Hope Reins

Director of Development

Job Title: Director of Development
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Department: Development
Requirements: Full-time, some Saturdays and evenings

Organizational Overview
Hope Reins is the leading provider of Faith-Based Equine Mentorship. Our mission is to pair a kid in crisis with a rescued horse and mentor to find hope and healing. Since our inception in 2010, we have held over 20,000 sessions with children and teens from 16 counties in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina.

In 2018, the national best-selling book Joey was published, which chronicles the story of Hope Reins’ beginnings and one of our beloved rescued horses that was blinded from starvation. Since its release, Joey has positioned Hope Reins to enter the national stage, grow our donor base, as well as launch a full-scale training program to multiply hope and healing for kids across the USA.

Hope Reins operating budget is $1,956,000 and we anticipate major growth through our new 2023-2025 strategic plan. 100% of our revenue is raised through unrestricted contributions from individuals, primarily major donors. We have a very strong base of supporters, as well as successful development and marketing processes to cultivate and steward donors to achieve our revenue goals.

Job Summary
Work with the CEO, Board of Directors, and other staff, to plan, lead and execute a comprehensive development and fundraising program to ensure revenue goals are met for the short and long-term needs of the organization. The Development Director will lead and manage a high-functioning team to drive the development process, annual and capital campaigns, and prospecting/solicitation to continue growing our base of donors nationally.

Primary Objectives
● Achieve Revenue Goals
● Direct Major Donor Program
● Steward Donor Experience and Ensure Satisfaction
● Lead, Manage, and Hold Accountable Development Staff

Major Areas of Responsibility
1. Achieve Revenue Goals – Work with the CEO to develop and execute a comprehensive development plan to ensure the achievement of annual revenue goals including:

• Meet or exceed the annual revenue plan. Determine strategies to ensure revenue growth is maintained and expands Hope Reins’ donor base nationally.
• Monitor and manage the pipeline of fundraising activities to ensure monthly and quarterly revenue goals are achieved. Forecasting revenue for budget planning.
• Research, write, and manage grant applications.
• Work closely with the Director of Marketing to coordinate and implement. fundraising campaigns. Ensuring outgoing communications support fundraising goals.
• Serve as the staff liaison to the Development Committee.
• Monitor trends in the industry and adapt fundraising strategies as necessary.
• Foster an understanding of philanthropy within the organization.

2. Direct Major Donor Program – Grow major donor giving through a focus on portfolio management, cultivation, and stewardship:

• Raise 90% of revenue annually in major donations ($1,000+).
• Build a personal relationship with potential and current donors through tours, meetings, major donor portfolio management, and other strategies.
• Oversee the development and execution of a major donor prospecting process to identify and cultivate relationships with potential new donors. Ensuring the prospecting pathway is implemented.
• Ensure the development of relevant and informative fundraising materials, such as cases for support, to clearly communicate the mission and needs of the organization.
• Develop and oversee a planned giving program to generate bequests and legacy gifts.
• Manage a personal portfolio of ~ 100 major donors.
• Drive the ongoing implementation of our ask, thank, report process to ensure donors feel valued and appreciated.
• Partner with the Director of Marketing to support effective communication strategies that engage and inform the community of our work such as annual and impact reports, newsletters, and stories from the ranch.

3. Steward Donor Experience and Ensure Satisfaction – Execute stewardship strategies to maintain a high donor retention rate by:

• Working closely with the Development Strategy and Operations manager, oversee the management of donor records through our Bloomerang system. Ensuring all gifts are processed and promptly acknowledged.
• Managing the ongoing donor care activities such as weekly thank you calls and hand-written notes.
• Deepening connection with donors through special gifts for recognition, stories of impact, tours, or events such as Behind the Scenes.
• Working with development staff and the Director of Marketing to implement a comprehensive donor stewardship program.

4. Lead, manage, and hold accountable development staff

• Recruit, hire, onboard, and manage professional staff.
• Direct staff activities and provide performance feedback. Encourage opportunities for professional growth.
• Lead staff by example, demonstrating successful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key donors.
• Set clearly defined and measurable goals for the team; establish appropriate metrics to assess individual and team performance.
• Serve as a member of the leadership team for Hope Reins.

Required Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university
• A minimum of 10 years experience as a Development Director for a non-profit organization with a proven track record of fundraising success.
•  Skills:
• • Extensive knowledge of fundraising strategies and principles including annual funds, major gifts, and donor stewardship.
  • Strong team leader with experience managing staff and volunteers.
  • Exceptional planning skills; Goals, results, and detail-oriented expertise with the ability to set and meet deadlines.
  • Able to construct, articulate and implement written annual development plans and prioritize tasks.
  • Self-starter with a flexible and adaptable work style. One who can manage competing demands and work independently without close oversight; creative and entrepreneurial with a sense of humor.
  • Proficient in databases, spreadsheets, presentations, and word processing.

Demonstrated ability to:

• Build and maintain positive relationships with others both internally and externally.
• Work collaboratively and effectively on a small team with high accountability.
• Be transparent with high-integrity leadership and a style that motivates people to work hard while having fun
• Project and uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Unique work environment and culture in a ranch setting

Salary Range: $75,000 – $90,000

To apply: contact recruit@thebrightdot.com