunteers, campaign leaders, Advisory Board members and other needed resources who are representatives of all segments of a given community.
• Establish and manage relations with volunteers, conducting initial orientation, outlining goals and objectives for each committee.
• Compile and maintain a volunteer bank consisting of active and new volunteers.  
• Cultivate volunteers and stimulate their involvement by continuous contact throughout the year.
• Assist and distribute campaign materials and develop communication and promotional programs in support of local fundraising efforts.
• Manage and review monthly reports to include major donors and prospects, office visits, recaps of meetings, projections and missing gifts.
• Generate queries, reports, exports and other collection data as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

May directly supervise an administrative assistant. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.

Project Management - Develops project plans.

Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills.

Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Listens to others without interrupting; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Able to read and interpret written information.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Change Management - Builds commitment and overcomes resistance.

Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Accepts feedback from others.

Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Completes work in timely manner, Works quickly.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.                                                          

Education and/or Experience:

A bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university and at least 5-7 years’ experience in fund-raising, marketing or public relations.  

Other Skills and Abilities:

Ability to conduct major fundraising activities, including capital campaigns and annual giving drives; ability to think critically and communicate clearly; excellent organizational skills; outstanding human relations and managerial aptitude; demonstrated initiative and ability to work and meet deadlines with minimal supervision; exceptional responsiveness and a capability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.  

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits include:

Medical, Dental & Vision

Vacation, Sick & Personal Leave

Life Insurance (Basic & Optional)

Flex Spending Accounts

403(b) Retirement Account

Holiday Savings Plan

Salary Range: $83,500 - $94,000 (Salary is commensurate with experience.)

UNCF is EOE M/F/D/V