Career

Director of Development


The Kosciuszko Foundation

The American Center of Polish Culture


Mission

Founded in 1925, the Kosciuszko Foundation promotes understanding and friendship between the peoples of Poland and the United States through educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges. It awards fellowships and grants to graduate students, scholars, scientists, professionals, and artists and helps to increase the visibility and prestige of Polish culture in America's pluralistic society by sponsoring exhibits, publications, film festivals, performing arts such as concerts and recitals, and assists other institutions with similar goals.  The Kosciuszko Foundation has offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and Warsaw, Poland.

JOB DESCRIPTION:  The Development Director (DD) reports to the President and Executive Director is responsible for developing and implementing a fundraising strategy and spearheading development efforts of the Kosciuszko Foundation needed to achieve revenue of more than $1.5 million annually.

This includes leveraging key relationships and contacts in New York, Washington D.C, and the Foundation's chapters across the country to ensure meeting site revenue goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • The DD develops and executes the Kosciuszko Foundation's fundraising plan from individuals, foundations and corporations; establishes short and long-range goals for unrestricted funding sources and enlists support from members; strategizes and orchestrates methods of approach to institutional donors; and researches public and private grant sources (agencies, corporations and foundations), to identify sources of restricted and unrestricted funding.
  • Works with program staff to develop funding related projects and organizes individual donor campaigns (e.g., major donors, direct mail and board of trustees. Organizes solicitation drives for pledges of ongoing support from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
    • Oversees staff responsible for data entry and gift processing.
    • Develops and maintains ongoing relationships with major donors.
    • Creates and executes strategy for a sustained base of annual individual donors
  • Oversees special events such as the annual ball in April at The Waldorf=Astoria in New York City, and annual fundraiser in Washington D.C. in October.
  • Develops and tracks proposals and reports for all foundation, corporate, and government fundraising.
  • Major Gift/Donor Support: Produces major donor, board and solicitations and support materials with the intent to retain or upgrade gifts when possible.
  • Cultivate donors by producing specialized correspondence, preparing letters of acknowledgment, scheduling and attending in-person visits.
  • Planned Giving Program: Oversees and tracks progress of pending Legacy and Bequest gifts. Fulfills requests, produces correspondence and encourage partial/early disbursement of existing legacy funds where appropriate.
  • Database and Records Management: Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in maintaining Results Plus and paper records of contributors and grants.
  • Dedicates ongoing attention to personal professional development through trade organization networks.
  • Works with the KF's Washington representative to write grant proposals and reports to corporate, foundation, and government funders.
  • Develops and grows our individual donor base; manage annual giving campaign; cultivate major gifts.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • The typical incumbent generally has a college degree (a post graduate degree is a plus).
  • Certificate in not-for-profit fundraising is preferred
  • 5-10 years of substantial not-for-profit fund raising and development experience.
  • Proven track record of achieving revenue targets and/or a quota of over $1M annually.
  • Proven management and leadership capabilities.
  • High energy, positive, "can-do" attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.
  • Strong communications skills including the demonstrated ability to persuade clearly and precisely.
  • Demonstrated ability to think strategically and thorough understanding of strategic development.
  • Computer literacy with Microsoft products and with experience with Results Plus fundraising databases preferred.
  • Financial acumen applicable to fundraising is a must
  • Interest, enthusiasm, and affinity for fundraising and working with people.
  • The DD should be comfortable speaking in public and have a track record of working with high profile public figures in both governments and corporations.
  • The DD must be self-motivated, work well under pressure and be able to handle several projects at one time.
  • The DD must be able to travel for business related purposes.
  • Knowledge of Polish culture is a plus.
  • Knowledge of spoken and written Polish is a plus.

Candidates should be prepared to present portfolio of prior work including projects, communications, and websites.

Salary is commensurate with experience.

To apply, send resume with at least two work-related references to Alex@thekf.org

 
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