Director of Development
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Scion Executive Search (www.scionexecutivesearch.com) has been retained to conduct the search for a new Director of Development for the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. This impactful organization was founded in 1968 to carry on the work and sustain the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy. Today, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights has grown to be one of the most prestigious and active international human rights organizations.
The Director of Development will work to expand the RFK Center’s considerable programmatic assets by increasing its annual budget currently at $8.5 million. Areas targeted for growth include expanding the organizations major donor giving program, increasing foundation/institutional partnerships, overseeing events, as well as directing the organization’s 50th Anniversary capital campaign with the help and strategic support of a capital campaign consultant.
This opportunity is for direct hire, and works onsite in the organization’s headquarters in New York City, New York.
THE POSITION
The RFK Center seeks a talented and dynamic Director of Development with a record of achievement in major gifts, foundation and government grants, public campaigns, development operations, team leadership, and effective relationship building. The Director of Development will be tasked with the opportunity to lead the RFK Center’s overall fundraising operations including securing funding from institutional and high-dollar individual supporters; developing new fundraising programs (i.e. annual campaign, online giving, endowment, planned giving); leading and collaborating closely with board member fundraising activities, overseeing development administration and infrastructure systems; and maintaining a compelling strategy for sustainable growth.
The Director of Development will report to the Chief Operating Officer and work in close partnership with the Board Chair, the President, Executive Director and department directors. The Director of Development will be an integral member of the senior leadership team and participate in the organization’s overall strategizing, financial planning, process implementation, and stewardship. The Director of Development will supervise, and be supported by, the Senior Manager, Philanthropic Programs, and all other development/fundraising staff.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising Strategy and Implementation
Lead, create and implement comprehensive development programs.
Create partnerships and leverage the RFK Center’s body of work, mission, programs, and network to drive fundraising opportunities.
Build supportive and strategic operations and processes utilizing existing organizational relationships and resources.
Build the RFK Center’s donor base and pipeline of prospects by crafting and implementing annual and long-range comprehensive development strategies to raise funds from foundations, other institutional donors, corporations, governments and individuals.
Work with the RFK Center leadership to build measurement and evaluation into RFK Center’s programmatic work and build programmatic outcomes into funding cases for support.
Report regularly to organization leadership (Board Chair, the President) on fundraising progress against stated goals.
Create a compelling donor recognition program, offering meaningful recognition for donors of all types and all amounts.
Prepare work plans, budgets, and forecasts related to all fundraising activities. Set near and long term fundraising objectives and have systems in place to benchmark and track activities and progress.
Manage development infrastructure and systems, e.g., integrated digital record-keeping, reporting, budgeting, research, etc.
Lead, develop, and mentor a highly effective team of development professionals that will empower organizational growth.
Major Gifts
Further develop and refine the organization’s major donor program that includes cultivation events showcasing the RFK Center’s work.
Lead targeted research and develop the strategies and relationship-building paradigms required to attract major donors ($5,000+ gifts) and high level individual donors ($25,000+ gifts). Support and coordinate with senior leadership to cultivate and solicit all major donors.
Create appropriate written communications geared toward engaging the interest of individual donors.
Proactively cultivate ongoing donor relationships through personal contact, other ongoing forms of information sharing, and timely thank-you notes.
Lead the entire organization to excel in donor cultivation, relationship management and stewardship.
Foundation Relations and Institutional Partnerships:
Create, oversee, grow, and implement a new successful institutional partnerships/foundation grant program.
Direct and analyze research to identify new sources of institutional giving.
Draft and oversee drafting of proposals and reports in collaboration with development and program staff; ensure all proposal and reporting deadlines are met.
Ensure regular communication with institutional donors and develop responses to their inquiries.
Assist with the strategic positioning of programs.
Work closely with senior leadership to nurture and develop new relationships with program officers and other foundation personnel.
50th Anniversary Campaign
Oversee and help support all aspects of this once-in-a-lifetime fundraising opportunity for the RFK Center in concert with outside Consultants and staff.
Work with executive team, board leadership, and Consultants to create an effective multi-year campaign/plan that culminates in 2018 and that leverages feasibility study findings.
Build and coordinate the committees/task forces/staff that will constitute the campaign team.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 6-8 years of relevant experience in nonprofit fundraising.
A proven track record of successfully creating fundraising programs for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding various donor constituencies.
A strong commitment to social justice and passion for RFK Center’s mission and values.
Excellent written and oral communications skills.
Exceptional interpersonal and team building skills, including the ability to maintain effective working relationships with people from diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
Ease relating to influential, well-known individuals and high-dollar donors.
Ability to maintain high standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism, and to handle sensitive and proprietary financial information.
High energy, goal-directed, task-driven relationship-builder.
Excellent analytical skills, organizational and time management skills, including attention to detail.
Computer proficiency in Windows Operating systems, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word), knowledge of and demonstrable proficiency with donor management and research databases.
Flexibility to travel on occasion.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Familiarity and experience with international affairs and human rights.
Experience with organizing special events.
COMPENSATION
This exciting position offers the opportunity to play a central leadership role on an enthusiastic, international team working to advance human rights, a competitive base salary commensurate with experience, full health benefits package including dental, health, vision, 403(b), 401(a) retirement plan, 7% automatic 401(a) contribution after one year of employment, a generous paid time off/vacation plan, sick time, wonderful working atmosphere, and job and mission that will inspire you.
THE ORGANIZATION
For 45 years, The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights has been defending human rights and working to realize Robert Kennedy’s dream of a more peaceful and just world. Forging long-term partnerships through the RFK Partners for Human Rights program, we assist human rights defenders on the cutting-edge of social change who have won the RFK Human Rights Award. We support investigative journalists and authors who bring light to injustice through the RFK Book and Journalism Awards. Through Speak Truth to Power, the RFK Center human rights education program, we tell the stories of human rights defenders and offer students and the broader public alike a tool kit for action to create change in their classrooms, communities, countries and our shared world. The RFK Compass program explores and promotes the connectivity between the duties of investment fiduciaries (optimizing risk-adjusted returns) and public interest considerations including human rights, the environment, social and governance issues. Through RFK Center/Europe, we provide human rights education advocacy programs to schools and communities across the continent. The RFK Training Institute in Florence, Italy, provides innovative training and education to enhance operational knowledge and skills of individuals and organizations directly or indirectly associated with justice and human rights outcomes. Through a joint effort with the Boston-based RFK Children’s Action Corps, we urge legislative reform of juvenile justice systems.
“Some men see things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” – Robert F. Kennedy paraphrasing George Bernard Shaw
ABOUT OUR FIRM
Scion Executive Search is a retained executive search firm connecting executive nonprofit leadership to nonprofit organizations and foundations across the country. Cultivated in the nonprofit sector, we provide expert search strategies and leadership for your organization. Our executive candidates are true agents for change, and we are experts at matching their talents, motivations, and passions to your organization’s mission. Scion Executive Search has led hundreds of successful executive searches. Information about our firm and successes can be found online at www.scionexecutivesearch.com.
Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider committed to not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief. We are committed to the principals of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and for the candidates we represent.
How to apply
For immediate consideration please send your resume and cover letter to Scion Executive Search, via email to executive@scionstaffing.com, attn: Isaac Schild. Please note, due to the high volume of applications received, Scion Executive Search/RFK Center will follow up with candidates as necessary.