Summary

The Director of Foundation Relations will be responsible for developing and executing plans to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation funders to advance DC-CAP’s mission. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director will lead strategies to maximize institutional investments in support of DC-CAP’s programming through the development of major multi-year commitments with donors and prospects.

Description

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Reports to: Chief Development Officer 

Department: Development 

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DC-College Access Program’s Mission 

DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to equip DC students for college and career success by helping them access and attain meaningful college education credentials with little to no debt. 

About DC-CAP 

Established in 1999, DC-CAP's mission is to equip DC students for college and career success by helping them access and attain meaningful college education credentials with little to no debt. DC-CAP accelerates college aspirations, connects students to better-matched universities, and leverages dollars to ensure students graduate ready to compete in today’s workforce. DC-CAP's goal is to eliminate the higher education achievement gap for DC students. With the help of DC-CAP's team of advisors and through collaboration with our university partners, students can unlock necessary funding and identify excellent college matches that reduce or eliminate student debt while dramatically increasing college completion.   

By pairing our scholarships with additional student-focused funding like Pell Grants, DCTAG, and university scholarships, and by partnering with universities to provide significant wraparound services to support our students, we are achieving industry-leading year-to-year college retention rates better than 70% at 11 of our 14 partner universities. 

Our moonshot goal is to catalyze and galvanize public and private institutions and individuals around eliminating the higher education achievement gaps that persist along lines of income, race, and other demographic and socioeconomic factors. By investing in our students and encouraging others to join us, we aim to increase college completion rates among college-ready DC public and public charter school students to 80%.    

Job Summary   

The Director of Development Operations will be responsible for building the infrastructure necessary to enhance and scale DC-CAP's fundraising capacity. The Director will shape and deliver the operational capabilities and support functions, including project management and coordination for the growing development team for DC-CAP. This role will be a key partner to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and will provide management and support services for the operational, data management, and analytical functions of the department including prospect and data management and analysis, prospect research, donor and partner relations tracking, gift administration, and systems management underpinning the growing development team. This person will be deeply familiar with moves management and with best practices for using donor data and CRM tools to maximize results. 

The Director of Development Operations will join DC-CAP at an exciting inflection point. Our demonstrated best practices and industry-leading student persistence results are leading to increased investment from donors. With excellent fundraising opportunities already lined up for FY25, we are seeking a development operations professional to help build out our systems so that as we add to the team, we have the tools to ensure success, including operational best practices, data integrity, robust reporting, and measures of accountability and transparency within the team, across the organization, and with the board.  

This position will require a capable, entrepreneurial development professional who seeks to play a key role in building a foundational operating framework for a growing organization committed to improving college completion outcomes for DC’s public and public charter school students. 

Essential Functions  

Leadership 

  • Serve as thought partner to the CDO and CEO with operational best practices that drive significant growth in DC-CAPs fundraising capacity 

  • Establish donor data practices that serve our fundraising goals, including responsibility for data integrity  

  • Collaborate with the CDO to establish benchmarks and regular reporting processes to measure outputs and outcomes of all fundraising activities in a timely manner 

  • Develop and manage systems to assure robust management and tracking of cultivation and stewardship strategies with prospects, donors, and partners 

  • Undertake an active and ongoing portfolio management practice in collaboration with fundraisers 

  • Develop and utilize a deep understanding of DC-CAPs constituent relationship management (CRM) system, Salesforce, and support the organization-wide transition from Raiser’s Edge.  

  • Act as project manager on key department initiatives, strategies and active portfolio moves management tracking working proactively with frontline colleagues to manage and adapt strategies through implementation 

Gift Processing and Stewardship 

  • Administer DC-CAP's gift processing systems, including prompt entry of pledges, gifts received, tracking donor correspondence, and generating gift acknowledgment letters 

  • Develop and manage accurate and compliant gift processing standards, including timely gift and grant income entry and acknowledgement and integrity of data in collaboration with Operations and Finance 

Prospect Research 

  • Identify, research, and analyze new prospects and current donors leveraging internal and external research resources 

  • Draft, revise, and edit philanthropic research and briefing documents as needed in collaboration with frontline fundraisers 

