Vice President of Development

Sandy Hook Promise is a nonpartisan organization that was founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook Promise is dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating a culture of inclusivity, safety, respect, and kindness in schools and communities across the United States.

Through its work, Sandy Hook Promise aims to build a movement of individuals and organizations committed to promoting gun safety, mental health awareness, and social and emotional learning. The organization has received widespread support from educators, parents, and lawmakers, as well as celebrities and public figures, and continues to play a vital role in the national conversation around gun violence prevention.

Learn more about Sandy Hook Promise here.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Sandy Hook Promise seeks an innovative, mission-driven Vice President of Development (VP) to expand its fundraising efforts. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the CEOs and C-Suite, the VP will lead and manage a development team, cultivate transformational, high-level gifts, and strengthen constituent relationships by increasing awareness and building constituent support for the organization’s 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) work. The VP will also identify, cultivate, and actively manage a donor portfolio through prospecting, qualifying, and cultivating high-level donors and collaborate with leadership to achieve fundraising goals. This role requires a strategic, hands-on leader with a track record of success in major gift development and experience leading fundraising for large national organizations. They will possess the ability to effectively operationalize and implement such strategies into actionable plans and tangible results. The VP will be a player-coach responsible for motivating and developing a cohesive team while building and maintaining strong relationships with donors and focusing their energies toward radically increasing and securing six and seven-figure gifts from individuals and foundations.

The ideal VP will be a visionary and strategic leader with a proven track record of ensuring support for a best-in-class national nonprofit organization, both building on the current strong foundations and through the stewardship of existing supporters and the identification of new funding sources to ensure continuous growth of support for the mission and vision of Sandy Hook Promise across both the C3 and C4.

RESPONSIBILITY OVERVIEW:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the organization’s strategic plan and budgetary goals for the C3 and C4
• Oversee and manage the organization’s fundraising programs, including major gifts, annual giving, foundation relations, and special events.
• Serve as the leader of the development team, fostering a collaborative and goal-oriented culture amongst staff. Enhance the team’s effectiveness and productivity by providing coaching and mentorship, motivating team members with energy, passion, and clear expectations.
• Manage a team of 3 professionals currently, with two approved Director-level roles to be hired following the VP joining the Sandy Hook Promise team.
• Position Sandy Hook Promise for long-term success, increasing SHP’s giving beyond the $10 million threshold with a goal to double our major gifts revenue in the next 5 years.
• Creatively and strategically expand the donor base, with a heightened focus on major gifts and the creation and management of events.
• Work closely with the Marketing Department to leverage and upgrade SHP’s grassroots base and mid-level donors.
• Manage a portfolio of key supporters, including the cultivation of six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Leverage and deepen the relationships between the Development department and the Programs, Policy, Marketing, Finance, and Operations Departments to drive fundraising that will support overall organizational goals.
• Ensure best-in-class donor gratitude, recognition, and stewardship of SHP donors.
• Develop suite of donor communications materials, including strong cases for support and pitch materials, that will attract and engage a broader donor audience, customizing needs for both our program and policy work.
• Ability to lead strategic pitches with current and prospective donors, both in coordination with other team members and on their own.
• Foster and leverage relationships of SHP’s leadership, including the Board of Directors, CEOs, advisory boards, senior leadership team, and current donors to meet fundraising goals and grow our prospects and strategic connections.
• Work with the senior leadership team to define how the development team will support the Sandy Hook Promise strategic plan, building long-term goals with a growth mindset, creative ideas, and clear vision that supports both the C3 and C4.
• Leverage technology to enhance systems, processes, and structures within the development department, while still maintaining a personal touch and donor-centric mindset.
• Champion the SHP’s commitment to fostering REDI (Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) within the organization and with its partners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must-Have Qualifications:

• Experience in a leadership fundraising role with a national nonprofit
• Proven track record expanding the donor base for national nonprofits that do not have a built-in donor base
• Direct experience and expertise with individual and major giving including a track record of securing 7-figure gifts
• Experience managing experienced, high-performing teams

Additional Qualifications:

• The ideal VP candidate will have fifteen years or more of progressive experience in nonprofit development, including three to five years at the senior level and five+ years of experience leading a team of experienced professionals.
• The VP will have experience creating a compelling vision and strategy, and delivering a plan against that vision, for a national nonprofit organization.
• A proven results-driven approach to scaling and achieving fundraising goals over the near- and long-term.
• A comprehensive understanding of various fundraising channels, including major gifts, corporate giving, foundations, planned giving, donor-advised funds (DAFs), special events, grassroots support, matching campaigns, and capital campaigns.
• A balanced approach to leadership, with the ability to operate strategically and tactically, partnering with senior leadership and the board while managing both team members and a pool of donors.
• Strong analytical and data-driven skills with a proven ability to drive development decisions and achieve strategic objectives using metrics.
• A demonstrated enthusiasm and motivation in developing a forward-thinking vision for fundraising.
• Skilled in comprehending, synthesizing, and articulating complex information into a compelling case for support that motivates prospective donors to contribute.
• Possesses exceptional communication skills and the ability to collaborate with highly talented team members, donors, and other stakeholders to achieve fundraising efforts.
• An inspiring leader who will manage a team with a mix of experienced development professionals and new developing talent and will build synergy and a unified vision. The VP of Development will have a servant leadership mentality, focus on the continuous learning and growth of team members, be open and receptive to thought partnership, new ideas, and feedback.
• The ideal candidate will be resourceful, adaptable, and has achieved results in past roles through persistence and a “hustle” mentality.
• Stands as an “agent for change” with an understanding of and passion for gun violence prevention and related social justice movements.
• Exemplifies the values and mission of SHP, inspiring and motivating others, including staff and supporters, building on SHP’s mission and vision for the future, and think entrepreneurially to inject new ideas and energy.
• In addition to experience with 501(c)(3) organizations, experience with 501(c)(4) organizations preferred.
• Strong technical skills, including with donor management systems. Sandy Hook Promise currently uses Salesforce.

LOCATION:

Remote withing the U.S. with travel for in-person meetings/trainings as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The salary range for this position is $170,000 – $180,000 annually. SHP offers a competitive benefits package.

Sandy Hook Promise operates within a distributed workforce, allowing for location flexibility across the country for most positions. They provide remote office support for all staff, which includes a laptop, home office reimbursement, monthly Wi-Fi reimbursement up to $40, and monthly cell phone reimbursement up to $50.

PLEASE NOTE:

Due to the high volume of resumes received for this role, we are unable to have informational calls about the role. Only those candidates selected to move forward will be scheduled as part of our recruiting process.

Equal Opportunity Employment

SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They strive to be an employer of choice where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. They are focused on promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion and believe deeply in having a workforce comprised of people of all beliefs and backgrounds who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life. Members of all under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.