Director of Corporate and Individual Development

About Great Jobs KC

Great Jobs KC, Inc. (dba KC Scholars) (www.greatjobskc.org) is a 501(c)(3) college scholarship and tuition-free job training program. Its goal is to support persistence and increase the college completion rate for low- and modest-income students across the six-county, bi-state service region and secure family-sustaining careers. The organization was designed to change thousands of individual lives and transform the region by preparing the local future workforce and contributing to the regional economy. The KC Scholars Scholarship Program awards traditional college scholarships to high school juniors, adult learner scholarships to adults 18 years and older, and college savings match awards to high school freshmen. The Great Jobs KC program provides tuition assistance to approved career training programs in high-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, information technology, logistics/warehousing, manufacturing and service careers. With the support of Great Jobs KC, adults 17+ and older can learn the skills needed in one year or less to secure a job with family-sustaining wages. Great Jobs KC supports all its Scholars throughout their college or job training and into their first year of employment.  

ABOUT THE ROLE 

Reports to: CEO 

Location: Kansas City, MO 

Status: Exempt, Full-time  

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, PTO, Holidays, leave program, 401k including employer contribution, and others  

Operating hours:  8:30 am to 5:00 pm CST  - nights and weekends as needed

Key Performance Indicators: 

• Raise $1M+ in corporate donations annually
• Raise $250,000 from individuals annually
• Stewardship of current donors to ensure donor retention of 80% year over year
• Responsible for corporate sponsorships of Great Jobs KC events

RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Director of Corporate and Individual Development is responsible for overseeing the organization's fundraising strategies, donor relationships, and development efforts. This role involves planning, implementing, and managing all fundraising initiatives, including corporate partnerships and major gifts. 

Primary responsibilities include:  

1. Corporate & Individual Donations

• Build and nurture long-term relationships with corporate leaders, major donors, high-net-worth individuals, decision- makers, and key community partners.
• Develop and implement comprehensive strategies and fundraising campaigns to meet annual donation goals from corporate partners and individual donors annually.
• Securing financial and donation support from corporations through sponsorships, partnerships, grant and individual donors.
• Maintain and manage a pipeline of prospective donors, including corporations, foundations and individuals. list of potential financial donors, including corporations, foundations and individuals.

2. Donor Stewardship

• Oversee regular donor communications focusing on ensuring corporate partners feel valued and well informed of the work, impact, and future plans of Great Jobs KC.
• Track donor engagement to inform and improve retention strategies through Salesforce.
• Develop and maintain donor recognition efforts to celebrate key supports and highlight their contributions.
• Produce engaging and informative literature to keep past and prospective donors connected to the mission of Great Jobs KC.

3. Event Sponsorships

• Recruit and secure corporate sponsorships for Great Jobs KC events.
• Create customized sponsorship packages and tailored donor appeals to attract support.
• Serve as the main point of contact for corporate sponsors and ensuring seamless experience from commitment to event. 

4. Other

• Monitor annual fundraising goals, budgets, and multi-year objectives.
• Establish fundraising benchmarks and track progress toward short and long term goals.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, marketing, or a related field      (Master’s degree preferred).
• CFRE, CAP®, or certification desired

Work Experience:  

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, or corporate partnerships. 
• Proven success in securing major gifts, managing donor relations, and overseeing large-scale fundraising campaigns.
• Strong understanding of fundraising tools, and donor management software (specifically SalesForce).
• Experience in proposal writing, grant applications, and donor communications. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience in writing solicitation proposals, donor reports, and other development-related materials.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals and corporate partners.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze data and adapt strategies to meet fundraising goals.

Additional Knowledge, skills, and competencies:  

• Strong Communication: Both written and verbal communication skills to engage corporate donors.
• Ability to establish and nurture relationships with corporate executives, potential sponsors, and partners.
• Ability to develop and implement long-term strategies for corporate engagement.
• Passion for the mission.  
• Excellent leadership and problem-solving skills.  
• Results, systems and process focused.  
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.  
• Quick learner with the ability to develop a solid understanding of the content, processes, deliverables, and overall objectives.  
• Personal value system that includes the highest standards of honesty, confidentiality, integrity, loyalty, and professional ethics reflective of the ability to succeed in building and maintaining positive relationships with the community.  
• Excellent communications skills (written, verbal, research skills, presentation skills, facilitation skills).  
• Passion for increasing college completion and workforce preparedness among students who are first-generation to college, low-income, or historically underrepresented in higher education and the regional workforce.  
• Results focused while leading with empathy and empowerment of others.  
• Drives through efficient and effective processes and procedures. 
• High customer service focus.  

Physical requirements: 

• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.  
• Ability to work in an office and remote environment. 
• Ability to travel from and to work and occasionally to regional sites as the organization grows.  
• Ability to interact with others via technology, face-to-face and collectively.