The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 140,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Reporting to the director of development, the senior manager of development is responsible for annual giving opportunities that support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s mission within a comprehensive philanthropic program. This includes annual campaigns in various forms; overseeing and leading the donor relations and stewardship program; identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding prospective funders, primarily non-Wendy’s individuals, as annual giving leaders; and corporate and foundation funders outside of the Wendy’s system in order to grow and diversify funding for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. 

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Build and maintain a portfolio of 75-100 prospective funders for leadership annual giving, foundations and corporations outside of the Wendy’s system

• Work with the director of development to identify and develop prospects
• Work with development team to develop strategies for moves management and be a team player in strategy development for all prospects held within portfolio management
• Establish and cultivate relationships in individual portfolio toward growing affinity and support for DTFA
• Collaborate with program leaders and other staff to develop and implement strategies for funding opportunities that best deliver the mission with the desired outcomes for both the Foundation and funders; prepare and present proposals, as appropriate
• Develop and maintain internal progress and summary reports to monitor effectiveness of prospective gift pipeline from identification through stewardship; analyze results and make strategic adjustments, as appropriate 

2. Serve as team lead for the annual giving program

• Provide strategic leadership of a comprehensive multi-channel annual giving program in concert with a variety of agency partners
• Collaborate with marketing and development team to recommend stories, voice and strategy for print, digital and additional platform campaign assets
• Develop modes of metric-based analysis in which to base effective growth opportunities; analyze results and make strategic adjustments and recommendations, as appropriate

3. Serve as team lead over a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program

• Provide strategic leadership for a systematic and integrated donor relations and stewardship program that encompasses donor acknowledgement, donor recognition and special initiatives that strategically targets all levels of giving as defined by the development team
• Oversee and assist development staff in establishing and coordinating individualized stewardship plans for donors within portfolio management
• Oversee and direct strategic communication to donors in multiple mediums in a timely fashion, including, but not limited to, annual reports to donors, endowment reports, gift acknowledgement, web pages, invitations, newsletter updates, etc. 
• Partner with the development team to track all donor relations and stewardship activities in Raiser’s Edge database to enhance relationship and increase the likelihood of continued contributions
• Regularly review donor relations and stewardship program and make strategic adjustments and recommendations, as appropriate

4. Performs other duties as necessary or assigned

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The following qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to serve in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Exceptional organizational skills
• Remarkable attention to detail
• Excellent people and communications skills, with an ability to work independently and on a collaborative team; personal qualities of integrity, credibility and commitment to the mission
• Flexible and able to multi-task; can work within a fast-moving environment, while also driving towards clarity and solutions; demonstrate resourcefulness in setting priorities and goal and evidence based activities
• Ability to take initiative and work independently
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with privileged information
• Values diversity and supports an inclusive culture 
• Demonstrate ability to work on a team and create collaborative partnerships
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office products, Wealth Engine, internet search engines, Raiser’s Edge or other database applications 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Undergraduate degree required
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in major and/or midlevel giving, with at least 3 years’ direct fundraising experience
• Experience in digital fundraising and/or annual fund management is preferred
• Experience with data analysis, reporting and trending preferred

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Moderate travel required