Communications & Development Professional

Please read : At this point in time of the Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB)’s history, we need committed, ethical and talented fundraiser who has demonstrated experience in finding, strategizing and successfully obtaining a significant amount of new funds for the organization, while simultaneously overseeing the work of a department/team to successfully sustain a $4 million base of annual funding. We need someone with major gift solicitation success (individual asks of over well over $5,000 regularly), success retaining those supporters, demonstrated ability in managing a high performing team and Department and past success in implementing a major communication plan across Departments of an organization.

Full Job Description Below:

Facility : Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB) Position : Full-time (30 hrs. /week; exempt)
Position Title : Communication & Development Professional (CDP) Department Name : Development
Reports To : Executive Director Pay Range : $60,000-$70,000/annually
Classification : Exempt

Job Summary of the Communication & Development Professional :

The Communication & Development Professional (CDP) leads the Development Department, (a sub-department of Administration), which plays a supporting role to the departments of Operations and Programs. The Development Department includes the key functions of fundraising and communications/marketing. The CDP is responsible for sustaining, growing and diversifying BVFB revenue; ensuring the successful execution and outcomes of BVFB’s Special Events; oversight and delegation of external communication requests, as well as development and/or updating of collateral and/or processes for BVFB’s portfolio of marketing tools (website, social media, fliers, emails, media advisories, etc.). The CDP will display great passion and optimism for Development and Communication tasks; balance ambition with humility; be researched and intentional in action; understand the importance of collaboration across departments, while also being a team leader who drives results and remains mission and donor centric. Department culture should emphasize quality and meaningful relationships and content; truth in advertising; dignified portrayals of people facing hunger; appreciation for all contributions of all donors and all BVFB Departments; a healthy harmonious work environment that embraces innovation in research/technology, cross department collaboration and transparency, all while exemplifying core BVFB values. CDP supervises the Communications & Development Coordinator (CDC), who supervises the Community Experience Assistant (CEA), reports to the Executive Director, and works closely with the Fundraising & Marketing Committee of the Board of Directors. Hybrid work (some in office and some from another location) within the set work schedule may be considered for the right candidate. 
Strategic Operations
Development (60% of time )

Overarching Values for this Work

• Appreciation for all Donations
• Ensuring Quality Experience for Supporters
• Privacy, Confidentiality and Transparency

Sustaining BVFB Revenue

• Parallel with BVFB’s Annual Organizational Budgeting Process, developing a written, annual fundraising plan that captures all existing sources of revenue (direct mail campaigns, special events, known 3 rd Party Fundraisers, renewal grants/trust/foundations), with estimated revenue projections, in partnership with the entire Development Team, to be reviewed by the Executive Director and Fundraising & Marketing Committee of the Board of Directors

• Working with the Development Team, ensuring deadlines for individual aspects of the sustaining funding strategy are documented, charted, and adhered to, leaving room for needed pivots, unexpected changes, etc.
  • Direct Mail: Guiding the Direct Mail strategies and annual budget with BVFB’s contracted company, in collaboration with the Executive Director and Board of Director’s Fundraising & Marketing Committee and Development Staff
    • With the Development Team, ensure that resources are gathered, discussed, prioritized, and submitted by deadlines
    • Tracking direct mail outcomes (Rate on Return, results compared to budget, new donors, average gift size, etc.) and reporting monthly to the Executive Director and Fundraising & Marketing Committee

• Written Proposals : With Development Team, ensure that BVFB’s grants portfolio is effectively managed

• Resources and data are gathered in a timely fashion for applications and reports
• Applications and reports are reviewed for accuracy and clarity and submitted by or before deadlines
• Grant funds are spent according to funder requirements and timelines. Collaborating with other Directors when issues arise
  • • Assist Development Team and/or Program staff in defending proposals, when needed
• Special Event Coordination
  • • Manages pre-event progress
      • Ensuring planning begins early with the Fundraising & Marketing Committee of the Board of Directors, including dates, locations, goals, etc. and coordinates across departments internally, when appropriate
      • With the Development Team, secures annual support for events early, then, based on existing donors and new donors, outlines additional sponsors to solicit to meet goals. Gets buy-in of selections from Executive Director and the Board
        • Ensure development and timely submission of application or donor proposals that may be required from corporations, foundations, and/or major donors
        • Ensures asks are being tracked and outcomes recorded
      • Liaison with event location, handling contracts, layout design, IT, food, and any other logistical concerns, in consultation with the Executive Director and Fundraising & Marketing Committee
      • Strategies with the Fundraising & Marketing Committee calendar for advertising, including use of various media, including social media
      • Develops and communicates plans for the Board, other volunteers, and staff roles for the actual event
      • Oversee other tasks as needed (ticket/raffle sales, etc.)
    • Event coordination
      • Point of contact for event questions, unless delegated to another appropriate person
      • Ensure event plans have been implemented and are correct
      • Troubleshoots unexpected challenges
    • Post-event
      • Ensures all donations are accounted for correctly and acknowledged (monetary and in-kind)
      • Facilitating Strengths Opportunities Aspirations Results (SOAR) meeting with pertinent players
      • Ensures all other loose ends are tied up
• 3rd Party Fundraisers:
  • • • With Development Team, secure written commitments, and dates well in advance for annual fundraising events done for BVFB

