Job Overview:

Connect With A Wish (CWW) is a Virginia Beach-based, 501c3 nonprofit. We provide children in local foster care with resources and support to live well and grow. Since 2014, we have worked with our volunteers and partners to enhance the lives of children and young adults in Virginia Beach foster care, and the surrounding cities. We strive to achieve our mission through a growing list of programs and special events, and they all rely on the generosity of charitable people.

We are seeking a talented Development Director to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for overseeing fundraising efforts, donor relations, and strategic planning to support our organization's mission and goals.

• Fundraising
• Major Donors Identify prospects through all available avenues, utilizing extensive networking, analytics tools, etc. Identify opportunities to engage new, current, and past donors with the organization through events and programs. Create tailored presentations for potential funding partners. Manage donor communications timely and effectively to cultivate donor relationships and maximize fundraising opportunities. Increase referrals from current donors through high satisfaction with our philanthropic services. Coordinate donor retention program and consistent donor experience. Works with Executive Director, volunteers, staff and board members to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts, including operating and capital campaign gifts.
• Corporate Partnerships Identify, evaluate and engage new and potential corporate funding partners via partnership and event opportunities. Present CWW’s mission and utilize active listening in order to create meaningful partnerships that are beneficial for CWW. Ensure clear and effective communication, maximizing CWW’s value.
• Foundations and Grants Lead the CWW’s grants program. Researches grant opportunities, develops proposals, builds relationships, and stewards foundation and other funders. Prepares grant reports and ensures grant compliance in a timely manner. Establish relationships with decision-makers and position CWW for success in the grant process. Maintain a grant calendar. Draft and submit grants and manage communication processes. Edit and collaborate with the CWW team on other grants.
• Events Assist in fundraising for all major CWW events. Work with the Events Committee to ensure smooth event. Attend all major CWW events.
• Development Operations
• Gift Tracking & Donor Stewardship Ensure accurate gift reporting and tracking of monetary donations. Ensure appropriate donor recognition and stewardship in a timely manner. Assist with any audits as necessary. Remain up to date on best practices and offer ideas to improve processes.
• Database Enter and maintain accurate records in CWW database system. Manage data integrity to ensure accurate and comprehensive donor and fund records.
• Marketing Provide information to marketing as needed for required execution of funding partnerships and stewarding relationships. Revise Impact marketing documents. Write and gather data to facilitate impact messaging.
• Other Duties as Assigned

Required Skills / Abilities

• A minimum of two (2) years’ experience in nonprofit fund development, with demonstrated success in raising money through a variety of avenues.
• Exceptional people skills, and the ability to work with board members, volunteers, staff, and donors. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, set and achieve goals, take initiative, and prioritize time.
• Discretion and tact in handling confidential donor information.
• Proficiency in office and development technology, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, donor management software. Experience in online fundraising and social media preferred.
• Ability to follow a timeline of success goals and communicate weekly progress toward those goals.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the CWW’s mission.

Email your cover letter and resume as attachments to Joy Rios, Executive Director, CWW at with the position title in the subject line. Three professional references should be available on request. Position open until filled.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 21 – 35 per week

Schedule:

• Evenings as needed
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

• Virginia Beach, VA 23456: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Virginia Beach, VA 23456