What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President of Development & Strategic Initiatives position at World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth?
The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has been engaging the world here in North Texas since 1951, creating connections, generating ideas, and inspiring action in all we do. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary year, we are seeking a Vice President of Development to drive fundraising activity across the organization. The successful candidate for this role will have a demonstrated fundraising success and leadership experience to support collaborative work with the Council President & CEO and Development team to secure funding for the Council’s mission each year. The position demands skills in individual and corporate donor research, solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship. This is an external-facing position interacting with our donors, members, and the public, so an ability to exercise discretion and thoughtfulness in interactions at all levels is important.
We are a group of mission-driven, creative and deadline-oriented self-starters who also collaborate, learn quickly, and thrive in a high-productivity organization. This position requires a skilled communicator who can manage multiple projects and deadlines, generate ideas, and energetically spearhead the Council’s relationship with donors and members.
To apply, email your resume and a cover letter to the attention of Martha Powell, Chief of Staff, at resumes@dfwworld.org. Applications without a cover letter and resume will not be considered. Applying on LinkedIn only is not a complete application. We are located in downtown Dallas, with a hybrid office/home work schedule.
Responsibilities
• Fundraising – Designs, implements and quarterbacks comprehensive strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward supporters for the annual fundraising events (Mallon Award Dinner, International Educator of the Year Luncheon) and for individual program sponsorships. Partners with the President & CEO (P/CEO) in recruiting and building long-term relationships with corporate, philanthropic and foundation partners to grow the Council’s mission capacity and its membership. Develops and maintains ongoing relationships with all major donors and stakeholders.
• Membership – Collaborate with Membership & Development team to devise winning strategies in new member recruitment, stewardship, renewal, and upgrading of current members. Represents the Council in the community, including speaking publicly for the organization in a recruiting role.
• Foundation and Grants – Assist Development team members to identify, maintain and nurture relationships with funding organizations. Establish strategy for long-term Capital or Endowment campaign.
• Strategic Initiatives - Ongoing strategy development execution with a focus on revenue diversification and growth from new, creative revenue streams (e.g., fee-for-service, alternate contracting models); support of broader Council organizational strategy.
• Collaborative Efforts – Works with P/CEO and key stakeholders on all fundraising; responsible for facilitating meeting discussions, preparing materials including donor agreements and prospect research. Oversees full lifecycle of donor cultivation, including partnership with development and marketing teams on membership promotions, partnerships and communications, and enhanced program attendee conversion. Leads the membership and development team’s annual budgeting process.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree required; preference given to those with international and nonprofit experience, especially in development or membership roles. CFRE is a plus, as is membership in AFP or similar organization. A minimum of 10 years of professional experience is required, with preference towards direct fundraising and senior development roles.
• Solid knowledge and interest in geopolitical trends and issues are required, along with knowledge about current events and national and international key players.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills with excellent interpersonal, presentation, sales, and negotiation skills.
• Strong candidates will be self-motivated, collaborative, organized, and detail-oriented with the ability to successfully multitask and prioritize. A proactive mindset is essential with a commitment to delivering comprehensive customer service is required.
• MS Office proficiency is required; experience with customer database management system (e.g. Raiser’s Edge) is an advantage.
• Demonstrated success managing a fundraising portfolio of $1 million or more annually, with proven experience in corporate sponsorship cultivation, major gifts, and event-based fundraising.
To apply, email your resume and a cover letter to the attention of Martha Powell, Chief of Staff, at resumes@dfwworld.org. Applications without a cover letter and resume will not be considered. We are located in downtown Dallas, with a hybrid office/home work schedule.
Learn more about us at dfwworld.org. We are a dynamic nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings international awareness and cross-cultural understanding to the North Texas community and presents distinguished international figures year-round for in-depth interpretation of global events. We have more than 3,000 members. The Council is located in downtown Dallas and offers an excellent benefit package that includes health insurance, a 401(k) plan, and paid parking.