Vice President, Development

To apply, email your résumé and cover letter to kgray@heartofamerica.org.

Heart of America (HOA) is a national nonprofit organization that has provided high-quality education resources and transformed spaces in under-resourced schools into modern learning environments so that students and communities can learn and grow. Over the past 26 years, HOA has served more than two million students in need by distributing more than 4.3 million books, infusing $9.5 million in technology, and transforming nearly 1,000 community libraries, cafeterias, gymnasiums, college and career centers, tech labs, and many more educational spaces across North America. If you are looking for a career where you can have an impact and make a difference - join us! For more information, visit www.heartofamerica.org

The Vice President of Development leads the overall strategic direction and implementation of all development initiatives, including fundraising, donor-related communications, and government affairs. The VP of Development is responsible for all strategies designed to increase support for Heart of America’s (HOA) mission and programs and for promulgating an institution-wide culture of philanthropy. Reporting to the President, the VP serves on the leadership team and plays a key role in overall organizational strategy and decision-making. The Vice President will lead a team of 3-4 staff in the development department and manage the day-to-day activities of the department.

This position can be based in either Washington DC or Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.

Significant travel will be required at times 25-30%.

At The Heart of America Foundation, we look for people who work with their heads AND their hearts. Talent is essential, but talent is not enough. We are looking for people who are passionate about our mission and goals and who are committed to an organizational culture based on compassion, integrity, respect, and cooperation.

HOA offers medical, dental, paid holidays, vacation leave, and a 403(b) plan.

The salary range is $150,000 - $170,000K per year commensurate with experience.

Please include a cover letter telling us why you are interested and would be a good fit for this position.

Detail of Responsibilities:

1) Enhance and implement the organizational vision in keeping with HOA’s values.

• As a member of the leadership team, guide and engage in short and long-term strategic planning for current and future programs.
• Ensure alignment of decision-making, goal setting, and problem-solving for programs, initiatives projects as directed by Mission/Vision
• Provide a clear link between organizational goals and objectives and team job descriptions and individual roles and responsibilities.

2) Ensures programmatic excellence based on HOA’s Operating Principles

• Manage and recruit a high-functioning team to further the work of the development department and HOA’s overall mission, leading and supervising 3-4+ staff in the development department and managing the day-to-day activities of the department.
• Ensuring that all aspects of the department’s work are designed, budgeted, organized, and staffed to achieve maximum success.
• Provide leadership in the development of inter-team communications and cohesiveness, sustaining HOA’s values and supporting staff during organizational growth.
• Demonstrate the consistent quality of finance and administration; communications and systems; processes and procedural recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve program goals.
• Ensure that key project outcomes are evaluated and leveraged for maximum community and organizational impact.

3) Develop and implement strategies to build on HOA’s successful fundraising track record by ensuring diverse revenue streams, including individual major gifts, foundations, government, corporations, mail, and online programs, planned giving, and cause marketing opportunities, as appropriate.

• Set annual and long-term goals for increasing revenues for the organization’s overall programs.
• Generate increased revenue from both existing donors as well as maintain and grow a robust pipeline of prospective donors.
• Represent HOA and partner with the President, Partnership Directors to cultivate and solicit prospects and donors.
• Ensure processes and systems are in place to track and manage proposals for all foundation and corporate fundraising.
• In partnership with the Finance Department and other executive staff, provide revenue projections to support the annual organizational budget as well as develop and manage the departmental budget.
• Ensure data-driven evaluations and projections of fundraising goals.

4) Lead donor and fundraising communication strategy to support the HOA mission, goals, and objectives.

• Collaborate with the senior leadership team to identify internal and external fundraising and donor communications opportunities and develop and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• In partnership with the Partnership Directors and Sr. Director of Marketing/Communication, supervise the design and implementation of all donor and stakeholder communications.

Professional Experience/Qualifications:

The position requires an innovative and energetic leader who has a passion for HOA’s mission and a commitment to build and position the organization as the thought leader in the field of education, community building, and philanthropy.

The VP of Development will have experience building and running an effective development team. They will have a measurable track record that exhibits the ability to define and build strategic partnerships/relationships, influence ideas, and manage relationships with external stakeholders in complex environments. They will be skilled at affecting change and building strong, sustainable, and actionable relationships that deliver results with key external partners/donors, including thought leaders, corporate leaders, academic circles, and celebrities, as well as across federal, state, local, and government.

The VP will have a strong ability to coordinate across departments and understand the implications of decisions in areas throughout the organization. The right person will be a builder with the ability to set priorities decisively, delegate responsibilities, ensure accountability, and allocate resources to ensure results.

The VP will exhibit intellectual curiosity, including the ability to listen to and learn from multiple voices. They will have a motivating approach to building strong working relationships and collaboration with stakeholders and internal teams and be able to establish rapport and open communication with all constituents. An engaging and supportive expert, the VP, will offer credibility both internally and externally.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree - Executive Certification and/or master’s degree a plus
• 10+ years of non-profit development experience and working in corporate philanthropy and/or nonprofits.
• Have knowledge and successful experience in meeting fundraising goals, through diverse funding streams, particularly major gift fundraising (10M+)
• Experience managing a team of staff.
• Comfort working in a remote style environment.
• An innovative personality who is willing to be flexible and unconditional in their resolve to tackle projects.
• Commitment to quality programs and excellence in organizational and project management.
• Ability to achieve strategic objectives and manage a budget.
• Ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including foundations, corporate sponsors, and advisory groups.
• Display a positive attitude, show concern for people and the community, and demonstrate presence, self-confidence, common sense, and good listening ability.
• Passion for HOA’s mission and commitment to working collaboratively with the leadership team.
• Hands-on approach in leading a variety of initiatives.
• Effective leader for performance and outcome-based programs and staff.
• Solid judgment and apparent leadership skills.
• Team player who integrates and operates effectively with staff of all levels within a collegial yet demanding work environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.
• Ability to develop and direct long-term projects as they relate to the strategic goals of the organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills