Divisional Development Specialist

Job Description

The Salvation Army Mission : The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church.

Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Summary / Primary Purpose : The Divisional Corps Development Specialist is responsible for cultivating and maximizing relationships with donors throughout their territory, with the goal of soliciting and increasing donations by following the Western Division Strategic Development Plan.

Serves as a fundraising consultant to Corps Officers within their territory. Partners with the Divisional Development team to carry out best practices, strategies, and initiatives for Corps communities in Nebraska, South Dakota and / or Iowa.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

Primary responsibility will be partnering with local Corps Officers, their staff, and the Divisional Director of Corps Development on all fundraising activities major gifts, grants, planned giving, corporate donations, online crowdfunding, and red kettles during Christmas.

Majority of work is conducted through email, phone calls, and virtual communications, with limited in-person meetings.

• Manages a portfolio of major gift donors in the assigned area appreciating and asking donors to deepen their partnership with The Salvation Army, including solicitation of gifts through phone calls, emails, meetings, direct mail, etc.
• Conduct research on donors, legacy giving prospects, companies, foundations, churches, and service organizations that may have contribution / volunteer potential for a Corps community.
• Works directly with selected funders, especially foundations, always in coordination with local Corps leadership.
• Cultivates relationships with Corps Officers, staff, and donors by conducting oneself in a professional manner.
• Captures new donor information and enters into the donor’s database record (SalesForce) regarding donor’s interests, relationships, life events and information about capacity for philanthropic giving to help identify major gift prospects.
• Collaborates with all Development Staff throughout the Western Division to ensure Corps fundraising efforts are recognized, celebrated, and learned from.
• Works with Corps Officers and their staff to execute recruitment strategies to create effective advisory boards and committees.
• Assists with Corps Christmas Campaign strategies, including sharing best practices from across the Western Division, while creating new community partnerships, activities, and fundraising events.
• Monitors implementation and on-going progress of the Corps’ strategic development and plan with guidance from Divisional Finance Team & Divisional Director of Corps Development.
• Works in close conjunction with Development team, pursuing and contributing to harmonious collaboration between direct marketing, social media, foundation, corporation, and planned giving staff for optimal integrated strategies in regard to major donor communications, as well as overall department initiatives.
• Works in collaboration with Divisional Director of Corps Development to develop a portfolio of giving opportunities for each Corps.

Document the funding needs in terms of real program costs, how dollars impact people, outcomes being (and which could be) achieved, shortfalls and exciting mission advancement opportunities.

Presents these opportunities to donors to effectively match donor interests with Army service delivery advancement needs.

• Ensures excellent donor service is provided through accessibility to staff and leadership (as granted), timely responsiveness, quality in all interactions, and personalized communications.
• May be required to participate in functions / events throughout the Western Division (Nebraska, Iowa & South Dakota) and visit Divisional Headquarters in Omaha, NE quarterly (if you reside outside of Omaha).
• This position may travel to attend advisory board meetings, events, and conferences that may take place outside of normal working hours, to include evenings and weekends.
• Driving is an essential function of the position.
• All other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities : None

Education and / or Experience : Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Business or related field and / or 3-5 years work-related experience, or a combination of training and experience.

Preferred work experience within a non-profit organization fundraising, including prospect research, donor relations and solicitation.

Qualifications : The requirements listed below are representative of the minimal knowledge, skill, and / or ability required for this position.

• Must have outstanding interpersonal communications skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse individuals, Corps leadership, advisory board members, donors, and community leaders.
• Excellent communication skills both written and spoken.
• Ability to listen, recognize opportunities and understand what is important to donors.
• Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good relationships with clients, co-workers, and supervisors.
• This includes, but is not limited to, such actions as : resolution of conflicts in a professional manner; courteous treatment of staff, visitors, and clients;

respect of others’ property and person; and professional and appropriate communication to and about clients, co-workers, and supervisors.

• Flexible and strong organization skills for establishing priorities, managing multiple projects or tasks simultaneously, as well as creative problem solving and team building skills.
• Must be a highly skilled self-starter, manage important projects, and maintain focus from beginning to end.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, SalesForce CRM and the ability to access data systems via a web-based system.
• Administrative skills to include utilization of standard office equipment, data entry, and attention to details and filing.
• Mathematical skills to include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, use of common percentages, fractions, and decimals.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential matters.
• Strong independent judgement.

Other Qualifications : Must pass all applicable background checks. Must possess a valid driver's license from the state in which you reside.

Must be approved through The Salvation Army Fleet Safety Program to drive either a Salvation Army or personal vehicle on Salvation Army business.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations : None

Physical Requirements : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical requirements include good speaking, hearing and vision ability and excellent manual dexterity.

Ability to stand, bend and reach for extended periods of time, dexterity of hands and fingers to operate office equipment.

May need to climb, balance, kneel, crouch or crawl. This position will require the ability to lift and / or move more than 20 pounds occasionally.

Working Conditions : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job an office environment and while performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

All employees recognize that The Salvation Army is a church and agree that they will do nothing as an employee of The Salvation Army to undermine its religious mission.

The Salvation Army is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who are back-to-work, US Veterans, people with disabilities, people who have been impacted by the justice system, and / or people without a college degree are encouraged to apply.