Annual Giving and Communications 

  • Collaborate with team members to support the creation of unique and compelling funding opportunities, cases for support, and proposals in alignment with funder priorities and DCCAP initiatives 

  • In collaboration with Director of Communications and other peers, develop and manage consistent messaging to donors and prospects that aligns with solicitation and donor-specific stewardship communications 

  • Design and manage a nascent annual giving program to invite community support and involvement and to build a pipeline for future major donors 

Administration 

  • Oversee and maintain accuracy of data and prepare reports using a variety of databases and programs including but not limited to Salesforce (CRM) and Microsoft Excel 

  • Maintain departmental files, documents, and procedures  

  • Assist in the in-house logistical planning of development-oriented special events  

  • Support special projects as needed  

  • Other duties as assigned 

What You Bring 

  • 5+ years of relevant experience, preferably working on a fundraising team or for a large organization where best practices were a point of pride 

  • Ability to collect, organize and analyze data related to donor giving, and develop actionable strategies rooted in data 

  • Experience or interest in direct mail and e-mail solicitation best practices and implementation 

  • Goal-oriented with ability to work independently and meet deadlines 

  • Must be strategic and forward thinking with an entrepreneurial spirit 

  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to devise creative solutions  

  • Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills 

  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills 

  • Ability to handle multiple projects, set priorities, and meet deadlines  

  • Positive attitude and passion for playing a role in fulfilling the organization's mission 

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite 

  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills  

  • Experience in project management, non-profit/office administration, nonprofit/office management, executive support, and/or team & culture building 

  • Experience in education and/or nonprofit organizations preferred 

  • Deep familiarity with Salesforce preferred; robust experience with other fundraising CRMs will be considered  

  • Strong knowledge of gift processing and acknowledgement best practices 

  • Considerable knowledge of fundraising techniques and sources of funding  

Salary Range 

This position is full-time with a base salary within the range of $125,000 – $145,000 annually, depending on experience. 

How to Apply 

Please submit your resume and a personalized cover letter to jobs@dccap.org. In your cover letter, please describe your professional journey, why this feels like the right role for you at this time, and include a personal story about a professional challenge that required you to demonstrate some of the traits described above. We want to encourage people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply, and we want to provide space for you to make your case even if you don’t have every experience described in this job description. Single-page cover letters are acceptable, but please do not feel artificially limited to a single-page letter. 

Benefits 

Full time employees of DC-CAP are eligible for benefits, including the following: 

  • 403(b) plan with organization match. 

  • Medical & Vision Insurance. DC-CAP covers 75% of the premium. 

  • Generous PTO policy that includes February, Spring, Winter breaks, and a week-long holiday break for July 4th holiday. 

  • Professional development and tuition reimbursement. 

  • 12 Week Family Leave Policy. 

Hours of Work 

Hybrid environment currently available, with many team members scheduled to work in-person Tuesdays and Thursdays and work from home M, W, F. 

EEO Statement 

DC-CAP is committed to ensuring an environment free from discrimination and an equal employment opportunity. As such, employment decisions at DC_CAP are based on merit, qualifications, experience, and skillset. DC-CAP does not discriminate in employment opportunities and practices based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, and any other characteristics. DC-CAP will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.  

DC-CAP Organizational Values 

Courage: Embracing a Courageous Spirit 

  • With bravery and determination, we face challenges and pursue goals despite fear or uncertainty. We take calculated risks, are resilient in the face of adversity, and have the courage to stand up for what we believe in.  

Curiosity: Being Intellectually and Interpersonally Curious   

  • We have a genuine interest in understanding and learning from new ideas, concepts, and perspectives. We are driven by a desire to ask questions, seek out knowledge, and engage in meaningful discussions.  

Inclusivity: Creating a Climate for Inclusion 

  • We foster an environment where all individuals feel welcomed, valued, and respected, regardless of their background, identity, or differences. We actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity, and strive to eliminate barriers to participation and belonging. 

Consideration: Leading with Respect and Care for Others  

  • We exemplify empathy, kindness, and consideration towards others in every interaction. We build trusting relationships by treating individuals with dignity, actively listening to their perspectives, and supporting their well-being. 

Other Duties 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

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