• Ensuring reporting of outcomes for each ask within each strategy is documented, including detailed notes
• Maintaining consistent, professional relationships with different donors, 3 rd Party partners, contacts within different entities to ensure satisfaction, alignment, etc.

Increasing & Diversifying BVFB Revenue

• Monthly reporting to the Executive Director and Fundraising & Marketing Committee of the Board of Directors:
  • Written analysis of the breakdown of BVFB’s overall funding, noting trends, changes and researching context (year over year, external factors influencing, etc.)
  • Deep dive analysis of individual funding sources, charting results to budget, results to previous month and previous year
• Based on findings, development, and implementation of specific, actionable activities to pivot to capture more revenue, with timelines and responsibilities delineated, including but not limited to:
  • Major donors (individuals and/or corporation) ask (in person meetings or proposals, when requested), with the Executive Director
  • Researching and selecting new grants (private and government), Trust & Foundations and corporations to pursue
  • Soliciting and stewarding monetary gifts from other BVFB supporters - volunteers/volunteer groups and food donors - with assistance and cooperation with relevant Operation Department team members
  • Annual meetings with each Board Member, with the Executive Director, to discuss specific ways each Board Member plans to assist with fundraising that year (individual giving, introductions to make, sponsorships, etc.)
  • Proactively marketing and solicitating Donor Advised Funds (DAF) and other Planned Giving opportunities
  • Additional focus on untapped donors in outer counties (Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Robertson, and Washington)
• Community Networking to increase and enhance relationships, including representing BVFB at various business meetings, conferences, ribbon cuttings, etc.
• Monthly meetings with Directors and Accounting & Finance Professional to chart plans for potential new opportunities, determining:
  • Where funds are most needed, as well as best intersection of donor desire and BVFB offerings
  • Follow-up with the Development Team on course of action and responsibilities to complete the asks

Donor Recognition, Appreciation & Enhancement

• With Development Team:
  • Ensuring the integrity, organization, and confidentiality of all development records (donor, neighbors, etc.)
  • Verifying through monthly reports from the team that all donors have been adequately and accurately acknowledged, according to IRS regulations

• • Develop, discuss with the Executive Director, then implement budgeted and sustainable efforts/campaigns to acknowledge, appreciate, and retain donors more creatively and comprehensively

• • Identify and cultivate relationships with potential event sponsors, including corporations, foundations, and individual donors.

• Research, draft, and get reviewed by the Executive Director and/or appropriate Committee/s of the Board of Directors, various fund development/fundraising processes and procedures, such as:
  • Organizational Gift Acceptance Policy
  • Monetary Donor Recognition Guidelines (photo Opps, social media posts, etc.) by financial gift size, frequency of donations, etc.
  • Guidelines for size of donations that necessitates BVFB staff engagement (such as recruiting volunteers, staffing a table at an event, being fiscally responsible for collecting funds at the event, etc.)
  • Other

Communication (40% of time )

Overarching Values for this Work

• Truth in Advertising
• Dignified Portrayals of People Facing Hunger
• Privacy, Confidentiality and Transparency

Media Advisories/Press Releases

• With Executive Director, develop and send media advisories and/or press releases regarding organizational updates of interest to the public
• When directed to do so by the Executive Director
  • Be point of contact for all incoming media requests and delegate to staff when appropriate
  • Conduct in-person and/or in studio interviews alone or with BVFB subject matter experts

Story & Photo Banking

• Ensuring BVFB has ample, varied (by type and location) stories and photos of
  • Neighbors
  • Agency Partners
  • Volunteers
  • Donors
  • BVFB Departments and Programs in action

For use in direct mail, website, print and other electronic communications, etc.

