Director of Philanthropy
Hill Learning Center Overview:
Founded in 1977, Hill learning Center's mission is to transform students with learning differences into confident, independent learners. We pursue our mission through a range of K-12 student and educator programs and strategic partnerships with schools, districts, and leaders in the field.
Twenty percent of children - or 1 in 5 students - have learning and attention issues, yet only a small subset receive the specialized instruction or accommodations they need. Access to services, like those Hill offers, are too frequently predictable by a family's income level or racial background. Thus, Hill actively works to reach, engage, and retain students and educators representing all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and socioeconomic classes to experience and benefit fully from Hill programs and practices.
Our Student Programs include School, Summer, and Tutoring, reaching ~1,000 K-12 students in the Triangle region annually. Students receive differentiated, research-based instruction in reading, writing, math, and executive function study skills. Hill programs help students develop the academic, organizational, self-advocacy, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in school, and in life.
Both in and beyond the Triangle region, our Professional Learning and Partnerships programs offer K-12 educators research-based instructional strategies and tools to teach reading, writing, math, and executive function skills in their own classrooms to students who struggle academically. Thousands of educators participate in Hill professional learning opportunities each year. Hill is placing an increasing emphasis on developing deeper connections and partnerships with schools, school districts, and youth-serving nonprofit organizations in the Triangle and surrounding communities.
The Philanthropy Team at Hill Learning Center is responsible for securing $1.2 - $2 million in gifts and grants annually to support pursuit of our mission, vision, and commitment to furthering access - working to ensure all students with learning differences and attention challenges, regardless of where they attend school or whether they have a formal diagnosis, receive the instruction and support they need.
Position Overview:
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Philanthropy provides visionary leadership and strategy, major gift and foundation fundraising capacity, and day-to-day operational oversight and execution of Hill Learning Center's comprehensive fundraising program. This includes implementing best practices from the field to set the strategy for philanthropy at Hill Learning Center and aligning resources accordingly.
The Director will serve as an inspirational and effective leader of a small team, as well as the primary point of contact and philanthropic strategist across all organizational programs and initiatives. In addition, the Director will be a frontline fundraiser, overseeing a portfolio of institutional and individual prospects and donors and securing annual and multi-year support while simultaneously facilitating the philanthropic activities of Hill Learning Center leadership, including the Executive Director, Philanthropy Committee, and Board of Directors.
Hill Learning Center is at a critical and exciting inflection point with a fall 2024 planned leadership transition and launch of a new strategic plan grounded in deepening local impact and accessibility. In alignment with these changes, Hill has been building towards a shift from a fundraising model that has relied heavily on grants and foundations to one that better leverages the generosity and gratitude of individual donors. Over a nearly 50-year history, Hill has served many students and families, resulting in untapped philanthropic potential among individuals who wish to make a positive impact in the areas of learning differences and attention challenges and see Hill as the vehicle to do so. The next Director of Philanthropy will play a central role in setting strategy, building capacity and compelling proposals for local support, and laying the foundation for the organization's individual giving program and future philanthropic success and sustainability.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Visionary Leadership and Strategy:
Collaborate with the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer to set, pursue, and track annual and multi-year fundraising goals that are both aspirational and attainable.
Incorporate best practices from the field to develop a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes annual, major, and planned giving programs, as well as strategies for foundation, corporate, and community support.
Develop and pursue three organization-wide fundraising priorities in support of Hill's new strategic plan while staying abreast of other needs and opportunities as they arise.
Work closely with Hill Learning Center's Leadership Team, Program Leaders, Board of Directors, and Philanthropy Committee to engage them in philanthropy and activate them as ambassadors, fundraisers, and stewards. This includes primary responsibility for leading, staffing, and leveraging the Philanthropy Committee, a volunteer committee of Board members, parents, and community representatives.
Serve as a leader among the Hill Learning Center community, representing philanthropy in ways that appropriately inform and advance the organization's priorities, mission, and vision.
Collaborate with the Director of Communications, Philanthropy Team, and Leadership Team to develop cohesive philanthropy-related messaging and marketing that will inspire and activate giving, including the production of both print and digital collateral materials.
Coordinate with the Philanthropy Team, Director of Communications, and others to define and execute events that support the strategic direction of the philanthropy program, achieve established metrics, and further the short and long-term goals of the organization.
Work with all programs and initiatives across Hill Learning Center to integrate, engage, and leverage every aspect of the organization in the achievement of philanthropic goals.
Major Gift Fundraising:
Design, develop, and implement a major gifts program, managing relationships with existing donors, including foundations, as well as identifying new potential contributors.
Maintain a portfolio of donors and foundations, utilizing moves management to secure one-time and multi-year commitments in support of organizational fundraising priorities.
Leverage leaders within the Hill Learning Center community to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects, including foundations and corporations, and provide clear and consistent direction, support, and mentorship.
Plan, oversee, and execute written proposals and reports for foundations and community partners to propel funding for organizational priorities.
Implement best practices to establish and maintain structures, processes, and metrics that propel the philanthropy program while taking into consideration the complexities and culture of Hill Learning Center.
Collaborate closely with content-specific experts and leaders of external partnerships across the organization in pursuit of support for and stewardship of particular initiatives and projects.
Integrate thoughtful, tiered stewardship strategies into the overall fundraising plan in an effort to renew and increase philanthropic support from both individuals and identified groups, such as loyal donors, for example.
Operational Oversight and Execution:
Lead and manage a team of professional consultants focused on annual philanthropy (on board), data operations and gift services (on board), and grantwriting (to be identified) by encouraging independence and ingenuity while ultimately maintaining responsibility for all aspects of the philanthropy program.
Oversee all philanthropy operations, including developing and maintaining sound systems and processes, evaluating progress and performance, and identifying opportunities for growth.
Collaborate with the Finance Team to ensure alignment of the fiscal needs and fundraising practices of the organization, including adherence to donor intent in the accurate, appropriate, and timely investment of gifts.
Create, review, and analyze departmental budgets to align resources with goals and strategies.
Experience, Skills, and Expectations:
Bachelor's degree required, with a minimum of seven years of professional fundraising experience, preferably in the education or healthcare sector.
Strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to be both visionary and tactical in the development, implementation, and execution of plans.
Proven track record of successful major gift fundraising, closing gifts at the five and six-figure level.
Strong analytical skills and experience capturing, analyzing, and leveraging data to inform philanthropic strategy and increase revenue, participation, and engagement.
Passion for Hill's mission, vision, and commitment to expanding access to serve more students, families, and schools further from opportunity.
Strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to develop rapport and cultivate meaningful connections with a variety of constituents, instilling trust and positively representing Hill.
Demonstrated leadership and management experience, galvanizing individuals to reach common goals.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to create clear, persuasive, and professional messaging across a variety of platforms and constituents.
Experience and success writing or overseeing development of compelling grant proposals and reports leading to sustained institutional investments and partnerships.
Demonstrated track record balancing a collaborative work style with the ability to be independent, decisive, self-motivated, and action-oriented.
Outstanding organizational skills and the capacity to initiate and complete multiple tasks amidst competing priorities and deadlines.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, and experience with Raiser's Edge NXT or similar CRM software a plus.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and display sound judgment in handling sensitive donor information.
Be flexible and available to work occasional evenings and weekends as required based on events, meetings, and other deadlines.
