Assistant Vice President, Strategic Development & Events

Opportunity Guide

www.outreachcommunityministries.org
 

Outreach Community Ministries, Inc. (OCM or Outreach) and its partner churches are dedicated to putting mission into action by providing a full range of charitable, educational, religious and community development activities. These activities help people and the communities they live in realize their God-given potential as uniquely gifted individuals, in their family and community relationships, and in the relationship that they can have with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Mission

To restore hope and provide opportunities for people to become all that God intends them to be; partner with the local church to put Christian faith into action through service to the community. Our mission focus is serving the most vulnerable children, teens and families in DuPage County. We serve people of all races, ethnicities, creeds, gender and orientation regardless of their ability to pay.

OCM has provided more than 40 years of continuous service to the people of Central-Western DuPage County. The original organization, Wheaton Youth Outreach (WYO), was formed in 1973 by a coalition of local clergy concerned about teenagers and families in distress. Since then, the organization has grown from a few foster care homes for teenage boys into the myriad of programs now offered from sites in Wheaton, Warrenville, Carol Stream, West Chicago and Villa Park. Since Chris Ellerman, CEO, signed on as the agency’s only employee in 1977, Outreach has grown to a staff of over 80 full- and part-time employees and over 600 active volunteers. The philosophy of ministry includes a commitment to neighborhood and community-based services, and a strong commitment to develop and provide services within these communities as long as there are unmet needs requiring creative responses.

Outreach Community Ministries serves communities through five, multi-purpose sites:

• Wheaton Youth Outreach is a youth and family service agency. It specializes in working with teens, young adults and their families who are in crisis and those who are homeless. Services include providing transitional housing and permanent supportive housing to youth and young adults ages 16-29.
• The Outreach Community Center in Carol Stream is a multi-purpose, neighborhood resource center serving the residents in the southern section of Carol Stream. The Center’s goal is to help neighborhood residents work together to build a stronger community. The Center’s staff are professionally trained in education and human services. In their work, they share a common commitment to minister to each client’s physical, social and spiritual needs.
• Warrenville Youth & Family Services is also a youth and family service agency for the benefit of the residents of the greater Warrenville area. With a goal of providing resident the opportunity to become all God intends them to be, WYFS staff are professionally trained to minister to the whole person’s physical, social and spiritual needs. Services are available without preference, and where fees apply, based on one’s ability to pay.
• Puente del Pueblo (West Chicago) is a neighborhood resource center located in a large apartment complex. It is sponsored and financially supported by Wheaton Bible Church. OCM staff serve at Puente in leadership and community service roles on behalf of the Church.
• York Community Resource Center is the newest site (2014) serving the Brandywine Neighborhood and the surrounding community in Villa Park just southeast of Roosevelt Road and Meyers Road. Church partnerships are at the center of this location.

 

The Opportunity: Assistant Vice President, Strategic Development & Events

As a key member of the Outreach Community Ministries Resource Development team, and reporting to the Vice President of Resource Development, the Assistant Vice President (AVP) will be responsible for creating and implementing strategy as it relates to deeper engagement of donors and sponsors through fundraising events. The successful candidate will be relationship-focused and a strategic thinker. The AVP will create plans and structures to maximize donor participation with regard to events and major sponsorships.

This new position will be filled with an energetic and dynamic fundraiser and leader with a strong appreciation for and commitment to OCM’s Statement of Christian Mission and Faith. They will bring a demonstrated and proven track record in generating revenue from individuals and corporations, working effectively with Boards and committees and managing both the strategic and implementation aspects of a fundraising efforts while being a confident and effective solicitor. OCM utilizes a host-model of events, whereby strong supporters of the mission bring together others in their networks to build financial support for the agency. The ideal candidate will be familiar with the philanthropic climate in DuPage County (or be familiar with similar communities and can immerse and engage quickly) and within the local Christian faith community, along with previous work experience at a complex organization with multiple sites, programs and Boards.

 

Performance Objectives

Event Management, Strategy and Oversight

• Innovate and implement an annual events strategy and calendar that will maximize event-related organizational income, currently at about $2 million annually, with annual growth goals of 10-20%. Continually seek to strengthen relationships with all donors through strong implementation of the host-model.
• Develop and maintain donor relationships, both individual and corporate as they relate to attendance, sponsorship, or host-related duties, consistently seeking to engage hosts and sponsors at the Partner gift level of $1000 and the Leadership Partner level (individual and corporate) at $5000+. This goal is a key initiative of the organization – to grow Partners from 500 to 1000 giving entities in the next three years.
• Secure all event monetary sponsorships through strong relationship building and maintenance with both corporate and individual sponsor donors. Maintain and further engage sponsor relationships throughout the year using an individualized stewardship plan for each donor and/or sponsor.
• Plan and implement all post-event activities and follow-up to include solicitation strategies for non-donor invitees (phone calls, emails, and letters) and varied post-event donor care strategies for donors, participants, volunteers, and hosts.

