Development Director, Student Leadership Development and Cancer Research

Are you a passionate, strategic, creative, and driven professional? Would you like to join an organization where your professional expertise and insights are valued, trusted, and heard?

Texas 4000 is seeking a purpose driven professional to join their dedicated team who will help further build and strengthen their culture of philanthropy and generosity in support of the organization’s mission. The mission of Texas 4000 is to cultivate high achieving college student leaders and engage communities in the fight against cancer.

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Texas 4000 for Cancer (Texas 4000) is committed to cultivating student leaders and engaging communities in the fight against cancer. Annually, a group of more than 80 students from diverse backgrounds from The University of Texas at Austin are competitively selected to participate in the organization’s 18-month leadership development program. Texas 4000 empowers each student to raise $4,500, ride 2,000 training miles with his/her team, volunteer more than 50 hours in the community, and play an active role in planning every aspect of the ride by attending weekly meetings and taking leadership positions within the team. The program culminates in a 70-day summer bike ride from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska, to spread hope, knowledge, and charity in the fight against cancer.

POSITION SUMMARY

This is an exciting time for Texas 4000 as the team seeks to increase and expand its fundraising to support the fight against cancer.

Texas 4000 is looking for a dynamic and engaging Development Director who is eager to lead and grow the organization’s annual fundraising work, expand its donor and prospective donor portfolio through relationship building, donor retention, stewardship, and thoughtful fundraising strategies, and actively collaborate with leadership, Texas 4000’s devoted Board of Directors, committees, and student riders to achieve financial goals to support the fight against cancer.

The Development Director is responsible for leading the development and execution of strategies to help the organization achieve its annual fundraising goals. Currently, the organization’s annual revenue is approximately $1.4MM, including in-kind gifts. Texas 4000 aspires to continue growing its revenues to further impact the fight against cancer. With this increase, the organization envisions opportunities to improve its leadership development program and cancer awareness + prevention programs to engage communities, as well as increase grants to cancer research and support service organizations for people whose lives have been impacted by cancer. To that end, Texas 4000 seeks a Development Director who is eager to help bring this vision to life as a core member of the Executive Team.

 

Annually, the Development Director is directly responsible for 51 percent of the fundraising goal and supervises the fundraising work of Texas 4000’s student riders to achieve 49 percent of the overall fundraising goal (percentages subject to change annually with input from organization and volunteer leadership).

The ideal Development Director candidate is enthusiastic, optimistic, and passionate about developing young leaders and inspiring others to join the fight against cancer. The ideal candidate is also excited to take on challenges while collaborating and working in a fast-paced environment with a small but mighty team. This position encompasses ample opportunity for advancement and a fertile environment for growth. 

If you are a self-motivated individual with strong experience in individual and corporate giving, experience working with and supervising volunteers, and have a proven track record in meeting fundraising goals, we would love to meet you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the chief steward and champion of Texas 4000’s Culture of Philanthropy.
• Set annual fundraising goals and budgets based on short- and long-term organizational goals.
• Ensure alignment between development activities and Texas 4000’s strategic plan.
• Oversee and execute the annual development, communications, and stewardship plans and help ensuregoals are met and accountability processes are in place for all team members. Lead efforts to evaluate and update plans and activities annually.
• Oversee the donor relationship journey – from research to prospecting, cultivation, asking, thanking, and stewarding – and ensure that relationship-building and transparency are core to the fundraising program.
• Supervise student riders in their fundraising and communications as they participate in Texas 4000’s 18-month leadership development program and during the summer ride. This can include mentoring and coaching students, supplying fundraising and communications tools such as letters, social posts, and sample strategies to support their work on behalf of Texas 4000.
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects (including local and national individuals and corporations).
• Support the Executive Director, Board Members, and volunteer board committees in their work to cultivate and manage their respective donors and prospects.
• Manage the development budget, including event budgets, and create appropriate reports for the Executive Director, Board Members, and respective committees.
• Supervise Development Manager and contract event planner(s), when retained.
• Travel to meet donors required approximately 20 percent of the time.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• The ideal candidate for this role will be:
  • A Strategic Visionary who sees the “big picture” and how philanthropy is vital to the success of the organization.
  • A Strong Communicator who knows that listening is more important than talking and who has the capacity to convey Texas 4000’s case for support in a compelling manner to a variety of stakeholders.
  • A Highly Organized individual who can manage multiple projects at one time and can prioritize tasks, delegate actions, and manage ‘up’ by collaborating with other professional colleagues and volunteer leaders.
  • A Servant Leader who is eager to align their personal and professional values by joining the Texas 4000 Team.
  • A Relationship Builder who understands that ethical and effective fundraising cannot be achieved without attention and care to fostering positive relationships with all stakeholders and audiences.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will:

• Hold a college degree or equivalent work experience
• Be willing to travel moderately

REQUIRED FUNDRAISING EXPERIENCE

• Four or more years of relevant experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• Documented track record of fundraising success, including corporate sponsorships, individual gifts, fundraising gala sponsorship, and events.
• Experience working with volunteer Board Members and interns.
• Prior experience with peer-to-peer fundraising desired.
• Strong technology skills and database experience with Raiser’s Edge, preferable.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Strong communication abilities, with superior interpersonal, verbal, and written skills.
  • Impeccable spelling, grammar, punctuation skills.
• Commitment to accuracy, attention to detail, highly efficient and conscientious about thorough follow-up.

 

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Excellent organization and time management skills with the ability to achieve goals while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Must have a mature work attitude and be respectful, self-motivated, reliable, and resourceful.
• Team player who enjoys interaction with professionals, peers, volunteers, and those served by the organization.
• Personable, yet professional and must maintain strict adherence to confidentiality.
• Patience and good humor.
• Ability to contribute to a culture of philanthropy within the organization.

BENEFITS

• Health Insurance - 75 percent paid for by organization
• Dental Insurance - 90 percent paid for by organization
• Vision Insurance - 100 percent paid for by organization
• Generous and flexible Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Travel across the country during the summer to see the riders and visit with donors
  • With approval, travel can be extended to include personal visits
• Flexible work environment
• Strong organizational culture of philanthropy
• Selected professional development opportunities paid for by organization as Texas 4000 believes in the importance of investing in the continued professional growth of its employees

HOW TO APPLY

If you are ready to join the fight against cancer and lead Texas 4000’s development efforts, please email your resume and cover letter to info@texas4000.org. Cover letter should include your professional and personal interest in the role, your experience and accomplishments in development, namely with individual and corporate giving, and with teaching/mentoring/coaching others to engage in the fundraising process. 

ABOUT TEXAS 4000 FOR CANCER

Our Mission

Texas 4000’s mission is to cultivate student leaders and engage communities in the fight against cancer. 

We share hope, knowledge and charity through leadership development, grantmaking, and our cornerstone event, a 4,000+ mile bike ride from Austin to Anchorage.

Our Vision

Texas 4000 envisions a world where all students can become leaders in creating a cancer-free future.

Texas 4000 Leadership Development Program Eight Foundational Leadership Skills:

Self-Awareness

Communication

Resiliency

Efficient Planning

Peer Respect

Situational Leadership

Technical Knowledge & Skills

Vision & Action

Number of Board Members: 17

Number of Staff: 7 

Find out more at https://texas4000.org