ROOTS & WINGS FOUNDATION – Development Director

Roots & Wings

Roots and Wings is a well-respected nonprofit organization based in Morris County, NJ, dedicated to helping youth who have aged out of foster care. Founded in 1999, by Irene DeGrandpre, a CASA volunteer and New Jersey Hero honoree, Roots & Wings began as a community-based volunteer operation that has developed into the only non-profit organization in the region providing holistic services to these youth between the ages of 18 and 24 years of age.

Each year, hundreds of young adults age out of the foster care system in New Jersey. Aged out foster youth are among the most underserved, disconnected and statistically vulnerable populations in our society. Typically, these young adults have no support system and lack the education, financial resources, life skills and self-esteem to make it on their own causing them to be at high risk for homelessness, human trafficking, substance abuse, and incarceration. Roots & Wings aims to break this cycle.

Although not a trauma treatment center, Roots and Wings practices trauma informed case management. In 2018, it received the National Aging Out Institute’s Award for providing the best holistic support to aged out foster youth by providing safe housing, case management, education support, counseling, and life skills to help these young adults move toward self-sufficiency through two programs: RISE a residential program and FLY, a community based program that provides our services to aged out foster youth who are not in need of housing. Clients leave Roots & Wings on a path to self-sufficiency and financial independence. Research shows that for this population, poverty, abuse, and despair often continues generation after generation absent intensive intervention.

A committed funding community of private foundations, individuals and corporations supports the work of Roots & Wings. To expand services to more aged -out foster youth in need and to continuously improve its positive impact on the long-term success of these young adults, Roots and Wings is implementing new program approaches and scaling for substantial growth.

Job Summary

This position offers the opportunity to support the mission of a small-sized nonprofit in a dynamic, team-based environment. The Development Director plays a critical role in raising funds to support the agency’s mission.

Essential Job Functions

· Design, implement and manage a comprehensive development program in support of the immediate and long-term goals of the strategic plan.

· Collaborate with the Executive Director to ensure the development goals are aligned with the organization’s operations and program goals.

· Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective donors including individuals, corporations, faith/community organizations, and foundations.

· Coordinate appropriate recording and acknowledgement of all gifts.

· Plan and execute innovative ways of increasing funding.

· With the Executive Director, lead the planning and execution of an annual calendar of fundraising events.

· Implement special projects, cultivation events and solicitation appeals directed at prospecting new donors from individuals, corporations, faith/community organizations, and foundations.

· Work with, and support, the Executive Director in increasing awareness of Roots & Wings’ mission.

· Actively seek opportunities to be involved in the external community to represent Roots & Wings, share its mission, and cultivate and steward relationships for future support.

· Ensure that fund development are carried out in keeping with the organization’s mission, vision and values.

· Effectively utilize grant-writing, public relations, marketing, and development vendors/consultants based on budget and need.

· Serve as staff leader for Fund Development in Special Events Committee.

· Other duties as assigned.

Essential Skills and Experience

· Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

· Minimum of five years in a comprehensive development program with demonstrated success.

· Demonstrated flexibility, self-motivation, attention to detail and organization, as well as proven record of successfully managing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines.

· Superior interpersonal, written, and oral communication and presentation skills.

· Demonstrated success in large gift fund raising.

· Strong grant research and writing skills.

· Familiarity with Budgeting Process.

· Strong computer literacy and proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications. Experience with Salesforce is a plus.

Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid Remote

Pay: $75K - $85K per year

Additional Information

Roots & Wings is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, program members, volunteers, contractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.

If interested, please contact Edith Fiato, Executive Director, Roots & Wings at

Edith.fiato@rootsandwingsnj.org.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Denville, NJ 07834