Boilerplate Information Upkeep

• Ensures the Communications & Development Team update annually and alerts All Staff of
  • New Map the Meal Gap data, specifically providing Brazos Valley indicators and Brazos Valley averages
  • What $1 a BVFB gets a donor
  • New income eligibility guidelines
  • BVFB’s Administrative overhead percentages

Print Media

• Annual Report
  • With the Executive Director, develop high level look, tone, and overarching themes of BVFB’s Annual Report. Work with CDC to draft the report according to agreed upon look, etc.
  • Develop and with the CDC implement creative ways to disseminate the Annual Report to the public, media, constituents, funders, etc.
• Develop and maintain a system to track marketing value of each strategy

Electronic Media

• Development and editing of various videos demonstrating the work of BVFB – for use with volunteers, donors, visitors, during off site presentation for the website, etc.
• Ensuring BVFB’s website is easy to navigate, has the most to date information, has a consistent tone and reflects the community
  • Oversee website content management and maintenance for donor related sections
  • Develop and maintain a system to track marketing value of the website
• Research, choose with other Directors, then implement an organization-wide social media collaboration and integration plan for BVFB. Update and train as needed
  • Develop and maintain a system to track marketing value of social media
• Development of ads for TV or other media, when needed
• With the Development Team, set a schedule and develop eblasts to supporters not focused around an ask

• Review and approve all marketing and education materials related Communications and Development, including social media

Public Speaking/Tours

• Point of Contact for Requests : Point of contact for external requests that are not volunteer related for partnership with BVFB, including Speaking Engagements, Tours, class projects, attendance at events, etc.
  • When directed to do so, speaks publicly in a wide variety of environments about BVFB and how they address hunger in the Brazos Valley
  • Organizes and presents information and responds to questions from groups, donors, partners, volunteers, managers, clients, and the public

Policy Development & Implementation
Research, draft, and get reviewed and approved various fund development, fundraising policies, and procedures, such as

• Development of Communication Style Guide
• Development of a Crisis Communication Plan
• Use of AI in the Department policy
• Social Media comments response policy
• Etc.

Department Focus

Department Goals

• With Development Department team (and all available data and dialogue with the Programs, Operations and Finance Departments), setting the annual operational goals for Communication and Development, keeping people facing hunger as the focus of these goals
• Empowering the Development Department team to frame those goals into action items (annual workplans) to achieve those goals
  • • Ensuring clarity around the person responsible, timelines, etc.
    • Ensuring staff performance assessments are in line with the annual department goals assigned
• Routinely assessing progress on those goals and workplans, charting new courses of action, when needed

Inter-Departmental Coordination

• Participate in interdepartmental work groups to create systems and processes that interact and work well with other systems and for all staff involved
  • Development and Accounting/Finance
    • Review monthly reports to ensure all revenue is coded correctly
    • Regularly reconcile department records against each other
    • Revenue projections for the Annual Organizational Budgeting process
  • Development and Operations
    • Brainstorm and create actions plans, designating who is responsible, to realize new ways to collaborate, including deepen volunteer commitment through donations; turning food donors into monetary donors; helping monetary donors get involved in volunteerism and events

Training and supervising staff, work plan and goal development oversight, as well as tracking and measuring staff performance.

• Regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with the Communications & Development Coordinator (CDC)
• Oversee all training requirements of supervised personnel are met, up to date, and documented
• Coaching, goal setting, professional development, performance reviews, etc.
• Recommend training and conference opportunities for growth for direct reports.
• Instill in direct reports the importance of the highest customer service, and implementing training around this
• Oversee updates to and execution of written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)s for each staff position in the Development Department
• With direct reports, assist with job description updating, selecting interviewees, interviewing, hiring, and training new staff when required, including onboarding
• Manage disciplinary issues with direct reports (and assist them with their direct reports), including documentation and if needed, termination

Department Improvement

• Utilizing all available internal and external quantitative and qualitative data around gaps and/or unmet needs, oversee the development and implementation of new strategies/processes to address the need
  • Research model solutions within and outside of the food banking networks
  • Pull together appropriate staff and resources and set realistic timelines
  • Establishes data tracking processes, guidelines, forms, etc.
  • Develop and implement evaluative measures

Development Cost Center

• With the Development Team, develop annual expenses for Development cost center
• Review all bids, quotes & proposals for relevant work and negotiate all contracts for the Development Department

Compliance, Audits/Monitoring Visits, and Reporting

• Translates technical information from contracts into accessible, usable policies and procedures for direct reports and colleagues
• Ensures that BVFBs programs/strategies adhere to contractual obligations, when applicable
  • Ensure all required department reports are completed and submitted on time
  • Review reports to analyze trends, needs, etc.

Use of Technology

• • Ensure that technology that is available (and/or assessed and explored) is best used to enhance efficiency, etc.

