SUMMARY

Coordinate a comprehensive annual giving program resulting in renewable and increasing charitable gift revenue from individual, church, foundation, and corporate gifts. Funding is sought through newsletters, direct mail, telemarketing, website, special events, and individual staff and volunteer cultivation and other solicitation activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Participate as an essential member of the Development team in organizing successful plans and measurable increases in major and planned gift fundraising revenue.

Develop comprehensive annual giving plans and goals that result in increased major and planned gift revenue including a detailed schedule of year-round donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship contacts and regular reports of measurable program progress distributed to the Vice President, Development, staff, board members, and volunteers as directed.

Plan, implement, and direct staff and volunteers in all annual giving activities $1 to $499 including individual, church, foundation, and corporate prospect identification, research, cultivation, and solicitation; conducting effective donor recognition activities; creating direct mail, phone marketing, and collateral materials; and coordinating special events.

Support UMFS staff statewide and volunteers in all annual Guardian Parent activities $500 and above including detailed monitoring of renewal, upgrade, and new members; and, supporting a monthly hot list of specific staff and volunteer assignments to cultivate and solicit members.

Contribute to the production of The Guardian newsletter editing content for donor cultivation and recognition, donor honor rolls, gift reply envelopes, and periodic schedule of mailings.

Plan and assist in the production of all direct mail solicitations, renewal, upgrade, and new donor segmentation, collateral materials, and measures of effectiveness.

Plan and execute monthly telephone calls for donors of $100 to $499. Assign thank you calls and for other gift amounts.

Plan and implement comprehensive UMFS Offering activities including goal setting, church leader involvement, annual themes, collateral materials, church communications and logistics, church visitations and speaking engagements, and ongoing clergy and church stewardship in collaboration with and support of the UMFS Chaplain.

Plan and implement annual Employee Giving Campaign activities including goal setting, staff leader involvement, annual themes, collateral materials, staff communications and stewardship.

In collaboration with Marketing, plan and implement a year-round schedule of fundraising events that increase UMFS visibility, cultivate and recognize major gift and gift club donors, and result in efficient use of resources to generate gift revenue.

Provide support and collaboration with the UMFS Volunteer Coordinator by identifying and recruiting new volunteer and donor prospects and by faith-based giving outreach to their churches and other affiliated groups in their District.

Coordinate and disseminate monthly reports of Annual Giving program progress toward goals including detailed reporting of gifts by gift source, gift type, fundraising program, gift clubs by level, and board participation; and detailed status of renewal, upgrade, and new donors by staff and volunteer assignment.

Represent UMFS at public events, church visitation, and other nonprofit and philanthropic activities.

All other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

A baccalaureate degree in marketing, public relations, business communications or a related field with two years fundraising experience in major/planned gift giving or a related development field.

APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.UMFS.ORG

EOE

VAFRE’s Program Committee has been hard at work developing topics for our upcoming meetings. In fact, they’ve been so busy they came up with extra programs!

So now we need your help. Take our brief poll to let us know which of our three programs you would like to see at the May 1st meeting:

1. Incorporating your Message into all Aspects of your Development Program
2. How to Prospect Strategically for Maximum Impact
3. Asking the Right Questions – A Three Act Play that will help you Build Relationships and Move Donors to Support your Organization

Vote now!

The Nina Abady Award is the most prestigious award given by the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives (VAFRE).  It is presented to a fundraising professional who has demonstrated utmost excellence in the field of development. The award signifies to individuals, organizations, and the greater community that the recipient has garnered the respect and admiration of colleagues throughout the Commonwealth for professional and ethical service. The year 2012 will be the twenty second year that the Nina Abady Award has been presented.

The Rising Star Award is made annually to a VAFRE member who exhibits excellent potential and who has demonstrated remarkable talents at an early stage in their fundraising career.

The recipients are honored at a special luncheon attended by representatives from across the Commonwealth.  This luncheon provides a significant opportunity for those who have been influenced by the recipients—from colleagues to board members to other professionals in the field–to show their appreciation and gratitude.

For complete details on these awards, including a downloadable nomination form, click on the links above. All nominations should be submitted no later than February 15, 2012.

Stratford Hall, the home of the Lees of Virginia, is seeking a Director of Development who is looking to grow professionally while helping to fund the ongoing preservation of one of Virginia’s premier museums and National Historic Landmarks.

