Global Water Center's Director of Development

FLSA Classification: Salary/Exempt 

Division/Location: North Charleston, SC or remote in United States

Position Type: Full Time Employee 

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Department: Advancement and Global Engagement

Work Hours: Monday– Friday, 40 hours/week, additional hours as required.

WHO IS GLOBAL WATER CENTER? 

Global Water Center (GWC) is a forward-thinking nonprofit organization based in North Charleston, South Carolina. GWC believes everyone deserves access to safely managed water. We provide education, innovation, and collaboration to keep rural water sources safe and flowing for good. As the go-to resource for the rural water sector, our safe water resources have reached people in 131 countries. In addition to education, we also use innovative technology to make water projects more effective and reliable. All of our efforts are rooted in collaboration with non-profits, governments, and other entities. Together, we are solving the global water crisis.

The Global Water Center’s work environment is fast-paced, dynamic, and flexible. Candidates should be comfortable working in a start-up environment, balancing the need for flexibility, structure, and procedure.

See more at www.globalwatercenter.org. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Development is a full-time position reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. This position will play a critical role in building GWC’s philanthropic program with the expectation of increasing donor support and acting as an ambassador for the Global Water Center.

The director is responsible for managing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive fundraising program to ensure that the Global Water Center is strategically and appropriately building relationships with individuals, organizations, foundations, and corporations to yield philanthropic success. 

The Director of Development will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding potential funders including (but not limited to) individuals, foundations, and corporations for major and planned gifts in support of the goals and priorities of the Global Water Center. 

The director's work is integrated into the oversight and scope of activities of the Division of Advancement and Global Engagement.

SUMMARY

Potential candidates will have experience and success in securing major and planned gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

A successful candidate will have outstanding organizational, project management, administrative, and leadership skills, and will thrive in building relationships to fulfill a vision of irradicating the global water crisis. 

Domestic and international travel is required, as well as occasional evening and weekend work to appropriately build relationships and engage the many key audiences of the organization.

The Global Water Center’s work environment is fast-paced and dynamic. Candidates should be comfortable working in a start-up environment, balancing the need for flexibility, structure, and procedure.

The position will be based at the GWC headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina, or remote. If remote, periodic meetings at HQ will be necessary.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Donor Relations Management

• Maintain a personal portfolio of major gift prospects—including individuals, corporations, and foundations who have the capacity to give at the major level or higher.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for this portfolio of prospects, developing, implementing, and documenting moves management using Salesforce.
• Communicate with members of their portfolio through face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, stewardship meetings, and written strategies. This will ensure that each major donor and prospect has a clear strategy and timeline for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop solicitation strategies for donors/prospects in support of the GWC advancement program; ensure strategies are compatible and maximize donors’ partnership.

Engagement 

• Create and carry out appropriate donor activities to meaningfully engage prospects and acquire donors.
• Work with senior and executive leaders to create appropriate and personalized solicitations, content, and stewardship for top donors and prospects. 

Planned Giving

• Provide leadership in developing a strategy for outreach to and stewardship of planned giving prospects and donors.
• Assist in developing content supporting planned giving. 

Philanthropic Vision 

• Drawing on GWC’s strategic plan, the Director of Development will provide leadership in defining and communicating funding priorities and opportunities of GWC. 
• Working with senior leaders and the GWC Advancement and Global Engagement Team, the Director of Development will hone philanthropic priorities to ensure they are aligned with funder priorities and best practices in philanthropy.

Additional Functions

• Provide donor and program analysis and recommendations based on reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree is required, CFRE preferred. 
• A minimum of 5-7 years (direct or equivalent) experience managing high level donor relationships with demonstrated success in closing high level gifts preferred.
• Ability to conceive, plan, and execute a comprehensive fundraising program. 
• Excellent grasp of Salesforce database software.
• Ability to successfully interact with individuals of influence and affluence.
• Ability to work effectively within a team-based environment.
• Willingness to be hands-on in a role that is demanding and requires a high level of energy, professionalism, and confidentiality. 
• High level proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, and a working knowledge of search functions for donor research purposes.
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally with a diverse group of donors, leaders, and key stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills and ability to prioritize workload in a timely manner to complete assignments with many deadlines and competing requirements.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Ability to Influence and Negotiate
• Building Partnerships
• Organizational Awareness
• Analysis/Reasoning 
• Patience and Cooperation 
• Living the Vision and Values, having strong Ethics, Values, Integrity, and Trust  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• Ability to safely lift a minimum of 35 lbs.
• Ability to sit for extended periods, stand, walk, type, carry, kneel, ascend, and descend stairs, and bend. 
• Ability to work primarily indoors with frequent work outdoors in multiple types of weather / environmental conditions.
• Ability to work outside the normal Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm workweek if needed.
• Ability to travel as needed.

WHY JOIN US:

• Make a tangible impact on the safe water sector.
• Collaborate with a passionate and competent team of professionals.
• Opportunity to shape and influence our company's strategy and future direction.
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, PTO.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the person in this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Please be sure to apply on company application.