What you should know about Merrick Community Services

For more than 110 years, Merrick Community Services has demonstrated through its mission that it supports individuals and families to navigate life transitions, find health and stability, and promote independence.  

Merrick Community Services was founded on Saint Paul’s East Side in 1908 as the Christ Child Society, a part of a national model of settlement houses, which provided essential services to economically disadvantaged communities.  Today, Merrick Community Services stands as one of the oldest nonprofit agencies in Ramsey County, with a history of assisting individuals and families transition from poverty and become self-sufficient and stable.  The core programs of MCS are Nutritional and Independence Services (comprised of the Food Shelves and MOW/Senior Services) and Employment, Family and Youth Services.

CURRENT OPENINGS

Director of Resource Development

Position Type:                    Full-Time/Salaried

Location:                           Saint Paul, MN

Travel Required                 Local (under 10%)

Required Education:           Minimum, BA

Min Experience Required:  Four years of experience in similar positions, including public and/or non-profit development, fundraising, grant writing, cultivating individual donors, budgeting, public relations and communications and marketing, and management of volunteers and staff and special projects

Organization Overview
For more than 110 years, Merrick Community Services has demonstrated through its mission that it supports individuals and families to navigate life transitions, find health and stability, and promote independence.  

Merrick Community Services was founded on Saint Paul’s East Side in 1908 as the Christ Child Society, a part of a national model of settlement houses, which provided essential services to economically disadvantaged communities.  Today, Merrick Community Services stands as one of the oldest nonprofit agencies in Ramsey County, with a history of assisting individuals and families transition from poverty and become self-sufficient and stable.  The core programs of MCS are Nutritional and Independence Services (comprised of the Food Shelves and MOW/Senior Services) and Employment, Family and Youth Services.

Description
The Director of Resource Development provides overall strategic and operational direction for her/his Department and facilitates the efforts of staff/contractors and volunteers in raising resources (grants, contracts, in-kind donations, pro-bono services, and individual and organizational donations) and manages communications, marketing, special events, and volunteer functions.  The Director is also responsible for the development and successful implementation of a comprehensive Resource Development Plan, to ensure adequate resources (including ongoing private and public funding support) are available for programs and services.  This position reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Director of Finance and Operations, provides support to the Joint Marketing/Development Committee, and is a member of the Leadership Team.

Resource Development Responsibilities

• Creates and manages a Resource Development Plan, which outlines and defines the development objectives of the organization
• Coordinates fundraising efforts in the areas of grants, foundations and corporations, individual giving, donor communications, and special events
• Develops and manages the annual Development Budget; monitors expenditures, and operates within budget
• Supports the Board of Directors and the Joint Marketing/Development Committee with periodic reports
• Establishes and maintains a network that provides opportunities to meet and form strong relationships with funders, major benefactors, stakeholders, and volunteers
• Oversees the production and coordination of communication materials, publications, and grant writing proposals
• Provides Development Reports to the Executive Director, Director of Finance and Operations, Finance Committee, Joint Marketing/Development Committee, and the full Board of Directors
• Prepares Reports to Funders

Strategic Leadership/Management/Supervision

• Supervises the Development Department to ensure operations run efficiently and effectively
• Creates, implements, and manages various systems for day-to-day Development Operations, which includes Grant Management and Tracking, Contact Relationship Management Database, Acknowledgement and Thank You Communications, Volunteer Management System, etc.
• Manages the identification, recruitment, and acknowledgement of volunteers to support MCS programs and services
• Pursues grants/contracts and solicits foundations to support programming and operations
• Establishes and maintains relationships for corporate and individual giving
• Manages fund development, communications, and event planning
• Hire Department and Contracted Staff and Interns
• Assists Executive Director with Special Projects and/or Reports
• Monitors, guides and supports Development Staff to meet objectives, attain goals, and identify opportunities and/or barriers related to job performance
• Evaluates Development Staff work performance and recommends compensation
• Models, promotes, and directs compliance with the agency’s Personnel Policy Guidelines
• Ensures Staff participates in required agency and program-related training, as necessary
• Contributes to the overall management of MCS to successfully achieve its mission
• Manages, builds and promotes good business partnerships with Program Managers, to ensure their financial needs and questions are answered in a timely manner
• Promotes Merrick Community Services, its programs and services
• Participates in MCS fundraisers and community events
• Represents MCS to the community in a supportive, positive and professional manner
• Perform other tasks and duties as assigne

Qualifications:
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in similar positions including nonprofit development, fundraising, grant writing, cultivating individual donors, budgeting, public relations and communications, and volunteer and staff management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized and attentive to detail in order to manage many different tasks and strategies simultaneously
• Ability to develop and cultivate positive relationships with foundations, corporations, local businesses, churches, individual donor prospects, volunteers, and colleagues
• Innovative, critical thinker, and creative problem-solver who thinks outside the box to address challenges
• Ability to provide accurate and timely reports to the funders, and organization leadership
• Proven ability to be self-directive, meet specific deadlines, and work independently, in the context of being part of a team
• Experience modeling respectful, inclusive, and responsible behavior that is consistent with the agency’s Mission, Vision, and Values
• Ability to work with and engage a socio-economically, racially, and culturally diverse populations
• Ability to develop and manage budgets and prepare financial reports
• Effective knowledge of appropriate technology and software to communicate effectively in print and electronically
• Ability to contribute to MCS as a leader and team member
• Knowledge of principles of supervision and ability to manage diverse staff and contractors
• Proven ability to maintain optimal confidentiality

Working Conditions
This position requires:

• A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Ability to travel into the community to attend meetings
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours, as needed

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions and qualifications of the position.  Rather they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position.  Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this job description.  Employment at Merrick Community Services is at-will and may be terminated by either employee or employer for any lawful reason.