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Director of Stewardship, Health System Foundation

Employer
Children's Medical Center Foundation
Location
Texas, United States
Salary
Competitive Salary
Closing date
Jun 5, 2021

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Children's Health℠

Children’s Health has been caring for children for over 100 years and is committed to making their lives better. As one of the most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the largest pediatric health care system in North Texas, Children’s Health is the region’s only academically affiliated healthcare organization dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive care of children.  Today, Children’s Health provides exemplary care for approximately 300,000 children in over 50 pediatric subspecialties annually.

The Children’s Health system includes two full-service hospitals, the flagship Children’s Medical Center Dallas as well as Children’s Medical Center Plano; multiple specialty centers throughout the region; rehabilitation facilities, including the Our Children’s House inpatient hospital; and award-winning telemedicine programs.

Children’s Medical Center Dallas continues to be the only North Texas hospital consistently ranked among “America’s Best” by U.S. News & World Report. Through its academic affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Health is a leader in life-changing treatments, innovative technology, and ground-breaking research.

The Foundation

With Texas already home to approximately one-tenth of all children in the nation, and with the increasing complexities and issues they face, it is imperative that Children’s Health accommodate growing patient volumes while enhancing the care and programs provided.

Established in 1985 as the fundraising arm for Children’s Health, Children’s Medical Center Foundation pursues and secures over $50 million annually in philanthropic contributions through partnerships with individual donors, organizations, and corporations to fund special programs and projects that improve the overall healthcare experience and research that aims to make life better for all children.  

Although 2020 was an unprecedented year full of uncertainty, for the Foundation it was also exceptional.

The Opportunity

The Foundation is seeking an experienced leader in stewardship and a relationship builder who thrives in a fast-paced, visionary culture. This individual will sit at the nexus of the Children’s Health advancement and communications teams and will be responsible for implementing a comprehensive stewardship plan that advances the mission of Children’s Health. Working with donors of all levels and the gift officers who manage them, it is essential that this leader be well-versed in collaboration and coordination. Critically, this position plays a vital role in The Foundation’s soon-to-be-announced comprehensive campaign.

Role

The Director of Stewardship is a strategic and experienced development professional charged with building a comprehensive stewardship communications program in service of all donors to Children’s Health. S/he is responsible for a Foundation-wide strategy to move donors at all levels toward a deeper involvement with the hospital system through strategies and communications that acknowledge and recognize their gifts and the impact of their philanthropy. The Director oversees a single, centralized office within the foundation, whose mandate is to deploy a strategic stewardship plan consistent across all departments, with common goals, common messages, and a common voice. Finally, s/he collaborates closely with a team of professionals adept at all forms of communications—video, print, digital—always striving to find innovative and meaningful ways to engage donors.

A member of the foundation’s strategy team, the director works to align the stewardship communications program with foundation priorities. S/he is adept at working across teams to develop integrated stewardship strategies and to design and implement effective stewardship plans.

Responsibilities

This position reports to the Senior Director of Development and works closely with colleagues in communications, external relations, information strategy, and all fundraising units to acknowledge, engage and recognize donors through key strategies and donor communications.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

  • Cultivates a culture of stewardship across the foundation that recognizes the importance of stewarding donors at every level of the giving pyramid.
  • Directs a Foundation-wide comprehensive stewardship program that appropriately and consistently recognizes donors at all levels.
  • Collaborates with a team of communications professionals to translate stewardship plans and strategies into products that adhere to the brand and communicate the impact of giving to Children’s in fresh, compelling ways.
  • Oversees a stewardship team and partners with all fundraising units to the highest standards of performance to produce print and electronic communications, including stewardship reports, acknowledgment letters, donor newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, speaking points, and event collateral.
  • Establishes and oversees standards, budgets, and project management procedures for meeting foundation-wide stewardship communications needs.
  • Partners with the foundation’s executive team to set stewardship strategy and priorities.
  • Collaborates with senior fundraising, external relations, and communications colleagues to design, implement, evaluate and annually update stewardship communications and engagement plan that guides foundation-wide stewardship efforts.
  • Oversees the creation and implementation of personalized stewardship communications plans for transformational donors.
  • Evaluates the effectiveness and success of foundation stewardship communications vehicles and processes on an ongoing basis, designing and implementing improved approaches as needed.

The Ideal Candidate

Leadership

  • A strategic thinker with the ability to translate a concept into action as part of building and inspiring a strong team.
  • A servant leader who embraces and empowers individuals of all backgrounds and who puts the needs of others first and helps them develop and perform as highly as possible, who fosters in others a sense of ownership and dedication to the cause, and who leads by example.
  • An innovative leader with a hands-on and involved style that is marked by tenacity, cooperation, and a willingness to think creatively.
  • A service-oriented person who engenders support among colleagues, staff, and the community by virtue of her or his knowledge, experience, creativity, vision, and dedication to the mission of the Foundation.
  • A hardworking individual who fully dedicates her or his energy to a cause and is willing to “go beyond the job description,” including extending extra effort if necessary to see projects to successful conclusions.

Experience

  • Minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of direct and varied areas of stewardship experience strongly preferred, ideally in a healthcare or academic setting. Alternatively, a suitable combination of development, communications, or related experience in a nonprofit setting will be considered.
  • A proven track record of success in clearly articulating the case for continued support to donors, especially those giving at a transformational level.
  • A background building and managing a highly motivated, intelligent, and committed group of professionals and staff.
  • Demonstrated leadership in creating, implementing, and evaluating a multi-year, institution-wide personalized stewardship communications plan for major donors.
  • Demonstrated leadership in collaborating with various team members in a comprehensive development department to encourage moves management and grow the contributions of current donors at all levels.
  • Demonstrated effective communication with technical and non-technical individuals and groups at all levels of an organization.
  • Leadership roles in capital/endowment campaigns a plus.

Skills & Knowledge

  • Excellent collaboration skills, with demonstrated ability to listen and respond to the needs of a complex team in a creative and demanding environment.
  • The ability to forge positive relationships with staff, leadership, grateful patient families, and donor constituencies is crucial.
  • Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and written communication skills in relating to leadership, colleagues, and staff; attention to detail and ability to handle multiple and varied tasks independently, while also working collaboratively.
  • Knowledge of how to retain and grow the contributions of current donors, especially those at the highest echelons of giving.
  • Ability to quickly acquire a working knowledge of the general purposes and objectives of a healthcare foundation.
  • Ability to gather and analyze data, and to present information designed for a donor audience of varying interests.
  • A “systems thinker” with the ability to envision, strategize, plan, and execute in a complex institutional environment.

Personal Characteristics

  • Appreciation of the Children’s Health mission and the ability to effectively communicate it.
  • Willingness and ability to work outside normal working hours.
  • An ability to work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community and make an impact in a complex, fast-paced, and team-oriented environment.
  • An entrepreneurial spirit and a positive attitude.
  • A warm and engaging individual who, while genuinely interested in others, can professionally exercise discipline and accountability.
  • Able to present a positive and professional image of the Foundation.

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