The Director of Development will report to the Executive Director and manage an Annual Fund Coordinator. The Director of Development will coordinate and direct a comprehensive fundraising program that secures financial resources from all donor groups, concentrating on growing major and planned gifts and managing a capital campaign.  Coordinating with the Executive Director, s/he will strategically plan and manage the development operation to meet short- and long-term fundraising goals; maintain relationships with donors and the board of directors; and work hands-on to cultivate and solicit donations

General Statement of Duties: 

1. Identify major gift donors/prospects and design related moves management strategies.
2. Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to implement cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies.
3. Organize, frame and execute a $17 million capital campaign plan according to annual goals for strategic operations and capital needs. The quiet phase of the campaign is underway and will be launched publicly in late 2012.
4. Manage and expand the annual fund program annually for preservation, education and interpretation programs.
5. Manage and execute the foundation and corporate grant program.
6. Work collaboratively with team of professionals to develop strategies to fund education, interpretation and preservation programs.
7. Oversee, grow and manage planned giving program.
8. Collaborate with staff and board in managing and implementing designated fund raising events.
9. Develop and maintain working relationship with board members; coordinate key meetings and board related fundraising strategies with the chair and the board development committee.
10. Represent Stratford Hall at professional conferences and other public events.
11. Maintain records and files related to Stratford Hall’s development efforts.
12. Develop, supervise and administer budgets for development activities.
13. Manage the design and production of all development related print and media communications, including collateral materials, in concert with the Director of Public Relations.
14. Manage development staff including annual fund coordinator and other positions that may be added in the future, as well as development-related consultants as required.  
15. Performs other related functions as determined by the needs of the position and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• Education/ Experience:  
  • Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven-ten years of hands-on development experience with 2-3 years in a senior development capacity.
  • Previous experience and poise working with Boards of Directors required.
•  Specialized skills: 
  • A proven ability to motivate donors and successfully solicit individual gifts.
  • A passion for history and preservation, and the ability to embrace and articulate the mission and programs of Stratford Hall.
  • Superior writing and computer skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Adept at budget development, accounting and financial reporting.
  • Proficiency in donor database programs required.  Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge and/or other fundraising software a plus.
  • Strong self-starter, pro-active, organized, detail-oriented, self-assured, dynamic and energetic with excellent management skills and the willingness to work hands-on in developing and executing a full spectrum of fundraising activities.
  • Goal-oriented, collaborative, flexible, motivated to complete tasks and succeed.
  • Strategic, creative team player who is collegial, easy going and positive, with a sense of humor.
  • Willingness and ability to travel required.

 Stratford is located on Virginia’s Northern Neck, a rural region of great natural beauty located between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. Stratford is a short drive from Fredericksburg and an easy drive to Washington DC and Richmond.  An attractive and competitive salary/benefit package commensurate with experience will be offered to the right candidate, as will the opportunity to work remotely.

To apply, send cover letter and resume by January 30, 2012 to Beth Sharpe at bsharpe@stratfordhall.org or mail to: Stratford Hall, Attn: Beth Sharpe, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, VA 22558.

Renewal message from Sue Acri, VAFRE President: 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your membership this past year. I hope you found the programs and networking opportunities valuable to you both personally and professionally. I also want to encourage you to renew your membership now so you can take advantage of some of the new programs and features available.

The work of the VAFRE Board of Directors is focused on fulfilling the VAFRE mission of supporting and advancing the philanthropic community across the Commonwealth of Virginia through education, mentoring and leadership development; helping to create the premier philanthropic community in the nation.  As we near the beginning of 2012, we pledge to stay true to the mission and work to develop additional benefits that will offer value to our membership. 

Our primary goal is to make this organization central to the professional lives of our members, with meaningful networking experiences and educational opportunities that appeal to all levels of expertise across all areas of fundraising.  In pursuit of this goal, our committees are already at work to add value to your membership in the coming year with some outstanding programs:

• The December luncheon features VAFRE’s own Jim Wasilewski discussing, and demonstrating, the uses of improvisational skills in fundraising in Unscripted: Fundraising with Improv.
• In January, we’ll examine the ins and outs of the “popular vote” method of fundraising with Fundraising in the Age of American Idol.
• Then, in February, there’s a can’t miss workshop planned as Gail Perry joins us to discuss Fired Up Fundraising.  
• Also coming up in the spring are discussions on Women in Philanthropy as well as the Annual Awards Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Chip Tarkenton.

And that just takes us through April!

The cost to renew your membership in VAFRE is $125 for Active Members and $50 for Student Members.  

 Also, don’t forget about VAFRE’s scholarship fund. This fund was established two years ago to provide members with partial or full scholarships to assist with dues and workshop fees.  

 It is important to note that members who have not renewed by February 15^th will not be eligible for the member rate at upcoming meetings and will no longer be able to access the member section of the web site until they renew membership. 