Use of Volunteers: (where appropriate)

• • With direct reports, identifying and communicating volunteer needs, training, and supervision
    • Developing written job descriptions, including skills and education needed to fulfill the job

Other

• Follow all BVFB written Policies & Procedures
• Get approval from the Executive Director in advance of any unbudgeted financial expenditure
• Attend and come prepared for all 1:1 session with the Executive Director
• Attend and actively participate in All Staff Quarterly scheduled staff meetings
• Communicate effectively, appropriately and in a timely fashion with the Executive Director
• Engage with and participate in relevant Feeding America (FA) opportunities
• Serve as the BVFB representative with Feeding Texas (FT) committees/work groups/trainings representing Communication and/or Development
• Planning for and controlling/managing change
• Keep empowerment of people facing hunger in mind with all that you do
• Discuss all ideas and changes that have political ramifications with the Executive Director before acting
• Assist in BVFB disaster related efforts
• Other duties as assigned and needed

Qualifications

Educational

• Degree in Business, Liberal Arts, Communication, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field.
• If no degree, at least 5 years of direct experience responsible for various fundraising strategies with a medium size nonprofit organization
• Public Relations (PR), preferably in a nonprofit setting, preferred
• CFRE Certification, a plus

Professional
Development

• • Minimum 3-5 years of progressive responsibility for raising funds for a non-profit (major donor asks, special events, proposal writing, other)
  • Successful experience soliciting major donors ($5,000 and above)
  • Successful proposal writing experience needed
  • Experience working with a direct mail company preferred
  • Large-scale event planning and implementation needed
  • Experience working with a Board of Director committee, a plus

Communication

• • Minimum 3-5 years of paid, relevant experience
  • Experience developing and managing written and digital content required
  • Comfort in interviewing and being interviewed
  • Video production a plus.
  • Experience developing and sending press release and media advisories needed
  • Established media relations, a plus
• Soft Skills
  • Highly responsive, conscientious, and professional with BVFB staff, Board and existing and potential BVFB constituents
  • Comfortable talking with people of all walks of life, storytelling, making connections, etc.
  • Comfortable and skilled at asking for money
  • Highly ethical, with firm boundaries
  • Driven and enthusiastic but also mission-grounded and inspired
  • Ability to set priorities, implement activities and meet deadlines
  • Comfortable in uncertainty and a fast-changing environment
  • Ability to see the bigger picture needed to lead a Department
  • Experience with developing and adhering to a professional budget
  • Proven coaching/managerial experience (3-5 years minimum)
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain concepts in compelling, as well as concrete terms
  • Ability to predict what a funder is looking for in a proposal and the skills to capture BVFB services in this light
  • Superior organizational, analytical and project management skills coupled with the ability to learn quickly, create, and analyze alternative solutions, and make recommendations
  • Ability to extract and analyze data; create charts and graphics
  • Highly motivated, with a proven capacity to take initiative
  • Ability to see the larger strategic path while understanding the details and facts
  • Ability to juggle multiple projects with diligence and accuracy while adhering to deadlines in a high-energy, fast-paced environment
  • Able to work independently, yet proven ability to collaborate with other staff/other departments/diverse range of people to complete tasks
  • Ability to work in an evolving environment with the utmost integrity, objectivity, fairness, and transparency
  • Ability to communicate procedures across the organization in an open and effective way
  • Integrity and understanding of confidentiality necessary
  • Must be ethical, exercise good judgement and discretion
  • Experience developing and implementing evaluation processes, as well as policies and procedures
  • Knowledge of food bank operations and programs, as well as government safety net programs, a plus
  • Understanding of office procedures/management
  • Must be a lifelong learner, interested in learning more about model practices and industry standards and how to apply them

Computer/Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, google docs
• Experience using Canva and/or other online design and publishing tools
• Experience in websites development/maintenance, including Word Press platforms
• Proficient in Social media pathways; preferably experience integrating all
• Experience tracking social media analytics
• Proficiency in video editing software
• Experience navigating donor CRM platforms
• Proficiency using email (Outlook) and web-based tools

Other

• Passion for the mission of feeding people
• Must be able to give and accept constructive criticism
• Must be able to pass criminal background check
• Possible overnight stays for conferences/trainings

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH OR WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMODATION

• Ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, push, stoop, reach above the shoulder, grasp, pull, bend repeatedly, identify colors, hear with aid, see, write, count, read, speak, analyze, alphabetize, lift and carry up to 50 lbs., perceive depth, operate a motor vehicle, and operate motor equipment.
• Conditions may include working inside, working outside, working alone, working protracted or irregular hours, and traveling by car, van, bus, and airplane.
• Equipment (machines, tools, devices) used in performing only the essential functions including computer and related equipment, calculator, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile.

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at anytime at the sole discretion of the Brazos Valley Food Bank.

The Brazos Valley Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).