Organization

The New York Junior League (NYJL) assists women, children and families in need by supporting the organizations that serve them through hands on programming and capacity building.

The NYJL is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Since 1901 when Mary Harriman founded the first Junior League here in NYC, The NYJL has evolved into one of the oldest, largest, and most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world, encompassing more than 150,000 women in 291 Leagues in four countries.

Today, the NYJL is comprised of over 60 volunteer committees and is led by a Board of Directors comprised of 14 volunteers who have served the NYJL and the community with distinction. With an annual budget of over $2,400,000 the NYJL’s operations are primarily financed through membership dues and volunteer-supported fundraising events. 

NYJL volunteers are bound by a single goal: to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families in our city. Visit www.nyjl.org to learn more.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager of Development is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of excellence in fundraising. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Manager will lead work to diversify the NYJL’s funding resources with an emphasis on traditional fundraising vehicles, specifically in developing corporate partnerships and individual giving programs.  The Senior Manager will also guide strategy around and support volunteer leadership teams in soliciting grants. They will work closely with the Board’s Development Work Group and staff leadership to ensure the NYJL meets and exceeds fundraising goals to fulfill the organization’s mission related services. They will also collaborate with the community program volunteer team on translation of program goals to potential grant opportunities and support foundation grant writing and reporting.

This individual will demonstrate organizational and operational excellence, and proven expertise in executing development initiatives, including providing thought leadership around translating the NYJL’s unique impact and value proposition for existing and new institutional and major donors. A successful candidate must thrive on change and collaboration, and simultaneously inspire and motivate a multifunctional team of both staff and volunteers. An effective candidate is not only strategic and creative, but also willing to roll up their sleeves.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Development

·       Collaborate with the Development Work Group to implement an annual and multi-year development plan that pairs new ideas for shaping key programs and assets with fresh, targeted strategies for raising revenue from corporations, foundations, major donors and other individuals.

·       Create and implement a donor cultivation plan, particularly targeting high-level potential donors.

·       Partner with the Development Work Group to cultivate, secure, track, and steward corporate partnerships, event sponsorships, and individual donors.

·       Prospect new corporate partners and donors.

·       Provide guidance on the development of prospective donor events, the coordination of donor asks and the stewardship of fundraising event supporters, which leverage participation of the Development Work Group.

·       Support the Communications Manager in executing a strategic communications plan that integrates the activities and development goals of the organization to include preparation of digital giving campaigns.

·       Represent the NYJL with potential donors.

·       Partner with the Development Work Group on a variety of items, including, but not limited to:

o      Support the NYJL Annual Fund (titled First League Fund) volunteer team to build a donor base and grow annual revenue

o      Support the Grants Sub-Committee on grant pipeline, program focus, and building relationships with grant managers

o      Donor proposal and agreements, and actively maintaining the approvals process with volunteer leadership

o      Support the annual Employee Appreciation Fund

·       Prepare monthly development Board Reports to be shared with key volunteer leadership.

·       Monitor and analyze key donor information and track comparative year over year donations data from both individuals and corporate donors on a monthly basis.

·       Create and foster a positive, creative, and collaborative working environment between staff and volunteer leadership.

·       Other duties as applicable.

Qualifications and Requirements

·       Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

·       Four to five years of experience in a development function at a nonprofit organization.

·       Proven track record of cultivating and securing new revenue from a variety of funders, including corporations, foundations and individuals.

·       Experience building donor relationships and soliciting gifts up to $50,000.

·       Excellent attention to detail, as well as research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills.

·       Ability to work independently and as part of a team to collaborate effectively with a wide range of staff, partners, vendors, and volunteer leadership.

·       Proven ability to translate mission and impact into compelling pitches.

·       Capable of building and sustaining relationships with a variety of individuals and businesses.

·       Familiar with all communications channels including social media as a tool to promote the organization’s development activities.

·       Excellent interpersonal and verbal communications skills.

·       Comfortable working in Microsoft Office applications, Google Drive and with project management software.

Personal Profile

This position requires independent judgment, decision-making, creativity and analysis of problems, and a high degree of diplomacy and discretion. It requires leadership and planning skills, cooperative teamwork and the ability to interact with a variety of people working on diverse levels across the organization. The ideal candidate has a high level of discernment and professionalism at all times.