 We appreciate your continued support of VAFRE and welcome your feedback concerning the many programs and services VAFRE has to offer. Please feel free to contact me or any Board member with questions or concerns that you may have throughout the year. You can find a complete list of our Board members and their contact information on the web site. You may also contact our administrator, Mary Kidd at (804) 288-2950 or vafre@catapult-inc.com, with any questions that may come up.

As you know, the strength of any organization is built on its membership. The diversity of the organizations and individuals that make up VAFRE have helped us to build the strong community that exists today and offer the educational and networking opportunities on which you have come to rely each month. Whatever your interests may be, I encourage you to take full advantage of VAFRE and all of its opportunities.

I look forward to seeing you at our meetings this year.

Sincerely,

Sue Acri, CFRE
President, VAFRE Board of Directors

Wish you could create a fired-up, engaged team that is excited about the future of your organization and eager to play a part in making it happen?
Consultant and author Gail Perry, CFRE will share her internationally popular Fired Up Fundraising system of seven steps to ignite your organization’s passion for fundraising.

Join us for this workshop which will inspire board members, CEOs, and your development team to achieve greater fundraising, overcome their fears, and put everyone to work where they can make the best contribution. Gail will show you how to make the fundraising process less intimidating, and how to empower all members of your leadership team to be in action making friends. You’ll learn new ways to engage all of the members of your development team and to get the most out of everyone.

• How to inspire your development team members to a higher calling with deeper commitment.
• Discover how to create trust and collegiality.
• Understand what board members want – and how you can give it to them.
• Ways to Liven Up a Board Meeting.
• How to take the fundraising conversation to a deeper level.
• Tools anyone can use to open any door in town
• How to get your board members over their fear of fundraising.
• How to put board and staff to work in all parts of the fundraising cycle.

Register online now!

Our Speaker:
Gail Perry, MBA, CFRE, is a leader among a new breed of fundraisers. She is the best-selling author of Fired-Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion into Action (Wiley). Her Fired-Up Fundraising approach, developed over the past 22 years as a non-profit philanthropy expert, has helped organizations raise hundreds of millions in gifts and support.

Gail consistently earns rave reviews for her workshops and speeches. She brings fundraising ideas alive, leaving attendees inspired, energized and excited about what they can accomplish. Her popular board retreats are industry favorites and are known for taking board members from fear of fundraising to enthusiasm. Gail conducts training webinars  and her writing is often featured in Guidestar, Fundraising Success magazine, BoardSource and many other respected industry resources.

Gail launched her fundraising career at Duke University and then directed the fundraising program at The Kenan-Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the founder of Gail Perry Associates, a Raleigh-based consulting and training firm, and is Past President of the Triangle Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She holds an MBA and a BA with honors in English from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Schedule:

• 8:30 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast
• 8:55 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
• 10:30 a.m.  Beverage Break
• 12:00 p.m. Box Lunch Distribution
• 12:15 p.m. Working Lunch/Q&A
• 1:00 p.m. Adjourn

Location:
Jepson Alumni Center at the University of Richmond. (#49 on the map)

Menu:
A variety of box lunches will be available.

Cost to attend:
Take advantage of special cost savings for the workshop by registering more than one person from your organization. This invaluable program will not only benefit you, but also your CEO, board members, and other representatives from your “team.” Don’t come alone!

AFP Members – register at the member rate!

$50 for members, $75 for the first guest and $65 for additional guests from the same organization.  Fee includes workshop, CFRE continuing education credit (applied for), continental breakfast and lunch. Fees support program costs and administration.  Registrations should be received by Thursday, February 2^nd.

Register
To register online, click here, or click here for a downloadable registration form.

Questions?
Contact VAFRE Administrator Mary Kidd at (804) 288-2950 or by e-mail to vafre@catapult-inc.com.

Join us for our first meeting of the new year as we discuss new ways to raise funds for your organization. Explore the ins and outs of the increasingly used “popular vote” fundraising tool, including how to position yourself most effectively, what works and what doesn’t. The session will explore the experiences of The 1708 Gallery in the Amazing Raise as well as UMFS’ experience with Richmond Unite. 

Speakers:

NEW PANEL MEMBERS ADDED!

Alice Gentry Lingerfelt, Executive Director of Richmond Unite, and Michael Jones, GiveRichmond Coordinator at The Community Foundation will be joining the panel to provide their perspectives

Bethanie Constant, CFRE, is the Development Manager for UMFS. She joined the agency in 2007. She has 9 years of nonprofit experience including fundraising, special events, volunteer management, government relations, and program management. Currently, she serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Board and was Co-chair of the National Philanthropy Day® in 2010 and 2011. Bethanie is a member of Virginia Fund Raising Executives and was the recipient of their 2010 Rising Star Award.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in History from Lander University, a Certificate in Developing Managerial Effectiveness from the Penn State Smeal College of Business, and a Certificate of Fundraising & Development from the University of Richmond Institute on Philanthropy. Bethanie earned her CFRE credential in November 2010.

