Development Director
Mountainside, NJ, United States
About the Organization
Imagine is working to change the culture of grief across the state of NJ to ensure that no
child grieves alone. 1 out of 12 children in our state will suffer the loss of a parent or
sibling before they turn 18. In January, NJ became the first state in the country to pass a
bill allowing students in grades 8 – 12 to learn about grief and loss in school. Since
2011, Imagine has been supporting grieving families at our center in Mountainside. In
2024, Imagine opened its second location in Newark NJ. Imagine is scaling up its team
to provide grief support in the community and grief education to schools all across our
state. We are a fast-paced innovative organization committed to doing excellent work
for the community and ensuring that no child in NJ grieves alone.
Development Director
The Development Director for Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss will be fully responsible
for developing and, in partnership with the Executive Director and Board, achieving the annual
fundraising goals.
The ideal candidate will be an exceptional relationship builder with experience managing an
Annual Giving program inclusive of direct and digital mail, events, and major gifts for individuals
and corporations. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Director will ensure that
the individual donor, foundation, and corporate funder programs reach the organization’s annual
and strategic goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Fundraising
- Create and manage the execution of an comprehensive Annual Giving program
- With the Executive Director and Board, Iidentify, cultivate, and solicit major prospects
and donors for one-time donations and multi-year pledges to meet annual revenue goal
of $2.5M
- In coordination with the Development and Event Coordinator, identify, cultivate, and
solicit business sponsorships for annual fundraising events and program services to
meet annual revenue goal of $500K for corporate giving
- In coordination with the Development and event Coordinator, manage the Circle of
Hope multi-year giving program by cultivating and stewarding current members and
identifying new members
- Develop and execute stewardship outreach plan by sending emails, making phone calls,
and building relationships with current donors
- Work collaboratively with Capital Campaign Counsel to plan and execute necessary
Campaign activities to reach and exceed the campaign goal.
Department Management
- Lead the development department in achieving annual fundraising goals of $2.5M from
individuals, corporations, and foundations
- Create steward outreach plan with Development Team to retain current donors and re-
engage lapsed donors
- Oversee grants, including helping Grant Writer to identify and cultivate new foundations
- Oversee annual development events, appeals and Giving Tuesday campaigns
- Oversee communication and marketing team for effective awareness campaigns
- Oversee revenue receivables processes
- Create annual fundraising goals based on strategic plan and provide monthly updates to
the finance committee, Executive Director, Development Committee and Board of
Trustees
Qualifications
- Degree in Public Administration, Communications, or similar industry required
- Experienced, successful fundraiser with at least 10 years of experience in a non-profit
organization
- Proven track record of closing on 5 to 6-figure gifts; capital campaign experience is a
plus
- Knowledge of, and passion for, the mental health space
- Experience in building creative and mutually beneficial partnerships within the nonprofit,
public, and corporate sectors
- Exceptional writing and communication skills
- Strong computer skills, specifically donor database (Bloomerang) and Microsoft office’s
sharepoint
- Experience in managing a team and working with Board committees
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