Job Description: Senior Development Director | Kelly Brush Foundation | Burlington, VT (Remote)
About Kelly Brush Foundation
The Kelly Brush Foundation (the KBF) is a dynamic and growing non-profit with the mission of inspiring and empowering people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to lead active and engaged lives. Founded in 2006 by Kelly Brush and her family after Kelly sustained a spinal cord injury in an NCAA alpine ski race, the KBF provides direct assistance to individuals with SCI and partners with organizations around the country to help people live their own independent, active lifestyles so they can thrive after life-changing injuries.
It takes years to recover and readjust to life with paralysis. Feelings of depression and isolation are common. The KBF aims to change that and make every journey from injury to independence easier than the last. Thanks to philanthropic support of their programs, the Kelly Brush Foundation provides the inspiration to believe, the resources to connect, and the grants to enable everyone with an SCI to get out and go.
About Philanthropy & Programs at Kelly Brush Foundation
What started as a local bike ride to support Kelly, the KBF now raises over $2.7M on a national level to provide adaptive sports equipment, grant scholarship support for first-time sports and camp experiences, and fund the Active Project, a new digital platform to introduce and engage people in adaptive sports. Believing that "sport is a powerful equalizer" the KBF is proud of the impact it has on people with spinal cord injuries by overcoming the financial and emotional barriers to getting active.
Donations make the work of the Foundation possible, and the leadership of the KBF is committed to increasing support of the SCI community. Over the next 5 years, the KBF plans to:
• Build partnerships, communications efforts, and resources to engage with 30% of people with spinal cord injuries within their first-year post-injury. • Increase awareness of the Kelly Brush Foundation across the adaptive sports community, especially in under-served communities. • Become leaders in the efforts to increase outdoor accessibility in recreational spaces. • Grow the Active Fund equipment grants to over $2 million per year. • Diversify sources of revenue.
Currently, 60% of KBF's revenue comes from their hallmark events, most notably the Kelly Brush Ride. The new Senior Development Director (SDD) will oversee these major events and will have the opportunity to hire an Events Manager so they can continue to support the organizational goal of diversifying sources of revenue. The SDD will be an accomplished and mission-driven fundraiser with a track record of engaging new donors and setting ambitious data-driven strategies to rapidly take the KBF to the next phase of growth and impact.
About the Position
The Senior Development Director (SDD) will report to Executive Director Edie Perkins and will manage a robust development program with the goal of significantly increasing financial support of the KBF. This position will be responsible for building the KBF's development strategy and executing a new national development plan. The SDD will build and manage a team and oversee all aspects of the development program to ensure that ambitious fundraising targets are met through their major fundraising events, as well as the stewardship, renewal, and acquisition of individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
This position will be part of the KBF Leadership Team and will play a major role in the success of the organization. The successful candidate will be passionate about the KBF mission, and will be an innovative, resilient, adaptable, and confident leader excited to be at the KBF and create meaningful connections with donors and prospects who share that passion.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising, Campaigns and Events:
• Partner with Executive Director to set overall development strategy to build and manage a fundraising plan that focuses on continued success of the key events while building a stronger individual and institutional donor base to drive national growth. • Develop innovative new approaches to expand fundraising potential and reach new audiences. • Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors with the goal of significantly increasing support to the KBF. • Work closely with Marketing on donor segmenting, nurturing, messaging and promotional activities to engage new and existing supporters and promote campaigns and events. • Manage Events Manager to host the Kelly Brush Ride – a 1,000+ peer-to-peer fundraising bike ride that now happens bi-coastally in Vermont and California – and virtually around the country. • Oversee Events Manager to host several other 200+ person events in cities like, Boston, NYC, San Francisco
Leadership and Team Management
• Support the KBF staff and volunteer leadership with their portfolio management and approach to donor engagement and solicitation. • Build and manage a team charged with growing the base of corporate and individual supporters, increasing engagement, and running large-scale fundraising events, like the Kelly Brush Ride • Serve on the Leadership Team and be an active participant in setting strategy and providing direction to help take the organization to the next phase of growth.
Key Qualifications
• Minimum of 7 years of fundraising experience and proven track record of increasing support and understanding donor motivations • Major gift experience at the five- and six-figure level with individuals, foundations, and corporations •Events management experience • Excellent communication and attention-to-detail skills • Expertise and skill in using data to set strategies, drive campaigns, monitor success, and pivot if needed to reach ambitious targets • Experience with innovation and a creative approach to taking risks and trying new things • Leader who values teamwork and collaboration and embraces experiences as learning opportunities for personal and professional growth • Enthusiasm to model the values of the KBF including passion, attitude, impact, and teamwork (and any future modification to the KBF principles) •Demonstrated commitment to valuing equity and diversity and contributing to an inclusive environment • Familiarity with DonorPerfect, EveryAction or other donor database systems • Ability to travel frequently (30-40%) and help to staff occasional evening and weekend events
Compensation:
The starting salary for this role is $125,000 commensurate with the candidate's experience, skills, and fundraising track record.
The KBF values all backgrounds, identities, and walks of life because it reflects who we are, who we seek to serve, and because diversity of all kinds makes our organization stronger. If you want to work for an organization that strives for equity and fosters an inclusive culture welcoming you to bring your authentic self to work each day, we encourage you to apply.
For applications, please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence here For more information, please visit www.developmentguild.com. For more information about the Kelly Brush Foundation, please visit https://kellybrushfoundation.org/.
