Director of Advancement

Portland, OR
Administration
Administration

OVERVIEW

Portland Rescue Mission, is seeking a Director of Advancement. This gifted servant will personify strategic vision, intentional relationship building, and a passion for generosity as they join a Christ-centered team with an award-winning culture and a commitment to serving others.

Are you ready to make a lasting difference as you share the story of people finding hope and life restoration? If so, we invite you to thoughtfully consider this unique opportunity.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

  • How to apply: We ask all applicants to apply through the Portland Rescue Mission online application form found on our careers page: 
  • https://portlandrescuemission.hiringthing.com/job/246093/director-of-advancement
  • Status: Full-Time, Exempt
  • Reports To: Executive Director
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, occasional evenings and weekends as required
  • Location: Administration Office (13207 NE Halsey St. Portland)
    • Portland Rescue Mission Facility Tour: https://youtu.be/kPygXgwnW-A?si=82JaBitY-VZlQ26Z

THE DONOR ENGAGEMENT TEAM

The Donor Engagement Team at Portland Rescue Mission is a group of dedicated professionals using their skills to raise provision for life-restoring Christian ministry by excellence in donor development, grant writing, and partnership building. Our goal is to tell the stories of what God is doing in the lives of the people we serve in a way that invites others into significant partnership.

THE POSITION

The Director of Advancement will develop and drive strategy that notably increases Portland Rescue Mission’s financial support from individuals who are significant annual donors and prospective donors. As the future of the organization unfolds, the willingness and ability to respond quickly and creatively to partnerships and opportunities that help Portland Rescue Mission scale and serve more people will be important. 

Success in this role requires developing and maintaining high-trust relationships and impactful storytelling with a view to cultivating significant partners whose values and interests align with the ministries of Portland Rescue Mission. The Director of Advancement leads the Donor Engagement Team and works closely with the Marketing Team 

THE ESSENTIALS

  • Lead the Donor Engagement Officer, Community Engagement Officer, and Lead Grant Writer with a view to expanding the Donor Engagement Team as necessary to fulfill the ministry advancement goals
  • Initiate, plan, and execute major donor development strategies, including small events to advance relationships with existing and potential major donors
  • Aggressively network to create new relationships with potential significant partners, including mobilizing and training the Portland Rescue Mission Board and staff leadership in conducting peer-to-peer cultivation and solicitation
  • Oversee donor and prospective donor research to assist in increasing significant partnerships
  • Oversee planned giving work and planned giving vendors
  • Support capital campaigns as necessary
  • Engage in harmonious collaboration with direct marketing, social media, and public relations staff to coordinate and optimize major donor communications as well as overall fundraising initiatives
  • Lead with empathy, compassion, and active listening in personally developing long-term relationships with potential and existing significant donors. Build these relationships on a clear understanding of donor values and interests while consistently stewarding these relationships to strong outcomes for both the partners and Portland Rescue Mission
  • Establish, manage, and fulfill a caseload communications plan, including individual fundraising goals and personalized strategies, to effectively steward, educate, cultivate, and solicit gifts from major donors each fiscal year, with an emphasis on gifts of $10,000 and much higher
  • Maximize in-person engagement while managing a robust caseload of assigned major donors and a small caseload of major donor prospects following an agreed upon communications plan that is specific to each donor and prospect
  • Meet agreed upon monthly and annual activity and income goals and be purposeful about every visit and communication and the desired outcome for each “touch”
  • Effectively use relationship management technology that results in efficient, accurate, and consistent communications, tasking, scheduling, tracking, gift acknowledgement, and coordination with everyone involved in major donor engagement
  • Work in collaboration with program, finance, marketing, and admin support staff to develop a portfolio of giving opportunities (cases for support) that documents funding needs in terms of real program costs, how dollars impact people, outcomes achieved (or could be), shortfalls and exciting mission advancement opportunities 
  • Ensure excellent, highly-relational engagement is provided to donors through accessibility to staff and leadership, timely responsiveness, quality and care in all interactions and personalized communications
  • Provide progress reports and recommended next steps on a bi-weekly basis to the Executive Director
  • Two hours each week are reserved for serving in a direct ministry capacity at one of the Portland Rescue Mission ministry sites

BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATION

  • A personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and a testimony of continued growth in faith
  • Spiritual maturity as defined by traditional biblical standards
  • Embrace the Portland Rescue Mission ministry culture
  • Adheres to Portland Rescue Mission's Statement of Faith and Code of Ethics
  • College degree in related field
  • Minimum 5+ years of experience in a non-profit fundraising role with proven success in major gift development
  • Certification in fundraising preferred, support for attainment of CFRE negotiable
  • Excellent interpersonal, conversational, and presentation skills; demonstrating keen emotional intelligence and situational awareness
  • Impactful storyteller who can tell the Portland Rescue Mission story in a fresh, clear, and consistent manner using excellent verbal and written communication skills including strong case development abilities
  • Proven expertise in developing and maintaining high-trust relationships with diverse individuals including executives and donors from all walks of life, as well as staff and people receiving Portland Rescue Mission services
  • High level of comfort with direct donor interactions including discussions of personal and family finances and asking for major financial commitments
  • Exceptionally skilled in networking
  • Capable of representing Portland Rescue Mission well in virtually any group or one-on-one environment
  • Experience in Microsoft Office Suite software and customer relationship management software

MISSION AND DISTINCTIVES

OUR MISSION

To demonstrate the compassion of Christ

OUR UNIQUE APPROACH

From the first sandwich that was shared in 1949, to today's fully integrated emergency, recovery, and training services, Portland Rescue Mission is a highly relational ministry. The Mission builds supportive and caring communities, meets people at their point of need, equips them, and provides a path forward. In-depth partnership with churches, volunteers, and donors, multiple tiers of services and a focus on growing Christian disciples is fundamental to Portland Rescue Mission’s success.