Senior Director of Development

About the role

OpenMinds Lebanon, a non-profit supporting children and young adults with special needs and their families, is looking for a Senior Director of Development for its Office of Advancement. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the role plans and implements an integrated approach to development, with overall responsibility for major gift fundraising in Lebanon, the region and beyond, and collaboration with the principal gifts team on top-level donors. It covers prospects up to a giving capacity of $750,000 or more, with a minimum portfolio of 400 prospects.

Key responsibilities

• Identify fundraising priorities with the Vice President for Advancement and devise plans and strategies to reach goals.
• Develop and execute a revenue generation plan covering sponsored projects, contracts, grants, gifts and corporate partnerships, and diversify revenue streams and the donor base.
• Cultivate new donors, sponsors and funding sources, including individuals, corporations, foundations and government agencies.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and partners, and cultivate, solicit and steward prospects up to $750,000 or more.
• Execute the annual fundraising plan approved by the Board of Directors, including donor acquisition, prospect research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Assist in capital campaign planning and execution.
• Create annual giving programs for major gifts, mid-level gifts (e.g. monthly donor program) and broad-based support (direct mail, online giving, social media campaigns).
• Engage past and current donors, build relationships with volunteers and committees, and conduct at least 350 prospect visits per year.
• Prepare business and communication plans, identify new funding sources, and meet annual fundraising goals.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in marketing, public affairs, fund development or a related field; a Master's is a plus.
• Minimum 5 years of proven fundraising success, preferably in an education and health institution, not-for-profit or international organization.
• Demonstrated success securing significant funding (5-6 figures) from individuals, corporations, foundations, governments and multilateral organizations.
• Strong experience in major gift fundraising and with high-level individual donors and corporate/foundation representatives.
• Previous senior or leadership positions in reputable institutions.

Required skills

• Writing proposals, grants and sponsorship materials, and creating philanthropic case studies and donor proposals.
• In-depth knowledge of fundraising management systems, major gift cultivation and stewardship, and grant proposal processes.
• Strategic planning, campaign planning and data analysis to inform revenue generation.
• Excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills, able to work independently and in a team under pressure.