Donor Engagement and Relationships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors involved via event attendance and sponsorship. Create strategies that will move donors to higher levels of giving and involvement.
• Create donor development plans for each donor that will deepen the relationship they have with OCM, resulting in higher levels of financial support.
• Collaborate with Vice President of Resource Development and Major Gifts Officer to identify major gift donor prospects. Work together to create a plan for each donor.

Board and Volunteer Relations

• Develop and build plans that involve the Board in all events. Ensure that each Trustee understands and is comfortable with their role for each relationship and/or event.
• Collaborate with the Director of Volunteer Services to establish and develop strong volunteer relationships with OCM event volunteers.
• Develop and implement a relationship-based training model that will ensure the effectiveness of OCM’s host-model for events. Ensure that all hosts understand their roles to maximize financial support for OCM during and beyond each event.
• Will ultimately assume the role of staff leader for the Hearts of Grace Action Board. Work with them to maximize time, talent, and engagement in supporting the Hearts of Grace mission – a women’s network for Outreach that supports programming for women and children. Ensure that the board has the tools and training necessary to perform their fundraising functions.

Administration and Management of Staff and Budgets

• Provide leadership and supervision to Event Coordinator. Ensure Event Coordinator is appropriately managing all event logistics as required.
• Oversee all database support functions relative to event planning and execution. Work closely with the Database Manager to ensure all data is available for analysis.
• Collaborate with the Director of Volunteer Services to ensure that staff volunteers are utilized as effectively as needed.
• Create and manage all event budgets. Ensure that all revenue and expenses are appropriately tracked in the financial system.
• Collaborate with CEO and Vice President of Resource Development on developing the larger organizational budget. Provide input on best practices and methodologies to ensure that all events are performing at a high level with a positive ROI.

The Qualified Candidate

Outreach Community Ministries seeks an innovative, entrepreneurial and seasoned fundraising professional with at least five (5) years of experience in resource development, with 2-3 years in event strategy. Ideally, they will have managed high-performing events, as well as have an eye toward strategic development. The successful candidate will be an energetic, natural leader who is passionate and committed to the full mission and vision of OCM. The AVP supervises the Event Coordinator and leads peers and leadership volunteers through influence toward common goals. Involvement in the West Suburban philanthropic community and familiarity with nearby church communities/networks will be helpful.

Specific Requirements Include:

• Demonstrated passion and commitment to the faith-based mission of Outreach Community Ministries.
• A Bachelor’s degree is required, and CFRE or other relevant advanced certification or education is preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in fundraising and event strategy.
• Proven ability to build strong external relationships with a variety of volunteers, faith organizations, public leadership, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
• Track record of success in meeting and exceeding fundraising goals, including experience with securing 5 and 6-figure gifts in the form of sponsorships and/or multi-year investments.
• Track record in developing strategies to successfully increase revenue.
• Strong analytic and strategic-thinking skills, with demonstrated ability to create, implement and monitor complex plans, and translate those plans into goals and concrete strategies.
• Career track record that shows stability with an organization and capacity to develop and nurture relationships culminating in overall success.
• Strong background in leadership. Ability to motivate others towards involvement and action around fundraising goals.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, creative problem solver, and strong collaborator.
• Strong and efficient use of Microsoft Office Suite products; knowledge of Raise’s Edge and Greater Giving is strongly preferred.

This position offers a competitive salary with strong benefits. Relocation assistance may be offered. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.

Outreach Community Ministries is a Christian community service organization and will consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal civil rights law. OCM, Inc. reserves the right to make faith-based hiring decisions as permitted under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-1(a).

To Apply

Candidates may apply by clicking the APPLY NOW button below.

To assure confidential tracking of all applicants, no applications will be accepted via email. ALL INQUIRIES WILL BE HELD IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.

This search is being managed by Heather Eddy, President/CEO, and Sue Bultman, Senior Consultant of KEES. Questions may be addressed to sbultman@kees2success.com.

KEES is a retained search and nonprofit consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders. For more information, please visit www.kees2success.com.