Development and Fundraising Manager

Job Description

SUMMARY:

Educare Lincoln is a collaborative partnership between the Lincoln Public Schools (LPS), University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL), Early Head Start (EHS), and the Buffett Early Childhood Fund. The mission of Educare Lincoln is to help young children thrive socially, emotionally, and academically through high-quality early childhood education, and in partnership with their families and the community. The EHS program (ages 6 weeks to 3 years) and the preschool program (ages 3 years to 5 years) promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of evidence-based education, health, nutritional, social, and other services to enrolled children and their families.

The Development and Fundraising Manager is responsible for coordinating activities designed to financially advance Educare Lincoln’s mission. This includes donor engagement, grant writing, database management, annual appeals, fundraising, and special events. The Development and Fundraising Manager will serve on Educare Lincoln’s executive leadership team and serve as a strategic partner in achieving the vision and mission of the organization.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY TASKS:

Research and prospect potential funding opportunities including grants, donors, and events.

Develop, write, and submit grant proposals for funds from private foundations, corporations, and government agencies.

Ensure the proper handling of pledge and cash donations.

Oversee annual campaigns and other fundraising events which includes, but is not limited to, planning, coordinating, and execution.

Manage donor and grant strategies, special donor correspondence, donor/prospect meeting briefings, event briefings, and donor mailings.

Coordinate and maintain accurate donor and prospect data collection and management in an adequate database; record revenue and review data for accuracy.

Write and submit grant reports.

Develop and maintain grant and sponsor funding calendar and cycle.

Oversee the gift acknowledgement process for all contributions.

Track progress towards annual goals and benchmarks; prepare regular reports as requested.

Oversee electronic and direct mail appeals to include assisting with draft appeal letters, creating and managing the appeal plan, identifying and creating lists for each scheduled appeal, managing and maintaining appeal donation records, and providing reports of performance for each appeal.

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Statistics, Education, Human Services, or related field required.

Three or more years of experience in grant writing and related responsibilities required.

Three or more years of experience in fundraising activity required.

Driver’s license and automobile insurance required.

Must be able to pass a background check that meets compliance standards.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS / ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Mission-driven with a commitment to making high-quality early care and education available to all children.

Strong research and analytical skills, along with good math skills.

Strong organizational skills with a high attention to detail.

Strong project management and public relations skills.

Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, and presentational.)

Ability to build and maintain interpersonal relationships with donors, funders, and staff alike.

Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.

Self-starter with the ability to work independently.

Ability to understand, interpret, and apply complex information regarding regulations.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with a working knowledge of databases.

Demonstrated professionalism, maturity, and good judgment, with the ability to foster and work well in a team environment.

High level of integrity with the ability to exercise confidentiality and discretion.

Full-time