A Better Chance Overview:

For over 60 years, A Better Chance has been a driving force in the effort to increase educational attainment among youth of color. A Better Chance’s mission is to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society.

A Better Chance administers the oldest and only national program of its kind, empowering academically talented youth of color in grades 6-12 to change their life trajectory by attending the nation’s highest performing college preparatory schools. A Better Chance primarily executes its mission through its signature College Preparatory Schools Program. Overall, A Better Chance annually recruits and places approximately 350 new Scholars and supports approximately 2,000 currently enrolled Scholars in over 200 Members Schools across 27 states. Scholar and Alumni performance metrics demonstrate the program’s success:

• 96% of A Better Chance graduates enroll directly in college, compared with 24 percent of students of color nationwide.
• Over the last eight years, 85% of A Better Chance Alumni earned undergraduate degrees, compared to just 57% percent of all students.
• Half of A Better Chance Alumni have gone on to complete a graduate or professional degree.
• 75% of A Better Chance Scholars attend the most selective colleges (institutions that admit fewer than 25% of its applicants).
• Over 18,000 Alumni who are trailblazers and leaders in a variety of sectors from business, finance, education, healthcare, the arts and beyond.

Position Summary:

The Development Associate/Manager, Annual Fund and Communications will hone their skills and gain a tremendous amount of experience in individual giving, donor and Alumni relations, and communications. Reporting to the Interim Director of Development, the successful candidate will have strong written and verbal communication skills. They will be highly proficient in tracking progress to goal with the ability to produce and generate a variety of reports. Title is dependent on experience.

Primary Responsibilities:

Fundraising:

• Meet annual goals and key performance indicators to increase donors and amount raised

• Focus on soliciting new gifts, reacquiring lapsed donors, and renew annual support from individual donors up to $10,000 and increase giving of existing donors through direct mail & email appeals, social media, out-the-door fundraising efforts, and telephone campaigns

• Develop, maintain, and promote giving circles and society programs including a parent giving program and continuous giving societies
• Develop and maintain a strategic effort to increase matching gift donations from individual donors
• Cultivate, steward, and promote engagement with Alumni through leveraging existing platforms and direct outreach
• Develop and oversee the annual calendar of fundraising activities for alumni gifts with a focus on engaging young professional alumni
• Produce mailings and other communications to donors throughout the fiscal year, including mailed appeals, e-appeals, the Annual Report, and an annual holiday card
• Oversee and execute the organization’s direct mail program for donors below the major gifts level (defined as $10,000)
• Oversee Annual fund donor recognition to ensure proper acknowledgement and stewardship
• Utilize Raiser’s Edge to update strategic plans and opportunities, interactions, outcomes and next steps

• Similarly, utilize Raiser’s Edge to automate as many of the above activities as possible

Communications:

• Work with Development team and leadership to develop a comprehensive marketing and communications plan to enhance annual giving efforts
• Create and maintain comprehensive outreach calendar to track and monitor annual giving activity and results
• Create a robust and comprehensive online giving program with a goal of securing individual monthly recurring gifts, differentiated giving (estate plan gifts, differentiated giving methods etc.)
• Implement and manage digital campaigns to build and augment A Better Chance community online.
• Manage a quarterly newsletter and three “investors reports” produced annually

Annual Fundraising Events:

• Work with the entire development team to organize and execute the Annual Benefit Dinner and all other donor engagement and donor cultivation (inclusive of volunteerism) events. Besides the day-to-day efforts required of an annual fundraising event, specific responsibilities will include:

• Directly solicit qualified donors for annual fundraising events

• Collaborate with Development Manager and the Interim Director of Development, who will have primary responsibility for development and production of event-related collateral and marketing materials (print and electronic)

Qualifications

The incumbent will enjoy an exciting and substantive opportunity to learn much about the field of development through experienced and talented professionals at a national nonprofit. The right candidate will possess:

• A Baccalaureate degree
• Demonstrated frontline fundraising and relationship management experience desired
• A strong work ethic and a commitment to the mission and growth of A Better Chance
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment as well as part of a team
• Exemplary communication, writing and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong project management skills and ability to work independently and prioritize tasks as needed in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office programs
• An ability to exercise discretion and professionalism in all settings
• Ability to travel to meet donors
• 5-10% of travel outside of the Tristate Area is required

Salary Range: 62,000-70,000

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in New York, NY 10001