Director of the Kaplan Education Foundation Program Development at New York

Job Description

The Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) is a non profit organization established by Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of the Washington Post Company. Through the Kaplan Leadership Program (KLP) KEF assists high-potential community college students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds to successfully complete their associate degrees, gain admission to and graduate from top 4-year colleges, and attain leadership roles in their professions and communities. During the course of their undergraduate studies KEF provides Kaplan Scholars with academic scholarships, funding to assist with living expenses and non-financial support to address many of the barriers they face.

The KEF is currently seeking a fundraising professional who is committed to excellence and ready to take the next step in his/her career.The Director of Development will partner with and support the Executive Director and Board of Directors as they develop and execute the KEFs fundraising efforts in alignment with its mission and goals.S/he will help to plan and will execute all fundraising and development-related activities to deepen and grow the culture of philanthropy at KEF, and to facilitate KLPs growth and scaling.

S/he will be a critical part of a robust effort to grow the organizations burgeoning base of philanthropic support. Candidates will focus on the planning and execution of KEFs annual benefit, planning, initiating and executing regular communications with KEF supporters and friends, and establishing an annual giving program.Candidates should also be willing to design or refine as well as execute operational processes to support fundraising initiatives.

Responsibilities Include:
- Developing effective working relationships with the KEF staff.
- Establishing and managing an annual giving program.
- Planning, managing and executing annual benefit and all special events, along with cultivation, marketing and recognition functions.
- Supporting the ED in cultivating existing benefit sponsors, conducting donor and prospective donor research in order to best identify, cultivate and solicit potential recurring benefit donors.
- Writing and designing all on and off line communications in collaboration with the program team to promote and expand the visibility of KEF across all audiences including, but not limited to, informational packages, newsletters and updates, annual reports, and annual appeals.
- Partnering with the program team and ED to manage and execute enhancements to KEFs website and public information communications, including social media to support fundraising and encourage and support on-line giving.
- Working closely with Program team to design and launch volunteer and KLP Alumni programs.
- Managing prospect tracking and donor recognition systems.
- Processing and acknowledging gifts; liaising directly with finance team on payments made.
- Preparing high-quality and timely solicitations, funders reports, acknowledgements, grant proposals and any other communication required to support ongoing fundraising activities.
- Supporting ED and Board to successfully cultivate and solicit individual, corporation and foundation prospects.
- Developing strategies and systems to solicit Kaplan, Inc. employees.
- Assisting in the selection of a donor database and oversee its set-up, updating and maintenance.

Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelors degree
- Five years of full-time, progressively responsible development experience focused on special events and communications.
- An unwavering belief in KEFs mission and philosophy.
- Genuine understanding of and respect for KLPs target population.
- A self-starter with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and as an individual contributor.
- Success working with program staff, and a diverse client base.
- Proven success leading the management of sponsors/donors for special events
- A strong track record of establishing productive working relationships with staff and Board members in the support of events.
- Superior relationship management skills; a high comfort level and proven track record in building and maintaining strong relationships with funding sources, motivating and engaging participation from all levels and across various constituencies including Board members, volunteers, donors, corporate and foundation executives, KLP Scholars and Alumni.
- Successful track record of developing timely and effective communications to prospects and donors including newsletters, donor acknowledgement letters, reports and other funder correspondence, both on and off line; solid experience managing social media and web communications in support of fundraising efforts.
- Excellent writing, verbal communication and presentation skills including the ability to write and speak persuasively about KLP to a varied group of constituencies.
- Willingness to personally process gifts in an accurate and efficient manner.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills including the ability to manage multiple priorities, and attention to detail.
- Proven track record as an individual contributor as well as with a team.
- A preference to work and grow with start-up development offices.
- High energy, flexible, hands-on, creative and entrepreneurial spirit, with an appetite for rapid change and a skilled problem solver.
- Desire to be in an organization in a transition and growth period.
- Willingness to work evenings as necessary and periodic travel.
- Sound judgment and the highest integrity.
- Must be proficient in Powerpoint, Word and Excel.

Preferred qualifications:
- Bachelor degree
- Five to seven years of full-time, progressively responsible development experience focused on special events and communications.
- Relevant advanced degree.
- Proven success with start-up fundraising organizations/offices that have scaled, and specifically in establishing needed infrastructure and processes.
- Experience working with community colleges or other institutions of higher education, college access programs or programs focused on the underserved.
- Demonstrated success and evidence of ability to plan and execute an annual fund drive.
- Proficiency with donor database applications and the ability to assess and compare them.

Job Requirements

Country: USA, State: New York, City: New York, Company: Kaplan, Inc..