Alice Gentry Lingerfelt is the Executive Director of Richmond Unite. She and her husband live in the near west end of Richmond.  A Virginia girl born and raised, she is honored to serve as Executive Director for Richmond Unite and to foster a campaign to improve the lives of the youth in the Greater Richmond area.  Alice brings to the team a diverse experience of service to non-profit organizations, having worked either professionally or as a volunteer for many organizations, including Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Habitat for Humanity, and the Richmond Choral Society.  With a professional background in and passion for project implementation, she is enjoying the unique twist to fundraising that the experienced entrepreneurial founders are applying to the Richmond Unite project.

Emily Smith is the Executive Director of 1708 Gallery, a non-profit contemporary art space in Richmond, Virginia.  Previously, she was the Curatorial Fellow in Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, from March 2007 through September 2010. Prior to VMFA, she was Director of Exhibitions at Piedmont Arts in Martinsville, Virginia (2004-2007) and the Assistant Director at Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, Virginia (2003-2004). Emily was an adjunct faculty member in art history at Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville, VA and was a critic for a Charlottesville, Virginia weekly paper.  She received a MA in Art History from the University of Virginia in 2002.

David Huffine, St. Joseph’s Villa (moderator)

Schedule:
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch and the program begin at noon. The session will adjourn at approximately 1:15 p.m.

Location:
Jefferson Lakeside Country Club, 1700 Lakeside Avenue. Click here for directions.

Menu:
Regular: Blackened Chicken Salad on Mesculin Mix, with choice of Dressing.
Vegetarian: Grilled Portabello Salad on Mesculin Mix, with choice of Dressing.
Dessert: Chocolate Cake.

Cost to attend:
$20 for members (no additional fee for Season Pass holders), $25 for nonmembers employed by a member organization, and $30 for nonmember guests. Fees support program costs and administration. Registrations should be received by Thursday, January 5^th.

Online registration for this event is now closed. To register, contact our office.

Questions?
Contact VAFRE Administrator Mary Kidd at (804) 288-2950 or by e-mail to vafre@catapult-inc.com.

Join us Tuesday, April 3 for the 31^st Annual VAFRE Awards Luncheon at The Woman’s Club on East Franklin Street. We will celebrate the achievements of two distinguished fundraising colleagues nominated and selected for the Nina Abady and Rising Star Awards. Tom Silvestri, president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, is this year’s featured speaker.

Tickets to the event are $30 and registration begins at 11:30am with lunch program at noon. More details to come in February.

Do you know a company or organization that would like to stand out? Table sponsorships for the awards event are available for $350 and include: 10 tickets to luncheon, table signage, and listing in the awards program. Sponsorships ensure VAFRE’s regional fundraising professionals have opportunities to learn, grow, and lead Richmond’s nonprofit sector. Proceeds from the event go directly to support scholarships and continuing education for development professionals, executive directors, and members of nonprofit boards. Contact Ruth Modlin Ellett at 804.323.0709 or modlinellett@verizon.net for sponsorship details.

Applied improvisation is a great way to enhance yourself personally and professionally,

achieve results, and, most likely, laugh at the same time. There are multiple facets that can be explored through applied improvisation, but this program will focus on listening, observing, and acceptance and how it can impact fundraising efforts.  These essential skills for stage performance, as well as for the practical side of fundraising, need to be maintained and developed. 

Registrants will join in a brief and fun exercise or two exploring these terms in improvisation and then share in a short debrief session. Participants will be better able to recognize and improve the discussed skills when working with colleagues, donors, sponsors or anyone else.  Listening, observing, and acceptance seem so simple – this mini-workshop will help create and forge relationships involving team management as well as with donors and prospects.

Speaker:
James Wasilewski, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Director, West End Comedy

Schedule:
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch and the program begin at noon. The session will adjourn at approximately 1:15 p.m.

Program is sponsored by West Avenue Associates.

Location:
Jefferson Lakeside Country Club, 1700 Lakeside Avenue. Click here for directions.

Menu:
Regular: Roasted Pork Loin with Red Potatoes.
Vegetarian: Tuscan Pasta with Pine Nuts.
Dessert: Tiramisu.

Cost to attend:
$20 for members (no additional fee for Season Pass holders), $25 for nonmembers employed by a member organization, and $30 for nonmember guests. Fees support program costs and administration. Registrations should be received by Thursday, December 1^st.

Register Now!

Questions?
Contact VAFRE Administrator Mary Kidd at (804) 288-2950 or by e-mail to vafre@catapult-inc.com.